The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-06-04
How Charley Morgan Became Conn
mOdOre

Col, Wintersmith, of Kentucky, told
the following good story of Thomas
Jefferson at the Ebbitt House last night
| do not think it has ever been pub
lished
Said he: ''One day when Thomas
Jefferson was riding through Virginia
on his way from Washington to Monti-
cello, he came upon a boy trudging
along with his clothes in a satchel,
which hung on a stick from his shoul-
der. He was motloned to get in, and in
moment he was sitting by the side of
the president, who opened the CONVEX
sation by asking him who he was, and
where he was going. He replied that
his name was Morgan, and that he was
going home from school, and contin-
ued by putting the same questions to
the president, saying: Il beg your
pardon, stranger, but what might your
name be?n
THE president replied, My name is
Thomas Jefferson
1.-The boy looked up astonished, and
asked, Not Tom Jefferson, president of
the United States?'
"'Yes, replied Jefferson, and as he
did so the boy jumped from the gig
and into the road, saying, i have heard
OF you, Tom Jefferson. My father says
you are rascal, and wouldn't he
thrash me if he caught me a ridin' with
you. Father knows you, and he thinks
you are the biggest scoundrel in the
countryn
'"No, he doesn't replied the pres
ident. 4 know him very well. We
are good friends, personally, though
not politically. He won't care if you
ride with me. l am not bad fellow;
get in Still the young man refused
to get in. He reiterated the statement
that he believed Jefferson to be a ras-
cal, but finally was persuaded, and
again took his seat in the gig.
During the conversation which fol-
lowed Jefferson succeeded in making
friend of him, and on parting told him
that if he would come to Washington
he would give him an office to prove
to him that he was his friend. No,
you won't, said the boy. You will
forget me- No, | 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
90 to Washington after his office. He
stole out one night with his clothes in
4 bundle on a stick over his shoulder,
and walked to Washington. When he
got to the city-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, up to the white house, and finding
the door open walked boldly into
room where he saw Jefferson writing,
bending over a table. He went up to
him, and laying his hand on his shoul-
der, said: Hello. Tom Jefferson, I've
come after that otfice! The president
looked up, but could not remember the
boy. Noting his amazed look the
young Morgan continued: There, l
told you you would not remember me
when came here Jefferson replied
that his face was familiar, and on Nor
gan telling who he was the president
greeted him kindly, and asked him to
be seated. He then called servant
and sent the boy off 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 first day told Jefferson he believed
he would take colonelcy in the army.
president Jefferson laughed, and
told him that the colonies 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 midshipman with him to make things
pleasant for him, and in day or two
young Morgan decided that he would
rather be midshipman than anything
else. Jefferson at once gave him the
appointment, and he went on ship
Immediately. He made a splendid
naval officer, and he died commo-
dore. ."-Carp IN CieUela1ad Leader.