The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-12-13
JUDGE KEYS DARK DAYS.
BY COL. A. X MCCLURE.

Judge Key, the Postmaster General i,
not only the best natured man in the Cahi-
net, but does not hesitate to tell joke upon
himself. 1t was upon the surrender of the
rebels that Lieut.-Col. Key, of Tennessee.
Rebel regiment, found himself in North
Carolina, very poorly off for clothes, sur.
rounded by his wife and six children, also
poor in raiment, without dollar of money
that would buy rasher of bacon and pint
of corn meal. He had few dollars of Con-
federate money, but it was not worth the
dirty paper it was printed upon. Judge
Key says that the world has seemed dark to
him before now, and that the silver lining
Of the clouds that the poet sings about was
not even German silver. Indeed, he think
the lining was the blacklist part of the
clouds. He knew not where TO turn
Nearly everybody about him was rs poor a.
he was, and the suffering through the sec
ton of the State in which he found himself
was very great. He appealed to his wife, Z
woman of stout heart, who still blesses his
existence, and sha was more hopeful He
had nothing in the world but half-starved
mule that had been his war horse for MANY
months. This was before the days of the
Commune, and he didn't know that mule
meat was good besides, he did not want II
kill his war horse that had carried him
through so many deadly breaches. Before
Judge Key and bis excellent family, how
ever, had reached that point where prayers
f.b ba nf ;af Az,
old resident of North Carolina heard OF
Keys necessities and helped him out. He
gave him seed to SOW, Il shantyto live i'll anu
some land to till, also Il snail supply OF
bacon and corn meal.
The Judge then went to work. lie beat
his sword into plowshare and he beat his
fiery charger into a pillow horse. He worked
with his little family and lived scantily the
whole Summer .ong. There was no fancy
farming about it. 1t was hard work and
small nubbins. When the corn was sold
the Judge had eighty dollars in despised
Yankee greenbacks. "Too fruitful love his
fruitess life outran," however. He had so
many children that he could not pay their
fare by the railroad. His eighty dollars
would not reach. So he decided to 60 across
the country with his war horse and rugged
up cart. The tribulations of that journey
the Judge will never forget. His wife in
sisted on carrying the money for fear it
would be lost, and finally she lost it, and
there was wailing in the camp. The heavy
hearted party retracted their steps, and
heaven rewarded them. The cotton purse,
with its priceless contents, was found or
the ground where Mrs. Key had slept
Then there was joy and Thanksgiving. No
doubt they issued an extra ration Of corn
meal to the children that night.
Judge Key says that he had been intimate
dent. They had been close friends in Tar
nessec. but he did not know to what length
Johnson's temper would carry him. John
sons proposed to hang all the rebels at thar
time. So Key, while he was in North Car
lima, bethought him to writet to johnson ar'l
see what would come of it. The people
were in a very unhappy, uncertain and
anxious state of mind, and Key wrote al
the circumstances ut length. He awaited :.
reply with good deal of apprehension. Il
came in due course of mail--a very kind,
bretherly letter, inclosing a pardon. Judgn
Key had not asked for this, and he was quite
overwhelmed. He says he has in his time
had some important and interesting paper
in his hands, but he shall never treasure .
document as lie treasures that. What bc-
came of the Judges mule l never heard.
Probably it closed its career rs all children'o
stories end-by living in peace, dying il
grace and being buried in :: hunk of tallow.
Mrs. Key, who lost the money, is now the
popular wife of the Postmaster General, a.
handsome and genial a matron rs you CAL
find in weeks travel. She is the mother
of nine children and is in the full blush -
miidle-aged wsmanhoed.