Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-08-03
ANEcDo-E OF JEFFERSON
BY GERTRUDE MORTIMER


down to us of Thomas Jefferson, and
of those who were politically opposed
to him. Mr.. Jefferson was IN the
habit of driving himself in gig when
he made lis visit TO his country seat,
Monticello, at Charlottesville, Virginia.
lie preferred this mode of travelling TO
the stagecoach, and Of railways there
were none then between Washington
and his rural residence. On one of his
trips he saw & boy, poorly clad, trudg
ing along the road side, and accosted
him, asking him if he would like a
ride. The boy promptly and frankly
accepted the invitation, and soon
charmed his unknown friend by his
ingenious, boylsh conversation After
a time Mr. Jefferson asked his COM
paniou if he had ever heard OF Tom
Jefferson.
ooh, yes, H'as The quick response
SHY dad says that hes the biggest
rascal that ever lived
Nothing daunted by this unexpected
candor, the President continued the
conversation and when, in reply 70
illusions purposely made to Tom Jeffer-
son, the lad wonld exclaim that s'dad
said that he was q traitor TO his coun>
try" he would say in expostulalion,
ooh, perpaps you would not find him
such a bad fellow, after all. When he
reached the point where his companion
must leave him, Mr.. Jefferson said, as
the boy lightly leaped to the ground :
"Yo GU can tell your dad you had
ride with Tom Jefferson, and he is not
such bad fellow
Dogged if I dor exclaimed the
youth. dad would give me the worst
licking / ever had, if he knew l had
been riding with you
Still amused at the youngsters per-
sistence, Mr.. Jefferson said, in kindly
tone;
"Now, my little fellow, I want YOU
to come and see me at the White lIous e
in Washington and you'll find am
not as bad as your dad thinks me-
The boy, with a bare acknowledge
ment ofthe friendly inv itatiou, ran off
toward his home. He was, however,
sufficiently impressed to tell 'sdaA2 st!,et
he was asked to go and see the Presis
dent, at the White House, and meant
to 60.
"Nonsense!' sneered the parent !;
''when you go there he will ask you
who in the world you are"
mo, he won't" persisted the lad,
'.and I'm going
lie was good as his word. His fall
supplies, homespun suit and change
OF underclothing, had just been CONS
pleted and one morning, DOMINIC the
new suit and new shirt, and pnlting
the remainder Of his personal effects up
in handkerchief, he twisted a stick
through his baggage, slung it over his
shoulder. and started brlskly otto walk
to Washington to see his friend. In
due time the brave youngster reached
the capital city, and inquiring the way
to the White House, soon found him
self at the entrance. The servant
who appeared in response to his
vigorous blows on the panel OF the
door, he bodily demanded to see ''Tom"
Jefferson.
.''He's at dinner, and has company.
replied the attendant, not little aston~
ished at the audacity of the travels
soiled boy with his bundle.
CHATS nothing, promptly the young
adyenturer answered, 'he told ne to
come here to see him, aud I've come
and amt going off without seeing
him.
There was no choice but to obey, so
the servant went to the dining~room
and told his master that a boy was
outside who said he must see the Presi.
dent, as had been told to oorre.
Mr.. Jefferson at once ordered the
intruder to be brought in; and the
| shabby youth, with his bundle still over
his shoulder, found himself in the midst
Of state dinner party. But nothing
daunted by his position, when the
President in genuine establishment ex-
claimed, "Who under the Sun are you,
the youngster calculated ::
'sNowf that's just what dad said
you'd say if came here. I'm Charles
Morgan, and you axed me to come
when was riding with you t'othel
day"
go | did, replied the President, his
recollection of the incident reviving
sand now you are here, sit down with
Us and take some dinner
Another plate was ordered TO be
placed on the table and Charles Nor
gan took seat with undiminishet
assurance among the fine ladies anJ
gentlemen. Mr.. Jefferson directed tnt
dusty bundle, to which the lad chung te
the last, to be taken to spare bed
room, and announced his inienti' II O
keeping the owner thereof as his gre It