The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-01
ONE FRIEND.

VILE loloWlnB Will DC new 10 our read
IL ers. We get the facts from source
which we know to be trustworthy.
President Lincoln, on one Of his early
morning walks, while Mcclellan, with the
Army of the Potomac, was on the Chicka-
hominy, dropped in at the War Office, and
found the Secretary, as usual UP to his
ears in business. kilograms were thick
upon his desk, and important reports from
subordinates were at each elbow. The
President nodded kindly and sat down
As 1t CHANGED, Mr. Lincoln had seated
himself by a small table upon which was
pile Of papers held together by SPRING
clasp He had seen too many papers of
that description not to know what they
were. They were petitions for office
some as long as a '"Corn-Law' petition,
and signed by the whole voting force of a
district, Others with not more than one
or two hundred names,-while others had
come with fewer and with still fewer
signers. Some were signed by Governors,
Ex-Governors, and Members of Congress,
and others had only recommendations of
military heroes of fame and renown. .
The office asked for was valuable one.
The formerincumbent had been transferred
to an important post in the West by Gen.
Halleck, and special detail by the Secre-
tary had since been doing the duties ap-
pertaining to the vacant office. Mr.. Lin
coin took the apple ations from their clasp
and looked them over. His face length
ened, and his lips tightened, as his gaze
became lost in the Wilderness of names
opened before him. a,,I..,. ......
Stanton" said he, "what are you
going to do about this (? Have you selected
your man for the place ?"
r, Selected p' cried the Secretary, push
ing away lot of papers from before him,
and facing about, How is man going to
select? Look at the list of applicants, and
look at the hosts of sponsors. just at this
moment don't want to offend anybody
needlessly. l am obliged to offend enough
any way"
Here's a man royalty recommended,
said Mr. Lincoln, holding up an application
of great length, and bearing the signatures
of men mighty in the political arena
"This man ought TO be worthy"
Look further, Mr.. President, and you
will find that petition thrown in the shade
entirely"
Mercy y exclaimed the President. He
had taken hold Of a petition which had un-
folded itself to the floor.
eco on,-go on,-you'll find more of
the same sort, said the Secretary.
The President overhauled the heap, and
near the bottom he came across simple
petition, bearing only the signature of the
applicant. '"''
Poor fellow! Here must be man with
out friends. Not one to speak word in
his favor. And how simply he asks for the
situation-as though it were the office of
pedagogue in frontier school. Do you
know the man?"
The Secretary took the petition and look
ed at it.
Yes, " he said. HE brought the pc
NabiOh Vibh iAlo OWh llC was lnblO-
duced to you last evening, at Stewards"
" remember" said Mr.. Lincoln, with
frightening look. "The plainly dressed,
quiet youth, who had his mother with
him ?"
eyes" aea
"say, Stanton, do you think him fit for
the place?"
81 do, certainly"
"Then, as he seems so entirely friendless
among the multitude who have friends
without number, will be his friend. He
shall have one at least" +
And President Lincoln took pen and
placed his strong autograph upon the mar
gin of the young mars petition.
We need hardly add that the young man
thus befIiended received the appointment.
We may add, however, that he proved
himself most worthy recipient of the
good Presidents favor.
Il. Graveyard Wit.
An Iriahman who had haen an, nlovad ~