The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-14
How lie ACQUIRED Riches.

40 hASsiuSusl bAlu AlIs LlhCuluf sIhbplHB
our arm in his peculiar why, with one OF
his long, bony hands, while he ran his
fingers through and brushed back his
shaggy black hair, al 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 q 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 very old friend, a 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, Mr..
Shohei" (Which was not his name, but it
will do just us wcll.)
"'Well, he replied I came down here
firstly to see you and get au 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 a
decent living, and thought maybe you
could give me some sort Of an office that
would pay mo better.
as Certainly l answered, quickly, for
| knew he was an honest man, and was
looking for stock of that kind. Have
you in view any particular ofliceR'
"No,' said the Rev. Mr.. Shohe, COM
placently; would not know what to
select II you were to hand me a list to
choose FROM
wNor ! what to give you; but I 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 q man
OF resources, and will get you out of your
difficulty. Come back tomorrow and re-
port
1.-THE next day, according to promise,
Shohe put in an appearance. and said
that the Colonel had recommended him
to apply for certain position in the
Revenue Department.
"What Is the salaryI' said /, while
signing in mechanical way pile of
commissions.
"'Two thousand dollars year.
"Well, do you think that enoughl ]
may DO able to do better for YOU Tor ]
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 Pvc been
earning for years past
snow 1 began to think" said our
Martyr President, "that l would have to
force him into place paying larger
salary, and where the government would
have corresponding return for his valu'
bic services, for / was more than ever-if
that were possible-convinced that lie
was an honest man; but l finally CON
Cluded to give him his own way, and he
was appointed accordingly Or he went
rejoicing, but / felt rather mean at my
ohe.horse gift to my good, honest, rev.
erend friend.
"Three years elapsed, and tho anxieties
attending the war had completely driven
from my mind, for the time being, the
incident just related, when my messenger
brought me card bearing the familiar
name, Rev Adam Shohe.' and immedi.
ately there flashed across my mind all the
circumstances attending my appointing
him to office. / directed him to be shown
ID, and in walked, with creaky boots, one
Of the best and finest dressed men ! had
seen in many day. recognized his
cOuntenance at n glance, but 1t was the
marvellous clothes that troubled me. They
sat easily enough upon HE body. but
somehow or other they did not set no |
easy upon my mind, but wherefore I could
not for the life Of me tell, il l had tried,
which | didn't.
"Good morning, Mr.. President'-nO
longer Uncle Abe, as before-said he, in |
q sort of grAndioquent manner; I hope
you are well aud getting on nicely
"'oh, yes said l; VIC poor folks exc
out q living after fashion; intending to
give him the bit in his mouth, for ] knew
what an honest man he was, and how
mucl-l couldn't tell then exactly how
much, for | had lost the run of him--wC
were indebted to him.
"'Mr. President, I've come 10 resign
my office
Feeling somewhat as though l had
been struck by lightning, ! managed to
e1cllim, 'lndeel!'
"'Yes, ! feel that there are many others
deserving of Tie place, and that It is my
duty to make way for them
"'Was there ever such an honest man
as thatf said ! to myself, chuckling over
my own stupidity on the clothes surprise.
Butt said ], aloud, Pm afraid you are
not considering yourself, friend Shone,
aud that whea you so back to preaching
YOU will be ms hard ups when yon came
here three years ago, Hadn't you better
hold on a little longer, say year nero,
and let us both go out of office together 4
"tNo, thank you. I'm going 70 Europe
during that time, but hope to SCe you
here, as President, when return, and
after few more kind expressions, oil
went the Rev. Shohe. II
"About a month after, ono Of the rev.
Crend gentleman's neiglbors paid me u
visit, and among other things remarked
casually that had done n pretty good
thing for ShOlc.' Yes | replied, i
gave him a $4,000 a year position for
three years.
"Besides the BALANCED added my Wis.
itor. 'why, II he is worth cent he Is
worth to-day 100000, and can proyeit
II Unnecessary
"What could the idiot meant To sat.
isfy myself Of the falsity Of the charge !
sent detectives to where he lived, and
they brought back word that he had made
lis $4,000 salary IN the aggregate yielI
fully S9OO,OOO-but then | knew he was
an honest man, and there must be mis-.
take sOmewhere!"
"By the way" added Mr.. Lincoln, with