The Portland daily press., 1872-09-24
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE.
How the Reverend Mr.. ShOhe Acquired
Riches.

hicueSs
The Washington correspondent of the Jew
ish Messenger reports the following story told
him by the late President Lincoln, which we
do not remember before to have seen in
print:
when first entered upon my duties as
PRESIDENT" said Mr.. Lincoln, graspiug our
arm IN ms peculiar way with one of his long,
pony hands, while he ran his fingers through
and brushed back his shaggy black hair, EI
fully made up my mind to appoint to office
those only whom / knew to be honest and
who had suitable ability. In any event hon
esty should be the prerequisite, as the lack of
little ability might be easily made up by an
honest man endeavoring to do his whole duty
conscientiously. While this resolve was fresh
upon me there came to visit me a yery old
friend, Baptist minister, who had travelled
SO fast that he had not yet shaken the Illi-
nois real estate off his capacious boots.
why, what brings you here, Mr.. Shofe?'
(which was not his name, but it will do just
as well.)
Well he replied, came down here firstly
to see you and get an old-fashioned shake of
the hand, and secondly to say that the folks
ofmy congregation are so poor that they can
hardly afford me decent living, and L
thought may be you could give me some sort
OF an office that would pay me better
Certainly | answered quickly; for l knew
he was an honest man, and was looking for
stock of that kind. Have you in view any
particular office?'
No. said the Rev. Mr.. Shofle, complacent-
ly ~ would not know what to select if YOU
were to hand me list to choose FROM
Nor what to give you but will tell YOU
who will help you out. You know Colonel
Chootsper of your county. He is now on
duty in the Treasury Department. Go and
see him. He is 1sman of resources, and will
get you out of your difficulty. Come back to-
morrow and report
The next day, according to promise, Shofe
put in an appearance and said that the
colonel had recommended him to apply for a
certain position in the Revenue Department.
What Is the salary?' said /, while signing
in mechanical way pile of commissions.
Two thousand dollars year,
Wen, do you think that enough? l may
be able to do better for you," for knew he
was an honest man, and thought he might
just as well as not get place where he could
earn more money
"Oh, plenty, Uncle Abe; for that is more
than double the amount I've been earning
for years past"
Nov began to think, said our martyr
President, ''that would have to force him
into place paying larger salary, aud where
the Government would have corresponding
return for his valuable services; for | was
more than ever-if that were possible-con-
vinced that he was an honest man but finally
concluded to give him his own way, and he
was appointed accordingly. On he went re-
joicing, but | felt rather mean at my one
horse gift to my good, honest, reverend
friend. -
Three years elapsed, and the anxietes at
tending the war had completely driven from my
mind, for the time being, the incident just re-
lated, when my messenger brought me a card
bearing the familiar name, "Rev Adam
Shofte," and Immediately there flashed across
my mind all the circumstances attending my
appointing him to Office. 1 directed him to
be shown in, and in he walked, with creaky
boots, one of the best and finest dressed men
hal seen in many day. 1 recognized his
countenance at glance, but it was his mar
vellous clothes that troubled me. They sat
easily enough upon his body, but somehow
or other they did not set so easy upon my
mind, but wherefore could not for the life
of me tell, if 1 had tried, which didn't.
''Good morning, Mr.. President, mo long
er ''Uncle Abe" as before-said he, in a sort
of grandiloquent manner; 81 hope you are
well and getting on nicely"
oh, yes, said |; we poor folks exc out
living after . misunderstanding to give
him the bit i'll his mouth, for knew what an
honest man he was and how much--I couldn't
tell then exactly how much, for had lost the
run Of hin-we were indebted to him.
'Mr. President, Pve come to resign my
| Office
Feeling somewhat as though 1 had been
struck by lightning, l managed to exclaim,
| 'Indeedp
Yes. l feel that there are many others de-
serving the place, and that it is my duty to
make way for them.'
Was there ever such an honest man as
thatp said l to myself, chuckling over my
own stupidity on the clothes surprise. But
said /, aloud, Pm afraid you are not consid-
ering yourself, friend Shofe, and that when
you go back to preaching you will be as hard
up as when you came here, three years ago.
Hadn't you better hold ON little longer, say
year or more, and let us both 60 out of
Office together2'
No, thank you. Pm going to Europe dur
ing that time, but hope to see you here, 80
President, when l return, and, after few
more kind expressions, off went the Rev.
| Shofie.
About a month after, one of the reverend
| gentleman's neighbors paid me visit, and
among other things remarked casually that 1
had done a pretty good thing for Shofle.'
Yes 1 replied, 4 gave him a $20O0-a-year
position for three years.
Besides the balancep added my visitor.
Why if he is worth cent he is worth to-day
| 9lOO,oOO, Anu can prove lIlI necessary.
What could the idiot mean? To satisfy
myself of the falsity of the charge, sent de-
tectives to where he lived, and they brought
back word that he had made his $4,000 salary
in the aggregate, yield fully 100000; but
then / knew he was an honest man, and
there must be mistake somewheref
by the way added Mr. Lincoln, with one
OF his knowing winks, we have plenty of
'Shofes' left, but the mischief of it is, it i.
hard finding them out, and they are not con-
siderate enough to resign, as did our honest
friend Shofe.'