The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-06-04
The One Friend.


The following will be new to our read
ers We get the facts from source
which we know to he trustworthy.
President LINCOLN, on one of his ear
iy morning walks, while MCCLELLAN,
with the Army of the Potomac, was on
the ChckahoniDy, dropped in at the
War Office, and found the Secretary, as
usual, up to his ears in business. Tele-
grams were thick upon his desk, and i'm
portaut reports from subordinates were at
each elbow. The President nodded kind
ly aud sat down.
As it chancei, Mr. Lincoln had seated
himself by small table upon which was
a pile of papers held together by spring
clasp. He had seen too many papers OF
'hat description not to know what they
were. They were petitions for Office some as
long as Corn law" petition, and signed
10y the whole voting force Of 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 mill
tary heroes Of fame and renown.
The Office asked for was a valuable ore.
The former incumbent had been trans
ierred TO an important post in the West
by Gen. Halleck, and a special detail by
the Secretary had since been doing the
duties appeartaining to the vacant othce.
Mr.. Lincoln took the applications from
their clasp, and looked them over His
face heightened, aud his lips tishtened,
a. his gaze became lost in the wilderness
of names opened before him.
Stanton" said he, "what are you go
ing TO do about this Have you selected
your man for the place ~
Selected - cried the Secretary, push
ing away lot of papers from before him,
aud facing about. "How is man going
10 select? Look at the list of applicants.
and look at the hosts of sponsors Just
at his moment | don't want to offend any
body needlessly. am Obliged to offend
enough any way"
Heres a maB royalty recommended y
and Mr. Lincoln, holding up an applca
tion of great length. and bearing the
signatures Of men mighty in the political
arena This man ought to be worthy"
look further, Mr. Presi ident, and ysu
will find that petition thrown lu the shade
entirely"
Mercy :" exclaimed the Presideot
lie had taken hold of a petition which
unfolded itself to the floor.
Go on,-go ou,-you'll find more of
the same sort" said the Secretary.
The President overhauled the heap,
and near the bottom he came across a
simple petition, bearing ouly the sigma
ture Of the applicant
Poor fellow Here must be a man
without friends. Not one to speak a
word 10 his favor Aud how simply he
asks fcr the situaiion-as though it were
The Office of pedagogue in a frontier
school Do you know the man p
The Secretary took the petition and
looked at it.
Yes he said "He brought the petit
tion with his own hand He was intro
duc6d to you last evening, at Stewards"
L remember" said Mr.. Lincoln, with
frightening look. The plainly dressed,
quiet youth, who had his mother with
him -
Yes"
Say, Stanton, do you think him fit for
the place !''
Il 60, certainly"
Then, as he seems so entirely friend
less among the multitude who have friends
without number, will be bis friend.
He shall have are at EAST"
And President Lincoln took a pen and
placed his strong autograph upon the
margin of the young mans petition.
We need hardly addd that the young
man thus befriended received the ap
p8iutmeDt. We may add, however, that
he proved himself most worthy recipient
Of the good Presidents favor.
The Sweetness Of Home.