Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-03-18
Make a Vacancy or WIZ
Washington Republic.

During the late administration of Grant
there Glanced to be a young man In one
of the departments who, like SO many
others then and now had Cntered on that
terrible declivity which begins with the
gilded tippling saloon and ends-who can
tell where? He was d capable clerk .cand
his sprees and shortcomings were condOned
for the sake Of the memory of his honored
father, Senator -. But the road was
sure, and ia time. with discharge in his
pocket and drunkard's record behind
him, step by step he p ssed the down
q ade of dissipation, until wife, children
and friends cut loose, and the quandam
gentleman sleptin the parks and lived on
charity. He was abandoned by all-all
save the angel of chariCy lowering near
though unseen. A temperance reform
movement claimed him as trophy, aud
he began I'll upwa' d st uggle. VI ife and
children came back; but who believes in
reformed drunkard?" 1t was strug gle
ior years to find bread for the little ones,
but he fought bravey. and disappointing
those who l. oked for his failure, he held
on, and even saved others from going over
the precipice. President Grant, who had
known his father, heard of bis struggle
and sent for him. Congratulating him on
his reform he said:
al want to help you what can do?"
81 want work " was the reply.
"You shall have it. Where would you
prefer to go---in the new scenes or old?''
The young man ssid: ''Send me, sir.
where left blackened record. Ii may
encourage others if regain good name,
and | would be more useful in my foi mer
position
The President wrote note to the secreta-
ry of that department and handed it to
the young man, who left but e. long re-
turned with an anxious face.
''The secretary sent out word that my
application would gn on file.''
The P resident, with an iron clad exs
pletive, said: "You can't put your wife
and children on file, can your 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.
"What shall [ tell the President" he
calmly inquired.
"That there is no vacancies"
When this was delivered the White
House tie imperturable Grant, biting the
end of cigar SEIZE d red ink pen and
wrote across the face of his former note:
an AXE vacancy, o ] will!
lake that and bring his answer"
Yet again did the young man return
unsuccessful. The President OBJ aimed
temporary employment for his friend,
taking him in person to another depart
ment, and awaited the cabinet meeting
the following day, Here the President
seemed as quietly imperturable as a
sphinx AS the members left the room the
? esident followed Secretary-t to the
door, and said: By the way, Mr.. Secre
tary, who would you Recommend for
your SUCCESSOR The astonished gentle
man replied and passing to another
department wrote hasty resignation nd
sent it in. He w as relieved of his portfolio
the following 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 respectabbity,
which he occupies to day in one Of the
largest cities in our land. .r