The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-01-05

lotteville, Va. He preferred this mode
of travel to the stage-coach, and OF all
railways there were none then between
Washington and his rural residence.
On one OF his trips he saw boy poorly
clad trudging along the roadside, and
accosted him, asking him If ne would
like to ride.
The boy promptly and frankly accept
ed the invitation, and soon charmed his
unknown friend by his ingenious, boy
ish conversation. After time Mr.. JEFF
ferson asked his companion il he had
ever heard OF Tom Jeffersonp son, yes"
was the quick response. "My dad says
he's the - rascal ever lived" Moth
ing daunted by this unexpected candor,
the President continued the conyersa-
tion, and when. in reply to allusions
purposely made to Tom Jefferson, the
La lad would i exolai@ a...is that dad said aid
country" he would say, in ex-
postulation, "Oh, perhaps you would not
lind him such bad fellow, alter ALL"
When he reached the point where his
companion must leave him, MIR. Jetfer-
son said, as the boy leaped lightly to the
ground, You can tell your dad you have
had ride with Tom Jefferson and he is
not such bad fellow" "Durned Ii /
doP' exclaimed the youth. "Dad would
give me the worst licking / ever had if
he knew l had been riding with you."
ence, Mr.. Jefferson said, in kindly
tone: SNOW, my fine little fellow. 1
want you to come to see me at the White
House in Washington, and you'll find
Pm not as bad as your dad thinks me-"
The boy, with bare acknowledgment
of the friendly invitation, ran off toward
his home. He was, however, sufficiently
impressed to tell "dad'' that he was
asked to 60 to see the President at the
White House, and meant to 60. "None-
sense" sneered the parent, "when you
ems you are" ''No, he WON'T" persisted
the lad, ''and Pm agoing." He was as
good as his word. His fall supplies,
hOmespun suit and a change of under
clothing, had just been completed; ana
one morning, donning the new suit and
new shirt, and putting the remainder
of his personal effects up in hand
kerchief, ne twisted stick through his
baggage, slung IL over his shoulder, and
started briskly off to walk to Washing
ton te see his friend. In due time the
brave youngster reached the capital
city, and inquiring his way to the White
House soon found himself at the en-
trance. To the servant who appeared
in response to his vigorous blows on the
panel OF the door he boldly demanded to
see "TOm" Jefferson. "He's at dinner
and has company" replied the attend
ant, not little astonished al the audac-
ity of the trayel-stained boy with his
bundle. "ThaPs nothing" promptly the
young adventurer answered." she told
me to come here to see him, and I'VE
come. and faint ag0ing off without see
ing him, so you now had better 60 tell
him Pm here"
There was no choice but to obey, so
the servant went to the dining-roon and
told his master that a boy was outside
who said he must see the President, as
he had been told TO come. Mr.. Jefferson
at. once ordered the intruder to be
brought iu, and the shabby youth, with
his bundle still over his shoulder, found
himself in the midst Of a estate" dinner.
party. But nothing daunted by his
strange position when the President in
genuine ast0nishment exclaimed: "Who
calculated: "Dern it, that's just what
aad said you'd say il l come here.
I'm Charles Morgan, and you axed
me ter come when l was riding with
you t'other day." $50 l did,n re.
piled 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
10 be placed at the table, and Charles
Morgan took seat with undiminished
assurance among the fine ladies and
gentlemen. Mr.. Jefferson. directed the
dusty bundle, TO which his young friend
had clung to the last, to be taken to q
spare bedroom, and announced his in
iention OF keeping the owner thereof as
his guest. Alter a few days, during
which the President had greatly enjoyed
the outsp0ken frankness and fearless ma
ture of the acquaintance picked up by
the way side, he inquired of young Morgan
what he could uo tor him. "What would
you like to be when you are man, my
fine feliowW he asked. II want to be a
Colonel" was the answer, In which
Charlie persisted in reply TO the Ques-
tion whenever put to him, until .One day
a playfellow was brought to him in the
shape of a young midshipman. When,
after enjoying The society of his new ac-
quaintance for a short time, the Presi-
dent once more questioned him as to his
wishes in regard to his future, he had
made up his mind with his customary
decision that nothing but the navy
would meet his desires.
To his great delight Mr.. Jefferson told
him his wishes in that respect could be
gratified. The sequel to the story is
easily. told. The boy entered the navy
and served his country nobly durlng the
remainder OF his life. And Commodore
Morgan, / am told by those who knew
him best, always preserved the honest
simplicity OF character and the fearless
ness which SO attracted "Tom" Jefferson
when he met the outspOken Charley
Morgan on the Virginia highway.