Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-28
A NEW STORY ABOUT GRANT.

A NEW STORY ABOUT GRANT.
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, had entered
on that horrible declivity which begins
with the gilded tippling-saloon and ends
who shall say where? He was cap
able clerk. and his sprees and shortcom-
ings were condoned for the sake of the
memory of his honored father, Senator
-. But the road was sure !; and in
time. with discharge IN his pocket and
drunkard's record behind him, step by
step he passed the down grade of dissi-
patton, until wife, children, 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 trophy, and he began
the upward struggle. Wife and chill
dren came back; but who believes in a
reformed drunkard 2" 1t was strug-
gle for years to find bread for the little
ones, but he fought bravely. and, disap-
pointing those who looked 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. Con-
graduating him on his reform. he said
Il want to help you; what can l do ?"
81 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
l left blackened record. 1t may en-
courage others if l regain new name,
and | would be more useful in my for
mer position" The president wrote a
note to the secretary of that department
and handed it to the young man, who
left, but ere long returned with an anx-
ious face. "The secretary sent out word
that my application would 60 on file ]"
The president, with an iron-clad exple-
tive, said: "You can't put your wife
and children on file. can you?" Writ
ing another note and handing it to him,
he said: "Give this in person and bring
me an answer" Armed with this mis-
sive he confronted the awful presence
beyond the baize doors and met an i'm
patient refusal. "What shall tell the
president ?" he calmly inquired. THAT
there are no vacancies" When this was
delivered at the White House the imper-
turbable Grant, biting the end of cigar,
seized a red ink pen and wrote across
the face of his former note, MAKE a
vacancy. or l will !'' Take that and
bring his answer" Yet again did the
young man return unsuccessful. The
president obtained temporary employ
ment for his friend, taking him in person
to another department, aud awaited the
cabinet meeting the following day. Here
the president seemed as quietly imper.
turbable as sphinx. AS the members
left the room the president followed Sec
retary - to the door, and said: "By
the way, Mr.. Secretary. who would you
recommend for your successor % The
astonished gentleman replied. and, pass
ing to another department, wrote hasty
resignation and sent it in. He was re
lieved of his portfolio the following day
That young man made excellent use o.
the faith shown in him by this wonder
full judge of character. and rose to &
position of eminent usefulness and re
spectability, which he occupies to-day
in one of the largest cities IN our land
So did the friendless stranger win hi
place and the honorable secretary los'
his, because the warrier chief had traced
his course in lurid characters, not will
sword tip but with pen, MAKE vacan
cy or will" and now, as of yore, t.
say was to do. and the man who "woulC
fight it out on this line," etc., undeviat
lngly kept his word Washington Re
public.