Connecticut western news., 1872-10-18
How He Acquired Riches.

his long, bony hands, while he ran his fingers through and brushed back his shaggy black hair, "I 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 a 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 very old friend, Baptist minister, who had travelled so fast that he had not yet shaken the Illinois real estate off his ca pacious boots.
 "' Why, what brings you here, MT. Shofe7" (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 O. the hand, and secondly to say that the folks of my congregation are so poor that they can hardly afford me decent living, and I thought maybe you could give me some sort of an office that would pay me better.
 "' Certainly answered, quickly, for knew he was an honest man, and l was looking for stock of that kind. Have you in view any particular oficeG' <.
 "'No.' said the Rev. MT. Shofe, com placently; I would not know what to select if you were to hand mo Q list to choose from
 " Nor I 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 De- partment. Go and see him; he is man of resources, and will get you out of yonr difficulty. Come back tomorrow and re port
 "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 salary9' said I, while signing in Q mechanical way a pile of commissions.
 "Two thousand dollars a year.
 " We'll, do you think that enough? I may be able to do better for you,' tor I 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 Tve been earning for years past
 "Now I began to think" said our Martyr President, s'that would have to force him into place paying a larger salary, and where the government would have corresponding return for his valu ble services, for was more than ever-ii that were possible-convinced that he was an honest man; but l finally con cluded to give him his own way, and he was appointed accordingly. Off he went rejoicing, but 1 felt rather mean at my one-horse gift to my good, honest, rev. erend friend.
 "Three years elapsed, and the anxieties attending the war had completely driven from my mind, for the time being, the incident just related, when my messenger brought me a card bearing the familiar name, Rev. Adam Shofle' and immedi- ately there flashed across my mind all the circumstances attending my appointing him to office. directed him to be shown in, and in walked, with creaky boots, one of the best and finest dressed men I had seen in many day. recognized his countenance at glance, but it was the marvellous clothes that troubled me. They sat easily enough upon his body. but somehow or other they did not set 20 easy upon my mind, but wherefore could not for the life of me tell, if I had tried, which didn't. ezz. ..zr-ss-
 "'Good morning, Mr. President'-no longer Uncle Abe,' as before-said he, in a sort .grandiloquent manner I hope you are well and getting on nicely
 "sOh, yes,' said I; we poor folks eke out living after fashion; intending to ho ir IT what an honest man he was, and how much-I couldn't tell then exactly how much, for I had lost the run of him--we were indebted to him.
 "'Mr. President, I've come to resign my ofice.' i;- 1 4.1 .+'.~ :
 "Feeling somewhat as though I had been struck by lightning, I managed to exclaim, Indeed!
 (" Yes, feel that there are many others deserving of the place, and that it is my duty to.lnake way for them. -.-s. s. '[ 'T-
 "'Was there ever such an honest man as that9' said to myself, chuckling over my own stupidity on the clothes surprise. Butt said I, aloud, I'm afraid you are not considering 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 a little longer, say year more, and let us both go out of office together g
 "'No, thank you. I'm going to Europe during that time, but hope to see you here, as President, when I return,' and, after few more kind expressions, off went the Rev. Shode.
 "About 8 month after, one of the rev. erend gentleman's neighbors paid me a visit, and among other things remarked casually that I had 'done a pretty good thing for ShoHe.' Yes replied, I gave him a $2,000 year position for three years'
 (" Besides the balance!' added my vis- itor. 'Why, if he is worth cent he is worth to-day S2OO,ooo, and can prove it if necessary e
 "What could the idiot mean2 To sat isfy myself of the falsity of the charge I sent detectives to where he lived, and they brought back word that he had made his $6,OOO salary Tn the aggregate yield fully $20O, ,000-but then I knew he was an honest man, and there must be 0 mis take somewhere !"
 "By the way" added MT. Lincoln, with one of his knowing winks; "we have plenty of 'Shofes' left, but, the mischief of it is, it is hard finding them out, and they are not considerate enough to resign, as did our honest friend Shohe." ..- HN~. T1