Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-13
How Postmaster General Key was
keCOnStrUcted.
las Told by Col. A. X. Mcclure

las IOlU COL a. IL. MCCLURE
Upon the surrender OF the rebels, Lieut-Col.
Key, OF Tennessee regiment, found himself
In North Carolina very poorly off for clothes.
surrounded by his wife and six children, also
poor in raiment, without dollar of money that
would buy a raSher OF bacon and pint OF corn
meal. He had a few dollars of confederate
money, but it was not worth the dirty paper it
was printed upon. Judge Key says 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
thinks the lining was the blacklist part OF the
clouds. He knew not where to turn. Nearly
everybody about him was as poor as he was. and
the suffering through the section OF the state in
which he found himself was very great. He an-
pealed TO his wife, woman OF stout heart, who
still blessed his existence and She was more
hopeful. He had nothing in the world but q half
starved mule that had been his war-horSe for
many months. This was before the days of the
commune and lie didn't know that mule meat
was good; besides, he did not want 10 kill his
war-hosse that had carried him through so
many deadly breaches. Before Judge Key and
his excellent family, however, had reached that
point where prayers take the place of hunger,
relief came. An old resident OF North Carolina
heard OF Keys necessities, and help him out.
He gave him seed to SOW, a shanty to live in and
some land TO ill., also SNAIL supply OF bacon
ard corn meal.
The Judge then went to work. He beat his
sword into plowShare and he beat his fiery
charger into plOw horse. He worked with hts
little family and lived Scantily the whole sum-
nier long. There was no fancy farming about
it. 1t was hard work and small nubbins. When
the corn was sold the judge had $50 in despised
Yankee gTeenbackS. .'Too fruitful love his
fruitless life outran," however. He had SO
many children that he could not pay their fare
by the railroad. His $50 would not reach. 50
ne decided TO go across country with his war
Eorse and rgged-up cart. The fluctuations of
That journey the judge will never forget. His
wife insisted 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 retraced their steps, and heaven rewarded
them. The cotton purse, with its priceless con-
tents. was found on 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 had
been intimate with Andrew Johnson, who was
then President. They had been close friends in
Tennessee, but he did not know to what lengths
Johnsonfs temper would carry him. johnson
proposed to hang all the rebels at that time. SO
Key, while he was In North Carolina, bethough
MN 10 write to johnson and see what would
come OF It. The people were in a very unhappy
uncertain and anxious state OF mind, and Key
wrote all the circumstances at length. He
awaited reply with a good deal OF apDrahea
sloA IL came In due course OF mail-a very
KIND, Drotherly letter, irclosing pardon Juiga
Key had not asked for this and he WAS omit !,
overwhelmed. He says he has In his time ha1
some important and interesting papers in his
hands, but he shall never treasure a Document
as he treasures that.