Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-10-17
THE HONEST OFFICE-HOLDER.

The Washington correspondent Of the
Je9ish Aessenger reports the following
story. told him BY the late President Lin
coin. which We do nos remember before
to have seen in print: #.
"When 6rst entered upon my duties
as President" saiDMr. Lincoln. eraspiug
our arm in his peculiar way, with one Il
his long. bony hands. While he ran his
fingers through aud brushed back his shag-
~ black hair. II fully made up my mind
to appoint to Office those only whom
knew to be honest and who had suitable
ability. In any event honesty should be the
prerequisite. as the lack of little ability
might be easily made up by an honest
| man eudeavoriug to do nis whole .du.-
conscientiously. While this resolve was
fresh upon nc there came to visit me 4
very old friend. . Baptist minister, who
had travelled so fast that he had not vet
shaken the Illinois real estate OF his capa.
cious boots.
Why. what brings you here, Mr..
Shode z (Which was not his name, but /.
will do just as wcll)
'Well.' he replied. Il came down
here firstly to sec you and get an old fash
ioncd shake Of the hand, and secondly to
say that the folks Of my congregation are
SO poor that they can hardly afford me a
decent living. and / thought may be you
could give me some sort Of an Office that
would pay me better
Certainly I answered. quickly, for
| knew he was an honest man, and l was
looking for stock Of that kind. Have YOU
in view any particular Office p
"'No, said the Rev. Mr.. Shoae, com.
placently / would not know what to Sc
lcct il you were to hand me list to choose
from
Nor I what to give you; 4; but l will
tell you who will help you out. You
know Colonel Chootsper. Of your county.
He is now on duty in the Treasury De-
partment. Go and see him he is man
Of resources. and will get You ont Of your
difficulty. Come back tomorrow and re-
port
The next day. according to promise,
Shofie put in an appearance and said
that the Colonel had recommended him
to apply for . certain position in the Rev
cuuc Department..
'Wha. is the salary ? said I. while
signing. in a mechanical way, q pile Of
commissions.
1.-TWO thousand dollars year,
Well. do you think that enough?
may be able 70 do better for yor,' for l
knew he was an honest man and thought
he might Just as we'll as not get q place
where he could earn more money.
'Oh, plenty. Uncle Abc, for that is
more than DOUBLE the amount I've been
earning for years past
"Now began to think" said our Mar.
tyr President, "that 1 would have to force
him into place paying q larger salary,
and where the governments would have a
corresponding return for his valuable ser
vices. for | was more than cver-if that
were possiblc-convinccd that he was an
honest man but 6ually concluded TO
give hin, his own way. and he was ap-
pointed accordingly. OF he vent rcjoic-
ing, but felt rather mean at my one
horse gin to my good, honest, reverend
friend.
"Three years elapsed, and the ankle
driven from my mind. for the time being.
the incident just related. when my mes
scnger brought me card bearing the ia
miliar name. Rev. Adam Shoae,' and
Immediately there flashed across my mind
all the Circumstances attending nv ap-
pointing hin to Office. directed him TO
be shown in, aud in walked, with crcaky
boots, one Of the best and finest dressed
men had seen in many q day. Ireeos-
nised his couptenance at glance, bss il
was his marvellous clothes that troubles
me. They sa. easily enough upon his
body, but somehow or other. they did not
set 50 easy upon my mind. bat wherefore
I could not for the life Of me tell, If had
tried. which l didn't.
{" Good morning. Mr.. Prcsident-no
longer Uncle Asc.' as bcfore-said he.
in . sort Of grandilcquent manner; 4
hope you are well and getting on nicely,
" oh. yes. said /; we poor folks exc
out living after fashion ); intending to
give him the bit in his mouth, for knew
what an honest msA he vas, and bo~
mach-I eoulds't tell then exactly how
rsuch, for had lest the run Of him-we
were indebted to him.
MIR. President, rvc come to rcsigs
my Office
Feeling somewhat - thosgh had
been strsek BY lightning. l naPsged 10
exclaim, Indeed"
".Yes. feel that there arc many
others deserving Of the place. and that il
il my duty to make way for them
"'Was there eser such al honest man
as that ? said |. to myself. chaekling over
my own stupidity on che clothes surprise.