The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-07-19
Tales Of Ye 0lden Time In Washington
City.

Be pleased to take seats gentlemen.
I am going to tell some true stories.
promise not to bore you.
Lemonoski came TO this country many
years ago, and succeeded in obtaining o
clerkship in the Postofiice Department.
According to his account Of himself he
had been soldier under the great Ma
poleon. Nothing pleased him better
than to meet with an opportunity Of re-
citing his military exploits. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that some of them were
marvellous and always excited smile OF
incredulity. At length fellow-clerk
said to him:
"Lemonoski, I have often heard you
fight over your old battles, now let me
give you my sad military experience. /
was soldier in the Black Hawk war. In
the very first engagement 1 saw three
stalwart Indians coming in full speed
after my scalp. 1 was armed with an
oldfashioned double-barreled shotgun.
j let her loose upon the two that were in
the lead, and killed them as dead as Jul
irls Caesar. The third came rushing
upon me with his bloody tomahawk
raised above his head, and what do you
suppose happened them"
"You killed him, Of course"
"Not exactly" quietly replied the
Black Hawk warrior; "he killed me-"
A roar Of laughter was raised among
the bystanders and poor Lemonoski's
yarns We're knocked clear out OF him.
Gen. Jackson, about the year 1882,
gave Jimmie Maher the appointment Of
public gardener in Washington. Salary
81, 800 year and trimmings. The trim
mings, perhaps, amounted to much
larger sum. To keep the public grounds
In proper order were the duties to be
performed. Jimmie, when made his
acquaintance, knew every body from
Henry Clay down to Ephraim Frost, the
colorcd hack-driver. He was warm
hearted, liberal IrishmaR. He never
took a drink, save when he was thirsty,
and then he invited all the bystanders
to join him. He prided himself on his
adherence to what he called "dimocratic'
principles. Some hungry Wings in 1S4l
wanted his place, and Jimmie, for q
while, was very uneasy. One morning
he met Gen. Harrison in the public
grounds, and taking off his hat, he thus
addressed him:
81 presume this is Gineral Harrison,
Prudent of the United States"
Receiving all affirmative answer, he
continued: "My name is Maher. am
pooblic gardner.
"Well, Mr.. Maher, l like the appear
ance of these grounds; they look in much
better condition than they did when l
was Senator"
"Och, its me trade; was fotched up to
it; but, may it plaze your Honor, it's
rumored about here that I'm to be dis
missed"
Dismissed for what2"
because was friend to Mr.. Van
Buren,"
"No, Mr.. Maher, nobody is author.
lied to say that you will be dismissed on
that account"
"a thousand thanks to your Excel
lency. You see 1 was acquainted with
Mr.. Van Buren. He always treated mt
like gentleman, and I was for him; but
have no doubt after we get little bet
ter acquainted 1 shall be for YOU"
Harrison smiled, and assured him that
he had no idea Of turning him out.
Whereupon Jimmie broke down to the
place where he had some hands at work
and gave them report of his interview
He closed it with this grand exclamation
"By Jove, boys, Prizident Harrison
is rale Gineral Jackson Of fellow!"
About three weeks after the inaugrIra.
ton of Gen. Harrison well-dressed
young man Of some thirty summers
walked into one of the hotels Of this city
with fiddle on his arm and said:
"Gentlemen (all eyes were at onct
turned upon him). I have come here
like thousands of others to see what
could see ard get what I could get; but
L have been disappointed in everything.
got no office, got out of money, and
got many miles to retrace; am too hon
est to steal, too pround to beg, and
concluded to come in here to-day and
make little in an honest way"
Suiting the action to the word. he be.
gan 10 play the fiddle. This comical
scene afforded considerable amusement
10 the persons there assembled. They
asked him how much money it would
take to carry him home. He said $40.
In less than ten minutes that amount was
raised for him. Sitting down and count.
ing over his money, he found that they
had given him $43.
"By George!" said he, "here's sur
plus Of SO. Come in, gentlemen, all o
you, and take something to drink"
never saw nor heard Of him after
ward. have regretted that 1 did nc
learn his name aud keep the hang of him
The chances are that he has since file
some high political position. Washing
tom Letter.