Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1883-12-13
A STAFF TO LEAN UPON.
M. Brownlow Presented with a Cane
by the Employees Of the Folding

by the Employees of the Folding
Room.
Mr.. Brownlow was presented
with a handsome cane by the House
employees in the Folding Room or
Tuesday following the election of
his su cccssor.
In presenting the cane Mr.. Viii.
!iams, for the Folding Room, said:
Col. BRowNLow: As your sue
cessor, as Doorkeeper of the House
Of Representatives, has been chosen;
and the very pleasant relations that
have existed between us III about
to be severed, we, the employees,
Of one of the departments under
your supervision and control, deem
this a fitting occasion upon which
to express to you our appreciation
and esteem for you both as an Of
fetal and a gentleman.
And feeling that, in return for
the uniform kindness extended to-
ward us all, we owe to you an ex-
preston of gratitude that cannot be
conveyed in words alone, we have
called here. in a body for the pur>
pose Of giving expression to our
feelings in something more tangi>
BILE and enduring than words, and
which we trust may serve to reA
mind you OF the donors long after
our words shall have been forgot
ten. Allow me, therefore, in behalf
Of the employees of the Folding
Room, to present to you this cane.
And they ask that you accept it,
not on account of any intrinsic walls
ue that it may possess, but as a
free-will offering and a slight token
of their regard for you.
And as you lean upon it for sup
port during your long and weary
Journey back to Tennessee we trust
that the inscription upon it's head
may bring to you the consolation
that you are not treading the "wine-
press alone; but that you have
left behind . noble band Of mar
tyrs who are only awaiting the
summons trom the democratic Eek
ecutioner,' when they, too, must
cease from their labors and start
upon like pilgrimage. raL
Ard when at last, weary and
fo~ot-sore, you shall have reached
your far-away home, and have re-
cuperated from the effects Of so
tedious a journey, we hope that
nany years shall come and go be-
fore you will need to lean upon
this staff for support. ae A. ~.
But that the inscription upon it,
may stsnefimes serve to recall pleas
ant recollectiops of days gone BY
and this occasion be one of the
bright spots of the past, and one of
the ''sunbeams" that shall cast q
radiance over your future career, is
the earnest and heartfelt wish of the
Folding Room employees.
Accepting the cane Mr.. Brown
low said:
GENrLEMEs OF THE FoLDINe
RooM:--I have no words to express
my appreciation, Of your handsome
present-and the, sentiment that
stands behind it.
The cane itself. is a fine piece Of
workmanship and the day will
doubtless come when | shall! value
it for its own sake, but for the
present and for years, to come it
will be chiefly precious to me be-
cause it will remind me of this oc-
casion and of yon. For the kind
words with which you have chosen
to accompany the gift, you have my
warmest thanks. can only say
that l cordially ~reciprocate your
friendly feelings. During our in
tercouse of nearly. two years, l can
not recall the occurrence Ola single
unpleasant incident. That result is
in q large measure due to the uni
form courtesy and faithful service
that have characterized your of
fetal conduct. II the workings of
the Folding Room have been sue
cessful, the credit belongs to you
and not to me. 81
This cane will be to me q price
less treasure. 1t will occupy a
conspicuous corner of my fireside
and whenever ] lock. at it, l shall
recall with pride and gratitude the
events Of this hour, and when old
age shall make it necessary for me
to lean OH artificial support, | shall
turn with pleasure to this gift, and
say, "God bless the boys OF the
Folding Room Of the 18th Con-
gress." &