The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-07-25
HE BECAME A COMMODORE.
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One day when Thomas Jefferson va. riding through Virginia on his way from Washington to Monticello he came upor a boy trudging along with his clothes 1T a satchel, which hung on a stick from hi. shoulder. He stopped the gig and asked the young man if he did not want to ride
 The youth looked at him a moment in 2 bold way and finally said yes. He wa. motioned to get in, and in a moment he was sitting by the side of the president who opened the conversation by asking who he was and where he was going. He replied that his name was Morgan and that he was going home from school, ana continued by putting the same question to the president, saying "I beg your pardon, strana CT, but what may your name be z"
 The president replied, My name is Thomas Jefferson"
 The boy looked up astonished and asked. Mot Thomas Jefferson, presi- dent of the United S,ates2"
 "Yes," replied Jefferson, and as he did so the boy jumped from the gig and into the road, saying, have heard of you, Tom Jefferson. My father says you are rascal, and wouldn't he thrash me if he caught me rdin' with you2 Father knows you, and he thinks you're the big gest scoundrel in the countryI"
 :" No, he doesn't" replied the president. " l know him very well. We are good friends personally, though not politically. He won't care if you ride with me. am not bad fellow get in." Still the young man refused to get in. He reiser- ated the statement that he believed Jef- ferson to be a rascal, but finally was per- suaded, and again took his seat in the gig.
 During the conversation which followed Jefferson succeeded in making a friend of him, and on parting told him that if he would come to Washington he would give him an office to prove that he was his friend. "No, you won't," said the boy. "You will forget me-" "No, I will not" answered Jefferson, and with that the two parted.
 Some months afterward young Nor gan, becoming disgusted with things about home, concluded to run off and go to Washington after his office. He stole oil one night with his clothes in bundle on a stick over his shoulder, and walked to Washington. When he got to the clty-it was nothing but muddy village then-he was covered with dust, and his boots were the color of clay. He went, however, just as he was, to the White House, and finding the door open walked boldly into room where he saw Jeffer- son writing, bending over the table. He went up to him, and skipping his hand on his shoulder, said, Hello, Tom Jef- teIson I've come after that office
 The president looked up, but he could not remember the boy. Noting his amazement young Morgan continued: !" There l told you you would not re- member me when came here." Jeffer- son replied that his face was familiar and on Morgan telling who he was, the president greeted him kindly and asked him to be seated. He then called the servant and sent the boy to be brushed up, asking him if he had another suit of clothes, to which he replied he had. He was then given room in the White House, and the president told him to look about for few days and see what kind of an office he wanted. This young Morgan did, and at the end of the 6ist day told Jefferson he believed he would take colonelcy in the army.
 President Jefferson laughed, and told him that the colonels were always old men. He must take something else, but not to be in hurry, to look around and see the city. He then sent a midship- man with him to make things pleasant for him, and in day or two young Nor gan decided that he would rather be a than anything else. Jeffer- son at once gave him the appointment, and he went on ship immediately. He made splendid naval officer, and he died commodore.