The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-04-09

ecutive chamber, in an attitude of
thought.
1t was the morning of the fourth
of March, and the President was
devoting few minutes of the first
anniversary of his Inauguration to
sober retrospection.
What kind of record have /
made during the past II months?"
mused the President. Z" Have / done
as well as | might under the cir
cumstances? Have | used my every
opportunity to the best advantage?
Have i added anything to the lustre
of the great name l bear? H'ml
Let me think. Let me think"
AS he uttered the last words, he
became aware that he was no longer
alone. His grandchildren were being
washed and dressed in the nursery
His private secretary had not yet
come in. But he instinctively felt
that there was some one in the room
besides himself. He raised his eyes
and beheld tall, majestic, shadowy,
yet clearly visible form-standing
ut his elbow.
Who is it?" he asked, somewhat
awed by the apparition's aspect.
You-you are not" began the
President, hesitatingly.
al am not your grandfather's
spirit, and | am not McGinty. Now
look again. Do you know me2"
What Sure! Great Scott!
(meaning no disrespect to my wife's
father). Why, of course! We'll,
well, you're quite strangerp ex-
claimed the President, springing
from his chair, and extending his
hand cordially.
"Quite stranger, indeed, Mr..
President. 1t has been many months
since you and l parted company,
and l am not surprised at your slow
ness in recognizing me-"
Perhaps it was the confusion
caused by having the presidential
hand overlooked that made its own
er miss the cutting significance of
his visitors words. Presently he
stammered out:
Ye es-just so-ah-excuse my
bad memOry-what the dev-er-
may | ask your name? ?"
4" BY the world at large I am gen.
orally called Common Sense"
"Ohow cried the President. a
great light breaking in on him.
Then after brief pause, he contin-
ued, petulantly: So you're the in
fernal nuisance who always comes
intruding on me just when [ am
trying to think, are you? Good
heavens! can't man have quiet
think, once in a while, without you
poking around to bother?"
"Sir," replied Common Sense,
mildly but decisively, "sir, you
ought to know that it is impossible
tor any man to carry on a successful
thinking business without my as
sistance. l may be called the God
of Useful Thought. The very fact
that a man sets out to think is a tacit
invitation for me to be present.
Do you recall our last interview?
You were then looking for the NOM
inatiOn of President of the United
States. You must remember how l
urged You to let it alone; how / told
you that the Republican party mere
ly designed to take advantage of
your grandfather's fame, and your
own obscure record, to smuggle you
into position for which you were
mentally and every way unfit; how
you would be sure to bring disgrace
upon yourself and disaster upon the
country, and how angrily you told
Ine W SeI out, anu 10 come when you
sent for me?
" "Since then l have had no inter-
course with you. l have tried sew
eral times to get your ear to warn
You against the follies you have
committed, but the opportunity has
never offered. This morning, how
ever, for the first time, 1 heard you
express desire to think. And now,
Mr.. President, if 700 desire it, am
entirely ready to give you the right
hand of fellowship, and to guide you
safely through the solemn duties
that lie before you"
al guess 1 can get along without