The Portland daily press., 1878-11-09
Fear Glaciers Pension.

Fear Glaciers Pension.
"For my part, I haven't the slightest in
terest In the future of this country" said
Fear Glazier, as her parents were discussing
late events with their new neighbors, the
Havens. 81 presume should feel quite diff
fereutly if my husband had not been killed in
the war of the rebellion"
Haven, in concert, with inquiring gances.
Then the lady added, 81 beg your pardon,
but you look so young had no idea you were
a widow"
"Oh, am not" laughed Fear, amused
that the little sally should have been taken
literally. "We were not married nor even
engaged; in fact, don't know that we ever
met. But do you suppose that young lady
with my good points, handsome, stylish, in.
tellectual, capable of appearing adyantageousy
In parlor, or in kitchen as cook, laundress or
seamstress. to say nothing of my abilities as
an amateur in the musical line, and my talent
Tor dress making and millinery, would have
arrived at the mature age of twenty, unoved,
and even unwooed, if the man who was Gre
ated for me-my other hall, according to Pla-
to had not in some foul way been made way
with? In what way was it so likely to have
happened as in the army during our late little
unpleasantness, when our brave young men
were slain by tens of thousands? Don't
shake your head at me, mother must ex-
press my opinion. Let the disinterested and
unforlorn bridge the bloody chasm if they can,
shall never be able to get into such willing
frame of mind"
Her listeners were laughing immoderately.
OIL 0nOhf tn hqUQ q ropoior - rlz I'd
Mr. Haven. Fear clapped her hands in de-
light, exclaiming: $50 had never thought
OF that before you have no idea how grateful
feel towards you, Mr.. Haven. I have been
telling people for years that my husband was
Killed in the late war, and that it was in very
bad taste as well as unfeeling to call me an
old maid. And you, dear Mr.. Haven, are the
trst person who has expressed the slightest
interest in my forlorn condition. Out of graf
ltude to you have great mind to apply"
'Sh-sh," said her mother-you could al
ways hear this sibilant sound when Fear was
running on in Mrs. Glaciers presence-but
her daughter gave no heed.
do you think they would answer my ap-
plication at the department in Washington
How funny 1t would be-"
"Certainly; all the letters that mean busi-
ness are answered quite promptly. How long
delay there might be before your claim
would reach adjudication is another question.
But In the matter of this, your first letter, be
careful how you word it"
something like this, for instance" said
Fear, seizing bit of paper, writing rapidly
with pencil, and reading aloud:
The undersigned, supposing her husband to
& have been killed during the late war, hereby
"pb6'ies for a pension.
1ieaSe address Fear Glazier.
. Nv. e7-St., Montpelier, Vt.
Lnere, that is non CunAoittal. I do not
say that pension is due me, or that I have
valid claim to one, or that think can gei
one. They will, perhaps, notice my odd Pu.
Iltan ame, and won't mistrust am in fun
anu, Mr.. daven, you know you are a LAWYER
it" "-' so"o iio"
surely not; don't see how the govern.
ment could set up fraud from this initiatory
act on your part in such q case. although
should not advise every young lady of nv ac-
quaintance to take such a course. In the
present instance do not think it obiectiona.
Die, only be sure you show the reply to ns.
and afterward keep your own counsel. Copy
Wnat you nave written and direct simply.
c." s0on' ~
"Can !, may I, father?" asked Fear. ca
pering across the room and standing in front
OF the person addressed; "and may I have
the letters sent nj. to Rutland, and will you get
II don't care yes, Mr.. Haven is nv LAWYER
and would not counsel my daughter to get
into trouble with Uncle SAM"
30 tne next morning the letter was mailed.
ana IN Just weeks time an answer came. a
huge, document-like epistle, directed to Mrs.
rear dlazier. IL was short and to the point,
being printed form with the blanks filed In
beautifully fine, clear hand:
OFFICE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
May 10, 1876.
Will the claimant please state particulars.
giving name, age and color of deceased SOL
dier; also his regiment and company, and
when and where enlisted?
COMMISSIONER,
per j. j.
y. J.'-that means Jumping jack" said
Fear as she displayed the letter to the Ha-
vens, and she concluded they must think the
matter wonderfully funny one, judging from
s'And now what?" queried Mr.. Haven.
"Oh, intend to answer it; indeed have
my reply already written; there it is," taking
it from one of the pockets of her iaunty
basque and handing it to the gentleman. Il
should like to see this Mr.. Jumping Jack.
who writes this splendid copper-plate hand.
when he reads it. I presume he is old and
gray. and paterfamilias withal. OF course
he is precise or he couldn't write like that
What do you think?
Mr. Haven unfolded the heavy sheet of let
ter-paper handed to him, and read slowly
what was written in the elegant running
hand, his wife, looking over his shoulder.
laughing immoderately:
RUTLAND, W., May 10, 1873,
Commissioner of Pensions, Washington,
SIR-The letter from your department was
duly received. 1t will be impossible for the
claimant to satisfactorily reply to the interro-
CATION given, as the department requests, she
never having seen the man referred to and
not even knowing his name; she is, however,
OF the honest belief that his color was white.
The claimant, in common with many young
ladies' IN the present enlightened age, being
LETT to fade on the parent stem where she
budded, and now in full bloom thereon !:
and, of course, supposing her husband that
was to be must have been killed in the late
war, she considers herself entitled to some
compensation therefor, and has concluded
that her loneliness would be more tolerable
could the government be induced to commits
crate her state of siBgularity in the way of
granting ner pension.
Another ten days passed, and as Mr.. and
MRS. haven were again making social call
upon the Glaciers, Mr. Glazier came in with
second missive from the pension depart
ment-not printed form this time, only
with the official heading, saying that
After due consideration and investigation.
the department has reason to believe that
Fear Glaciers husband was not killed as She
supposes. In fact, it is believed that he is
living in Washington at the present time.
The name of the suspected person is Jacob
johnson, who is clerk in this Office. This
individual has been interviewed and the de-
partment believes that if Fear Glazier could
be induced to correspond with the aforesaid
Jacob johnson, the whole matter would be
satisfactorily arranged without the interfer-
ence of the government.
''What is to be done now?" asked Fear in
her turn. "The affair looks serious"