Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-02-24
Helena, Montana, Thursday, February "a, 1881.
ssMAKE 4 VACANCY OR WILL
A ReminIscence of s'The Silent Man'.-
His Quiet Method of Doing Business.

Reminlscence of s'The Silent Manu.
His Quiet Method of Doing Business.
During the late administration of Grant
there chanced to be young man in one of
the departments, who, like so many others
then and now, he had entered on that hor-
rible declivity which begins with the gilded
tippling saloon and ends-who shall say
where? He was a capable clerk, and his
sprees and shortcomings were condoned for
the sake of his honored father, Senator -.
But the road was sure; and in time, with a
discharge in his pocket and drunkard's re-
cord behind him, step by step he passed the
down grade OF dissipation, until wife, chill
dren, and friends cut loose, and the quOndam
gentleman slept in the parks and lived on
charity. He was abandoned by all-all save
the angel of mercy lowering near, though
unseen. A temperance reform movement
claimed him as a trophy, and he began the
upward struggle. Wife and children came
back ; but who believes in a reformed drunk
ard 2" 1t was a struggle for years to find
bread for the little ones, but he fought brave
ly, and, disappointing those who locked for
his failure, he held on, and even saved others
from going over the precipice. President
Grant, who had known his father, heard of
his struggle and sent for him. COngratula-
ting him on his reform, he said:
Il want to help you; what can do?'
Il want work" was the reply.
You shall have it. Where would you
prefer to gO-in new scenes or Old?"
The young man said: Send me, sir,
where | left a blackened record. 1t may en-
courage others if / regain a good name, and
l would be more useful in my former posi-
ton"
The President wrote note to the S'ecre-
tary of that department and handed it to the
young man, who left, but ere long returned
with an anxious face. s5
'The Secretary got word that my applica-
tiOn would go on tile!"
The President, with an iron-clad expletive,
said: You can't put your wife and chill
dren on file, can you?' Writing another
note and handing it to him, he said Give
this in person and bring me an answer"
Armed with this missive he confronted the
awful presence beyond the baize doors and
met an impatient refusal. ..-..sa.a..
What shall tell the President?" he
calmly inquired
That there are no vacancies
When this was delivered at the White
House the imperturbable Grant, biting the
end of a cirgar, seized a red ink pen and
wrote across the face Of his former note:
Make vacancy, or | will" Take that
and bring his answerw
Yet again did the young man return un-
successful. The President obtained tempor-
aTy employment for his friend, taking him
in person to another department. and awaited
the cabinet meeting the following day. Here
the President seemed as quietly imperturba-
BILE as a sphinx. AS the members left the
room the President followed Secretary
to the door, and said: by the way, Mr..
Secretary, who would you recommend for
your suscessor?' The astonished gentleman
replied, and passing into another department,
wrote a hasty resignation and sent it in. He
was relieved of his portfolio the next day.
That young man made excellent use of
the faith shown in him by this wonderful
Judge OF character, and rose to a position Of
eminent usefulness and respectability, which
he occupies to-day in one of the largest cities
of our land. So did the friendless stranger
win his place and the Honorable Secretary
lose his because the warrior chief had traced
his course in lurid characters, not with sword
tip, but with pen. Make vacancy, or
will; y and now, as OF yore, to say was to do
and the man who would fight it out on this
line" ETC., undeviatingly kept his word.