Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-11-18
The Officer Who Never Drank

In the early part Of the late war. when
General Grant WAS in command of the army
before Vicksburg, number of officers were
gathered at his headquarters having social
tins. One of them invited him to join him
in social glass; all but one accepted. He
asked to be excused, saying that he never
drank" The hour passed, aud each went
his way to his respective command.
few days after this the officer who re-
fused to drink received note from General
Grant TO report at headquarters. He obeyed
the order, and was soon in the presence Of
the General. Grant said to him, '.You arc
the officer, believe, (for their acquaiutance
was slighO who remarked the other day that
you never drank" He modestly answered
that no was. "Then," continued the Gen.
eral, "you arc tho man have been looking
for to take charge of the Commissary DEPART
meu:, aud order that you be detailed to
that duty" He served his country faith
fuIIy until the close of the war aud was hon-
orabIy discharged. Years passed, and Grant
had come to be President. The officer had
settled down to the duties of private life. and
tho little incident was cherished as pleas.
ant memory.
The trouble on the border between Texas.
and Mexico along the Rio Grande attracted
the attention of Congress. aod commission.
was ordered to ascertain the facts and report.
Again President Grant remembered the man
who never drank and appointed him chair
man to the board. The place was accepted,
and he entered faithfully upon the work.
The report submitted shows the thoroughness,
with which thesduty was discharged.
While engaged in this work he made tho
acquaintance of gentleman who owned an
| extensive cattle rancho in Southern Texas.
| The acquaintance inspired confidence, and,
years after, when the Texan gentleman de-
cided to sell his rauch, be placed it in the
hands of the man who ''neyer drank, and
| during the last month he has effected sale,
to an English company, Of the ranch OF
| 100000 acres Of land and several thousand
mead of cattle for an even million Of dollars;
! out Of this he gets a commission that will be
a snug fortune In these lard times. The
company that bought will enter largely upon
! packing beef for foreign markets, slaughtsrs
ing their meat on their ranch from their own
herds. The superiuteDdence of their busi-
ness has been rendered to the man who
'snever drank, !" and he goes IN a fey days to-
his new field of labor. This takes from Chs
csgo one of her most esteemed and honored
citizen. bpt IL gives one to Texas who will
ALWAYS be found on the side OF order and
good government - Chicago Alliance:
A WISE DEAcox-''Deaoon Wilder, Z
want you to tell me bow you kept yourself
and family so we'll the past season. whom an
the rest Of Us have been sick so much, and
have had the doctors running to Us so long"
"Bro Taylor, the answer is very easy. 4
used Hop Bitters in time and kept my famis
" we'll and saved large doctor bills. Three
dollars worth OF It kept rs all well aud abba
to work all the time; and [ will warrant it
has cost You and most Of the neighbors ono.
to two hundred dollars apiece to keep sick
the same time. guess you'll take my medi-
cine hereafter" See another column.
Sewing Machine Needles. A.taebnea.s