The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-05-04
TWO CURIOUS LETTERS.
Andrew JOhnson's BOyhood Friend.-Gen.
Grants Co-Laborer.
Washington Cor. Chicago Tribune.I

Washington Cor. Chicago Tribune.l
Nearly every president has been more or
member their youthful intimacy - Siah4
man who has gotten at the head of the pro-
eession. and who failed to realize the fact
that they had been so far Outgrown as to
have become almost forgotten. Probably
Andrew johnson was moro annoyed in this
way than any other magistrate the country
ever had He never could get rid of the
common clay that surrounded him when he
began the struggle for promotion. A num-
Der of letters from these original friends are
still extant. Two Of them are now in the
possession of an official i'll the war depart
ment who enjoyed the friendship of Mr.
Johnson. One Of them, with the name
omitted reads as follows:
MONTEREY, Tenn, Feb. 2, 1856. DEAR
ANDEY: Possible you have forgotten your
old friend who knowed you 50 well thirty
years ago in Greenville, but L guess not
recollect the first speech you ever made
Andey Well you see l am living here III
McNairy county where the bill land IS 50
poor it won't sprout COW peas, but the nam
mock lands is good for fourty bushels to the
acker. Andey line brakin land now ana
will soon be plantin: hear that guoyerlirr
ment is goin to give farmers all kinds OF
seads My wife say to me write to Andey
about it. Now Andey kin L git seadS Tor
garden truck white bed CABBAGE shello5
onions parsley JurnlpS (Gne SWEEP h1iltlJ lSCJlo
redish sweet corn Irish pOtaters bout l
busheD carrots limy beans green peas black
ide peas string beans squashes cucumoers
mush millions and water millions also II you
send no punkin sead but Sarah
Ann SAYS she would like a few
improov termatter Seads If 1t don't
trubble you too much. Sarah Ann SEE II you
have eny seads for nice runnln vines slch as
something like iOnygourd vine with purity
white and red blossom she would like TO
have it. Also hav you got any grass sead
that beats the burmudy or timothy. Grazln
is preshous bad in McNairY county cept IN
the bottoms where the bull mats eat up the
stock in summer. Andey we thought wede
rase a right smart truck patch to SCI IN
Corinth which it amt but 10 miles to.
Andey l don't like to impose on good natur
but don't fail to send the seads direct to
Corinth post office. Andey Sarah Ann also
SEE she would like to have bout 10 pattern
Office reports. We've got we had before
the war as well as others and Sarah Ann SEE
the pattern reports look so nice on the shelves
and YOU bein an old frien1 sheze shure you'll
send them Andey don't fail me and remem-
Der your old friend and nabor no more at
present
President Grant received the following ap-
peal in 1878:
FLoRIssANT. st. Louis county No, Oct G.
DEAR GENERAL: Do you remember the
time l used to load the wood for you on the
old Dent farm? and when we bought tobacco
and whisky by turns9 l think you must be
the same good-hearted man you was then
You are up-up i'll the world-and L am
down. though we were once on the same
round of the same ladder Would you take
it as an unwaITanted liberty if 1 should as
you to lend me $50? Congressman vi.
can tell you that in spite of ill-luck my T. 4
has at least been honorable. Yours ". IN
great respect,
This note touched tender chord in Gra..t''
memory The writer was his boon com. "a IL
ion during the dismal ante-war period W.l-n
he supported his family by hauling wood
from the farm of this father in-law, Col
Dent. and selling it in the st. Louis market.
The return mail carried back a 500 che k
to the old friend.