The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-02-07
A Smart GraYestone Peddler.

Mr.. John j. is a man in the marble
business, smart at his calling, and has sold
and put up more gravest0nes than any
other man in Somerset county. Maine.
Some years ago, when he first went into
the business, there was considerable COM
petition around him, and he was obliged
tol0ok sharp for every chance. He kept
himself posted on the obituary column of
all the local papers. The news of a death
was sure to call him to the bereaved family
about as soon as his team could carry him
wotld gradually come around to his busi-
ness, and he rarely left without engaging
to furnish the grayestones.
T Hearing that old Mr.. B had "lost
his wife," away up in the town of Emb-
den, he was soon on the spot. He found
the old man in his field, trying to plow
with his oxen. without driVer-a feat
easily accomplished with cattle that are
trained, but B-'s sseritters" were wild,
and bothered him considerably Here was
chance for John: his boyhood had been
spent on a fdIfr1, and he quickly took the
goad and set the pillow to moving right
merrily, with old B holding the ham
dies. Round the lot they went. John driy-
ing the oxen, and trying to draw the old
man into conversation but he was crusty,
and replied only in monosyllables.
Finally, John remarked to the old fellow
that he had understood that he (B-) had
lost his wife; and then. commenced to pour
out all the phials of sympathy for b that
his years of practice in gravestone selling
had given him; but still the old man
would only grunt in reply. At last John
came to the main question, as they stopped
moment for the cattle to breathe at the
corner:
. Wouldn't you like to engage a nice set
of gravestones for your wife
t'Noi'' fairly snerted the old man.
g Let the miserable skunk that has run
aaoau aoith her pay-for her gravestones;
won't II
So John resumed his seat in the buggy,
and returned to the solace of his home
Hnrper's DTaacer.
Cushing's Letter to jefferson Davis.
The following is a copy of Caleb. Cush-
ting's letter to Jefferson Davis, the discov-
cry of which, among mass of captured
correspondence belonging to the Presi-
dent of the late Confederacy, is stated to
have been the cause of the withdrawal by
President Grant of his nomination as
Chief Justice:
! WASHINGTON, March 20, lS6I.-Dear Sir: Mr..
Archibald Boane, for the last six or seven years
| clerk in the Attorney-Generals Office, desires
from me letter of Introduction to you, and he
desires it not in view of anticipating admnistra-
/ tive favors, but that he may have the honor of
your personal intercourse. Of this take pleas
| ufe in assuring you he is eminently worthy A
Southern man by birth, family and affection, he
has cheerfully studied and ably discussed in Mr.
i De BOWS ReUiew and other Southern works the
lamentable events which have been gradually
undermining and have, at length, oyerthrown
the American Union. Whilst q practical man,
he is also ripe and practical scholar, with, in
| deed, predominating literary tastes and habits.
In the discharge of his ofiicial duties, he has
combined in a singular degree the purest integ-
| rfty and most enlightened intelligence with q
| modest contentment in his lot, having more than
once declined offices of more conspicuous en-
| ployment in the public service. He new resigns
/ his present office from sentiment of attachment
| to thatwhich alone ne can feel to be his coun-
try, namely, the Confederate States, from one Of
| which (Texas) he was appointed. / most cheer
I fully recommend him as gentleman and mar
| Il, your confidence and esteem, and | am, witt
the highest consideration, your obedient SER
want, CALEB CUSH1NG
Hon JEFFERsoN DAVIS, President Confederate
/