Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-10-11
UNCLE ABE.
A New Story sf Mr.. Lincoln, as Tsld
BY Himself.

A story of Uncle Abe with a
moral, is told in late issue of the
JescisA Messenger, Of New York
City, by its correspondent in Wash
ington. 1t is told in connection
with some remaks about the annoy
ances of the Presidential question.
After congratulating the Messenger
upon the fact that it has kept aloof
from heated political discussion,
and rejoicing that the Jews appre-
ciatc the present efforts of the Pres
ident to administer the government
correctly, the writer remarks that
it is impossible to prevent decep-
tion being practiced sometimes in
connection with appointments. He
goes on to say:
All Presidents have been sub
jected to the same annoyance, more
or less. Mr.. Lincoln particularly
so, as the following story, as told
to the writer by our good "Father
Abraham" himself, will illustrate:
"When l first entered upon my
duties as President" said Mr.. Lin
coin, grasping our arm in his pecu-
liar 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 l knew to be hon
est, and who had suitable. ability.
In any event honesty was to 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 conscientiouly.
While this resolve was fresh upon
me there came to visit me a very
old friend, a Baptist minister, who
had travelled so fast that he had
not yet shaken the Illinois real
estate off his capacious boots.
"'Why, what brings you here,
Mr.. Shofe?' (which was not his
name, but it will do just as welD.
"Well,' he replied, 4 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 l thought may be you
could give me some sort Of an Office
that would paw me better"
"Certainly," answered, quickly,
for l knew he was an honest man,
and was looking for stock Of that
kind: ''Hayc you in view any
particular Officer"
"sNo," the Rev. Mr.. ShoAe, COM
placently; 81 would not know what
to select if you were to hand me
list to choose FROM"
"'Nor l what to give you; but I'll
tell you who will help you out. You
know Col. Chootsper, Of your coun.
| ty. He is now on duty in the Treas
ury Department. Go and see him;
he is man of resources, and will
get you out Of your difficulty. Come
back tomorrow and report"
"The next day, according to
promise, Shofe put in appearance
and said that the Colonel had
recommended him to apply for a
certain position in the Revenue De-
partment. @-.'-a-%-7'tsa
"'What is the salary?" said I,
while signing In mechanical way
a pile of commissions.
"sTwo thousand dollars a year.
"Wcll, do you think that enough
may be able to do better for you,
sfor knew he was an honest man,
and thought he might just as we'll
as not get place where he could
earn more money s l4t
"Oh, plenty, Uncle Abe, for that
| is more than double the amount I've
been earning for years past y
"Now I began to Think" said our
Martyr President, "that I would
have to force him into place pay
ing a larger salary, and where the
government would have a cores
ponding return for his valuable
services, for was more than ever
If that were possible-convinccd
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 I felt rather mean at my one
horse gift to my good, honest, rev.
erend friend. 8gta aTsl
"Three years elapsed, and the
anxiet'es attending the war had
completely driven from my mind,
for the time being, the incident
just related, when my messenger
brought me in q card bearing the
familiar name, Rev. Adam Shohe,
and Immediately there flashed
across my mind all the cricumstan-
ces attending my appointing him to
office. / directed him to be shown