The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-10-25
Reniniscence Of President Lincoln
How the Rev. Mr.. Shofle Acquired

Riches.
The Washington correspond of the
Jescish Messenger reports the following
story told him by the late President
Lincoln:
"When I first entered upon nv
duties as President" said Mr.. Lincoln,
grasping our arm in his peculiar way,
with one of his long, bony hands,
while he ran his fingers through and
brushed back his shaggy black hair,
II fully made upmy mind to appoint to
Office those only whom 1 knew to be
honest and who had suitabl. eability. In
any event honesty should be the pre-
requisite, 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 q very old friend, Baptist min
lister, who had travelled SD fast that he
had not yet shaken the Illinois real
estate off his capacions boots.
"'Why, what brings you here, Mr..
Shofie p (which was not his name, but
it will do just as we'll
"'Well.' he replied, Il came down
here firstly to see you and get an old
fashioned shake of the hand, and
secondly to say that the folks of my
congregation are so poor that they can
hardly afford me decent living, and
1 thought may be you could give me
some sort of office that could pay me
better
"'Certaiply,' answered, quickly,
for l knew he was an honest man, and
1 was looking for stock of that kind.
Have you in view any particular
office?
"'No,' said the Rev. Mr.. Shofie,
complacently L would not know
what to select if you were to hand me
a list to choose FROM
"'Nor 1 what to give you; but 1 will
tell you who will help you out. You
know Colonel ChoOtsper, of your
country. He is now on duty in the
Treasury Department. Go and see
him he is a man of resources, and
. will get you out of your difficulty.
Come back tomorrow and report
"The next day. according to promise,
Shof1e put i'm an appearance and that
the Colonel had recommended him to
apply for certain position in the
Revenue Department.
"'What is the salary % said /, while
signing in a mechanical way pile of
commissions.
"'Two thousand dollars a year.
"'Well, do you think that enough ?
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
"Now / began to think" said the
President, that I would have to force
him into place paying larger salary,
and where the government would
have a corresponding return for his
valuable services, for / was more than
ever-if that were possible-convinced
that he was an honest man; but
finally concluded to give him his own
way, and he was appointed according
ly. Off he went rejoicing, but l felt
rather mean at my One-horse gift to
my good, honest, reverend friend.
"Three years elapsed, and the ankle
ties 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
ShOfie,' aud Immediately there flashed
across my mind all the circumstances at
tending my appointing him to office.
directed him to be shown in, and in
walked, with creaking boots, one OF
the best and finest dressed men | had
seen in many a day. l recognized
his cOuntenance at glance, but it was
his marvellous clothes that troubled me.
They sat easily enough upon his body,
but somehow or other they did not set
so easy on my mind, but wherefore /
could not for the life of me tell, if had
tried which didn't.
"'GOod Morning Mr.. President
NO longer Uncle Aue,' as before
said he, i'm a grandiloquent manner ;
:! 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
had lost the run of him-we were in
debted to him.
"Mr. President, I've come 10 resign
my office
Feeling somewhat as though had
been struck by lightning, managed
to exclaim, 'indeedn
ayes. L feel that there are many
others deserving of the place, and that
it is my duty to make way for them.
Was there ever such an honest
man as that?' said to myself, chuck
ling over my own stupidity on the
clothes surprise. But said /,
aloud, I'm afraid you are not consid-
ering yourself, friend Shofie, 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 bet
ter hold on a little longer, say "a year
more, and let us both go out of office
together
"'No thank you. Pm going to Eu-
rope during that time, but hope to see
you here, as President, when return,
and arter a few more kind expressions
off went Mr.. Shofie.
About a month after, one of the rev.
erend gentlemen's neighbors paid NE a
visit, and among other things remark
ed casually that had done a pretty
good thing for Shofle.' Yes l re-
piled, gave him $1,000 a year po-
sition for three years.
"Besides the balanceu added my
visitor. why, If he is worth cent
he is worth to-day 500, coo, and / can
prove it if necessary.
"What could the idiot mean? To
satisfy myself of the falsity of the
charge l sent detectives To where he
lived, and they brought back word
that he had made his 5000 salary in
the aggregate yield 500, 600. But then
/ knew he was an honest man, and
there must be a mistake somewhere :"
"By the way" added Mr.. Lincoln,
with one of his knowing winks, ave
have plenty of 'Shofles' left, but, the
mischief of it is, it is hard finding
them out, and they are not considerate
enough to resign"
A Strange Disease.