Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-01-08
The omce-Holder's Fate.

1AS vas iahaNo ~ t1t- A<"Ns<A ~ HAOS
perously and, with the assistance of a
boats crew, they got the flag flying
They cleared out the scaler's house.
They carried up ten barrels of salt junk,
twelve of salt pork, thirteen of potatoes
fourteen of flour, fifteen of sour-krout.
and sixseen of white beans. These were
the supplies Mr.. John Sapp was to sub
sist on for year. They carried up four
reams of foolscap paper, ruled and mar
gined, for his official reports to the war
four of quarto letter paper,
for his reports to the navy; four of roy
al octave, for his reports to the Smith
sonian; four of lafge congress note, for
his reports to the Treasury; and four of
giltedged note, with initials j. S., for
his own private correspondence. They
carried up eleven pounds Of sealing wax
the tin box of red tapy they carried up;
and so they bid him goodbye. The boat
returned to the ship. Then it proved
that his dog and cat and parrot and UNI
brella were still on board; and the cap
tain's gig was sent with them. So Mr..
Sapp was not left alone. ,,.. -.ft.,.
Here was place. 1t was place with
nothing particular to do; and Mr.. Sapp
was left to do it. -l-ar
He kept no diary. Nothing, therefore
is known of his experience for the year.
But when, the next year, the store-ship
landed his stores, the boatswain in
charge ran up the beach, and met a man
in seal-skins, who made a military sa-
lutte.
The boatswain saluted him, and was
about to speak, when old Seal-skin, as
he afterwards called him, said, "Have
you passed quarantine ?"
Quarantine! No, sir"
'Take your boat round into the South
Cove, and see the health officer, and
bring me his permit -....
The boatswain, from habit of obedi-
ence, obeyed,- took the boat round in
half an hours pulling. Health officer !
There were some stupid seals who jump
ed off the rocks, and that was all.
The captain of the store-ship, mean
while, had seen this manoeuvre with
amazement, and sent a second boat
ashore. With this boat, he sent his sec
ond officer. He also met the lonely Rob-
insOn, and saluted.
"Have You passed quarantine?"
"An right my man." said the friendly
sailor; and Seal-skin turned and walk
ed with him to his hut. A moment
more, and the boatswain followed. He
could find no health officer, he said.
sit must be past his office hours, "said
Mr.. Sapp,gravely. "They close at elev-
en- there. You shall be examined to-
morrow"
The boatswain started at this post
ponement of quarantine; but then, on a
word from his superior officer, he pro-
duced a bag of papers and letters for
Mr.. Sapp, which he had been afraid to
offer him before.
"They will be respectfully fumigated
and respectfully REFERRED" said Mr..
Sapp. ...-.-.. .... ....-... .a..-
And he hung them to the crane in the
chimney. .r.- .-
Then he lifted off pot of bean soup,
and filled bowl for each of the WON
dering men. He produced hard-tack
from closet, and whiskey and water.
And then, still asking no questions, he
took down the smoky letters, and open
ed them slowly. .f l-"" -.st-.-
But to the mans amazement, he did
not read one. @
He folded the first with steel letter
file, tive inches and quarter wide, and
docketed it,C"Received June IL. Re-
spectfully referred to Next Friday, Esq
Pm.
When the bOatswain heard of Mr.Fri-
day he thought it was surely Robinson
Crusoe.
But the next letter, unread, was filed
and docketed, Respectfully referred
Next Saturday, Esq, A. NJ. >
"P. NJ. and A. NJ" cried the boat
swain; ''they have masters of arts here
as well as post-masters." .r -li.
"Not at all, "said the Governor,severe-
ly; "a. NJ, Ante-Meridiem; p. NJ
Post-Meridiem;'' and, without reading
the next letter, he filed it, and indorsed
it. y ee-"3a! .-at-s2a- e.a.aI t-i
Respectfully referred to Next Sun
day, Esq, NJ" "Young man." said he,
81 shall examine and file this letter on
Friday afternoon; this one on Saturday
morning; this on Sunday Noon. Let
all things be done regularly and in or
DER"
The mate and boatswain were alarm
ed. They hastily finished their bean
soup, and fed to the boat, returning
with six men, who rolled barrel of junk
up the well-kept gravel walk.
"Invoice?" said the Governor.
There was no invoice.
"Prepare an invoice"
And the meek boatswain obeyed.
"My man, take this to the inspector, !"
said Mr.. Sapp to one of the crew, after
he indorsed it, Respectfully referred to
the Inspector General"
b The sailor was Portuguese,-under-
stood no English; bobbed his head, and
waited for light.
Mr.. Sapp led him to the door, and
pointed to bearded walrus,cwho sat
on rock above the Misunderstanding
him take the invoice to him, and land
nothing more without his orders. "a
/ Poor man !--or happy man, shall /
call him? He had what he sought for.
He had place with nothing to do; and
faithfully he had done it; so faithfully
that, in that sad loyalty, the little frag-
ment of his unframed wits gave was.--
From Old and Ne,o.
George Washington.