The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-28

President Arthur has had much of the
same experience and it goes without
saving that P~residept-eiect Cleveland
will encounter like persuasive influences.
unless it should turn out TO be true, as
is reported, that be viii bring with him
q bride to brighten the White House.
An OFFICE THAT WAS VACANT.
During the incumbency Of Mr.. Buch-
auaii there was a vacancy in the post
off e al the secluded hamlet oil Ring
gold, Bieuville Parish, La. of which the
department here was not informed until
two months had elapsed, as is explain
ed il the appended letter:
RINGGoLD, La, Dec. IL. 1858.
DEAR Nix BUCHANAN:-I should
have wrot TO you fully two months ago,
but when the heart in its sorrow and grief
bows down the soul as the storm bears
down the vessel on the ocean deep the
mind is not fully prepared to act or the
pen TO guide the words that duty prompts
Ny poor hus band, who was the post
master for seven years, deceased two
months ago to-day and | have been in
the shadow of the valley OF woe, though
have never failed to perform the duties
OF the post office here, as the mail rider
will inform you that all letters and pa
pers have been delivered prompt. My
poor William died of the n~ewinonia.
contrackted from a trip on horseback
to Browns Landing, on the Biz Redo
which it poured rain all the way and
back and poor, a man never left hn
bed. But the sunlight comes after the
cloud and my poor William Is happy.
while he fire burns brightly on the
hearth, and | set here and think of YOUR
lonely condition Mr.. Buchanan. Oh |
have had such sorrow that | yearn to
comfort those who are sad and LONELY.
II is IL days to christmas and | hope
you will not think me forward in sending
you a box of christmas presents. They
are not fine but the widows mite whose
heart warns toward the good man sit
ting all alone in the white house while
there are many loving persons who
would tain cheer him up. Accept these
from a woman whose heart is sad but
young, whose purse is free but not long,
and believe me that | will continue to
act faithful in managing the post office
which my poor William crest his soul)
attended to for seven years and three
months to the satisfaction of all the
nelghbors. Yours in sympathy
WITH ms letter came the the presents
alluded to. There was a neat but rude
ly made pin and and needle book com.
bined. also a homemade flannel case,
with scissors, thimble and bodkin, aud
a piece OF beeswax cut in the shape of a
heart. A long row of buttons, of great
variety, for coats, vests, truosers and
shirts, were strung on a fancy chord.
There was also a square calico bag for
socks and stockings, such as used to
hang up behind doors for convenience. |
A small package of Christmas cake, with !
a card inscribed president Buchanan.
from a distant but true admirer," COM
pleted the list. THAT is an honest,
good woman" said Mr.. Buchanan, when
he had read the letter. Then he direct
ed a secretary to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of the box and to advise her that
she would be continued at the Ringgold
post office.
WHY HE RESIGND.
During the administration of Presidens
Hayes the postmaster at q remoee office In
gave a singular reason for re-
his truth. Writing to the First
Postmaster. General, he said.
II desire and hereby give up and sur
the Post Office, of course lukkins
after things until my successor is an
| recommend JEFF Taylor, who
hasn't much to do. You know the pay is
only $40 a year and it has cost me half
crop as well a. neglect Of my store
fur I've been in a fuss fron the first
month alter | took hold. line a man
who shames the devil to tell the truth.
The tact Is I've got a wife and her two /
sisters who live in the store where the 5
Post office is and theirs bin some terreble I
rows about openin letters which | don't t
acuse ennybody but everybody has Their
suspicious. But wimmin will be wimmin !
As long as their Is curiosity which the
snake put into them ever since the DAYS
If the garden Of Eaden. And don't
to eat buckshot aud butchers
knlves for the sake Of $40 a year. Please
ct me know at once or / will tell the
nail rider to go on t. the next office.
Yours truly, -"
Nearly every President has been more
,r less troubled by "early friends" who
'nly remember theif youthful intimacy
With the man who had gotten at the
lead Of the procession and who failed
o realize the fact that they had been so
ar outgrown as to become almost for
Probably Andrew johnson was !.
more annoyed IN this way than any other |
Jhicf Magistrate the country ever had
lie never could get rid of the common
lay that surrounded him when he began 4
he struggle for promotion. A humber
y letters from these original friends are
till extant. Two of them are now 10
of an official in the War De- 4
,artment, who enjoyed the friendship of y
ar. johnson. One of them, with the '
omitted, is appended:
A LETTER TO ANDY JOHNSON.
MONTERREY. Tenn February 2, 1866.
DEAR ANDY: Possible YOU have
your old friend who knowed
GU so we'll thirty years ago in Green
lille, but l guess not. | r~ecolect the first
eeh you ever made Andy. Well you
I'M living here in McNairy county
here the hill land is So poor it won't
Drout COW peas. but the hammock lands
good for 40 bushels Of corn to the
,ker. Andy line brakin land now and
Ill soon be plantin. | hearn that puv-
is going to give farmers oil kinds
seeds. My wife seq to me write to
ndy about it. Now Andy kin | git
eds for garden truck Write head cab
lge, sheilot onions, parsley. turnips
Heet kind, l%ettis, redlshes, sweet corn.
lsh pertaters (about l bushen, carrots.
ny beans, green peas, blackide peas,
ring beans, s~quashes, mush m%elliops.
ID water millions also if you kin git the =,
sht sort. You needen send no punkin j
ad, but Sarah Ann O che uorlI IN =