Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-18
How the Reverend Mr. shOAe Acquired

The Washington correspondent of the Jewish
Messenger reports the following story told him
by the late President Lincoln, which we do not
remember before to have seen in print:
''When I first entered upon my duties as
president" said Mr. Lincoln, graspng 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, 81 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 pre-
requisite, as the lack Of little ability might be
easily made up by an honest man endeayoring
to do his whole duty conscientiOusly. While
this resolve was fresh upon me there came to
visit me a very old friend, Baptist minister,
who had Travelled so fast that he had not yet
shaken the Illinois real estate. off his capacous
boots.
"'Why, what brings you here, Mr.. Shofe?
(Which was not his name, but it will do just as
well)
"'Well,' he replied, 4 came down here firstly
to see you and get an old-fashoned 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,' l answered, quickly, for knew
he was an honest man and | was looking for
stock of that kind. Have you in view any par
ticular Office"
NO said the Rev. Mr. Shofe, complacent-
w; Il 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 man Of resources, and will get you out OF
your difficulty Come back tomorrow and re-
port
"rhe next day, according to promise, Shotie
put in an appearance and said that the col
onel had recommended him to apply for a Ger
tain position in the revenue department,
"'What is the salary said l, while signing in
mechanical way pile of commissions.
"'rwo 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 that he might Just as
well rs not get place where he could earn more
money.
con, plenty, Uncle Abe for that is more than
double the amount Eve been earning for years
past
''Now I began to think" said our Martyr
President, "that | would have to force him into
a place paying him a larger salary and where
the government would have a corresponding
return for his valuable services, for was more
than ever-if that were posshle-cOnYinced that
he was an honest man; but finally concluded
TO give him his own way, and he was appointed
accordingly. Off he went rejoicing, but ! felt
rather mean at my one-horse gift to my good
honest, reverend friend.
"Three years elapsed, and the anXieties 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 ShOhe.
and Immediately there flashed across my mind
| all the circumstances attending my appointing
| him to office. | directed him to be shown in
| ard in walked, with creaky boots, one of the
best and finest dressed men had seen in many
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 easily 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 Abe as before-Said he, in a sort Of
grandiloquent manner; i hope you are well and
getting on nicely
"Oh, yes said 1; we poor folks exc out
living after fashions; intending TO give him
the bit in his mouth, for knew what an honest
man he was, and how much-I couldn't tel
then exactly how much, for had lost the run
of him-we were indebted to him.
Mr.. President, I've come to resign my
office
"Feeling somewhat as though l had beer
| struck by lightning, managed to eXclaim In
| deedp
"Yes. feel that there are many others de
| serving of the place, and that il is my duty t.
| make way for them
"'Was there ever such an honest man a
thatP said to myself, chuckling over my owl
stupidity on the clothes surprise. But said |
| aloud, Pm afraid you are not considering your
self, friend ShOhe, and that when you 90 bacl
to preaching you will be as hard up as wheI
| you came here three years ago. Hadn't vol
better hold on a little longer; say a year more
| and let us both 20 out of office together?
"'No, thank you. Pm going to Europe dur
ing that time, but hope to see you here, a
| president, when | return, and, after a few
more kind expressions, off went the Rev
| Shohe.
"About a month after one OF the reverend
| genteman's neighbors paid me a visit, anC
| among other things remarked casually that
had done pretty good thing for Shofe' yes,
l replied. i gave him $1,000 year position fol
| three years
{" Besides the BALANCED added my visitor
why, if he is worth a cent he is worth TO-DAY
$780, 900, and can prove it if necessary.
'What could the idiot mean? TO satisfy my
self Of the talsity Of the charge sent detective,
| to where he lived, and they brought back WORD
that he had made his $1,000 salary in the aggre
gate yield fully S2O0OOO-but then knew thai
he was an honest man, and there must be a mis-
| take somewhere!
"By the way" added Mr.. Lincoln, with one
of his knowing wnkS, eve have plenty Of
'Shodes' left but the mischief of it is it is hard
finding them out, and they are not cOnsderate
enough to resign, as did our honest friend
Shnau