Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-03-18
SENATOR WADE AND THE OFF,
GERS WIFE.
General Brisbiu in the Philadelphia Press

General Brisbiu in the Philadelphia Press]
The ladies were never afraid of MIR. Wade,
IN certain way, as they often were OF
public men. Wades heart was as pure as a
spring of water, and good man. One of
the brightest and most accomplished ladies in
Washington heard lady friend of hers say :
''What rough old bear of man that Mr.
Wade isl"
ooh no Oh not" she exclaimed, holding
up both her hands, ''don't say that he is
one of the gentlest and best of men," And
good reason had this charming woman to
think so, as will presently appear.
At the beginning OF the war, an army of
ficer, serving in Texas, sent his resignation
to brother, to be used only in case his
State seeded from the Union. The brother,
who was a strong SecessiOnist, at once sent
in the resignation and it was accepted. His
State did not 90 out of the Union, but the Of
ficer went out of the army. Soon after for
warding his resignation the officer made up
his mind to stick to the Union come what
might. He behaved with great gallantry,
and saved some three hundred soldiers to the
Union army when General Twggs surrender
ed. With these he made his way North, and
marched all the way to Fort Riley, Kansas.
He was dumbfounded on reaching this place
to learn he was no longer an officer, in fact
had been out of service over three months,
and had not a cent of pay due him with
which to get North. Borrowing some money
he hastened to Washington and laid his case
before the authorities, but they could not, or
would not, do anything for him.
The officer, after visiting all the Depart
ments, gave up in despair, went home and
told his wife they must starve, as the North
would not have his services and he could not
60 South and fight against the old flag. The
good wife cheered him up, and for weeks she
went about the Capitol trying to get her hus-
bands case reconsidered without success
The lady became discouraged, but she had a
large family of little ones, and for their sake
she resolved to persevere and see what would
come of it. She knew not what to do when
friend of hers said to her:
why don't you go and see old Ben Wade
of Ohio?"
"Oh," said she, ''they cay he is rough; a
terrible man indeed, and am in dread of 60
ing to him.,
''Never mind what they say" replied the
friend ''you 60 and see old Ben. and you
can tell US afterward about his peculiarities.
The next day the lady did call at Mr..
Wade's house, and learning he was in, tremb-
ling approached the dreaded presence. There
was nothing forbidding in Mir. Wade's looks,
and she soon, under the most gentleA encour-
agement, confded to him everythi G about
her husband case. When she came to speak
of her children she quite broke down and
sobbed most bitterly. Mr.. Wade. who had
been listening to her attentively, rose from
his chair, handed her a glass of water, and
said kindly, "Pray do not cry, madam; CON-
pose yourself it may not be 80 bad a case as
you imagine, and you should not despond un-
til I have tried what can do about it,"
The lady looked at him through her tears,
and, as she said afterwards, felt like hug
ging him around the neck. His were, in
deed, the first kind words she had heard for
weeks from any one in power, and she
naturally became at once deeply impressed
with Mr.. Wade's kindness of heart. She
dried her eyes and told the old Senator all
about it. Mrs. Wade, who heard this good
lady's story, was affected to tears herself,
and placing her arms around the distressed
sisters waist, patted her on the head and
said: ''Ihere. there, don't grieve; am sure
my husband will help you all he can you
don't know what kind heart he has, and
how deeply he feels always for those who
are in trouble"
"And the husband of such wife could not
be otherwise than good and kind man, but
they told me he was so rough" exclaimed the
lady.
''Who-me ?" roared old Ben.
eyes, sir; you"
"Damn them they lie, cried old Ben.
II know now they do, and that it is not
so, said the lady.
Every well, let it 20 at that" remarked
the Senator ''Just now we have other and
more important business on hand than dis
cussing our public reputation but, he added
after a pause, ''they do lie about me, and If
they say that again in your presence just tell
them, won't you, for me, they are set of
damned liars ?" Here was a message for a
lady to deliver that might we'll have astonish-
ed any one, and Mrs.--said as Wade
turned his earnest face toward her and utter
ed these words she could not help smiling,
though she had been crying but moment
before.
"Then you know this man to be really
loyal?'' said Wade.
.'He certainly is, replied the lady.
"And he would not fight against the Union
under any circumstances whatever"
"Never! never! never!"
s'Then," said Wade, ''we must have him
fight for us; not in the ranks, but as one of
its best officers, trust"
The lady had indeed made friend worth
having, and she went home with light
heart. There was more Joy that night in the
ex-army officers house than had been there
for many day.
Mr.. Wade learned, as the others had done,
the place had been filled and the new officer
confirmed. Just here, where almost any
other man would have stopped, Wade began
to work. The officer had held the commiss-
ion of major In the service. and as there was
no vacant majority to which he could be ap'
pointed, Wade tried to find him q captaincy.
Not even lieutenancy was vacant. so the
War Department folks said, but Wade one