The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-03
"But it isn't a claim against the govern
ment."
mo? Want to be postmaster? That's
all right. Leave it to me. I'll fix it"
But it isn't postmaster-you're all astray

3 r lout ~ lbH U q CAd1!A nkoAAoo eSV 6~VSAA
ment."
mo? Want to be postmaster That's
all right. Leave it to me. I'll fix it."
But it isn't postmaster-you're all astray
yet"
"Well, good gracious, Washington. why
don't you come out Il tell me what II ls
What do you want to be so reserved and dls.,
trustful with an old friend like me, for
Don't you reckon / can keep a Sc"
"There's no secret about it--you merely
don't give me q chance to"
NOW, look here. old friend, ! know the
comes TO Washington, don't care If it 10
from heaven. let alone Cherokee strip. it's
because he wants something. And | know
that. as a rule, he's not going to get it.;
that he'll stay and try for another thing,
and won't get that; the same luck with the
next. and the next, and the next; and
keeps on till he strikes bottom and ia too
poor and ashamed to 60 back, even to
Cherokee strip; and at last his heart
breaks, and theo take up q collection n
bury him. T~hers-don't interrupt me, I
know what Pm talking about. Happy
and prosperous in the far west, wasn't !!
Principal citizen of Hawkeye, looked up
to by ever body, kind of an. autocrat, ac-
tually a kind Of an 9autoorat, Washington.
Well, nothing would do but ] must go as
minister to st. James, the governor and
everybody insisting, you know. and 50 at
last l consented-no getting out Of it, had
iate, Washington. Think of that-wbat
little things change the worlds history,
yes, sir, the place had been filled. We'll,
there I was, you see. | offered to compro-
mise and go to Paris. The president was
very sorry and all that, but that place, You
see, didn't belong to the west, so there !
was again. There was no help for it, 50 /
had to stoop a little-we all reach the day
! some time or other when we've got to do
that, Washington, and it's not n bad thing
for us either, take it by and large all
around-I had to stoop a little and offer to
take Constantinople, Washington, consider
this-for it's perfectly true-within a
month ] asked for China; within anothe-
month I begged for Japan one year later
I was away down, down, down, supplicatin2
with tears and anguish for the bottom Of
! flee in the gift Of the government Of the
! United States flint picker in the cellars Of
| the war department.. And, by George, ]
didn't get it,"
''Flint-picker 2"
Eyes. Office established in the time OF
the revolution, last century. The musket-
f1ints for the military posts were supplied
! f.om the capitol. They do it yet for al.
forts have tumbled down, the decree hasn't
been r~epealed-been overlooked and for.
gotten, YOU see-and 80 the vacancies where
old Ticonderoga and others used to stand
still get their six quarts OF gun-1lints a yeal
just the same"
Washington said musinRly after n pause
How strange it seems-to start for min.
lister to England at twenty Thousand a veal
and fail for nint-picker at"
"Three dollars q week. It's human life,
Washington-just an epitome of human am
bition, and struggle, and the outcome; you
aim for the palace and get drowned in the
sewer"
There was another meditative silence
Then Washington said, with earnest com.
passion in his voice
"Aud SO, after coming here, against your
inclination, to satisfy your sense of patriot,
duty and appense a selfish public clamor
YOU get absolutely nothing for it?'
"Nothing.'' The colonel had to get NJ
and stand, to get room for bis amazemen
to expand. Nothing. Washington! I asl
you this: To be q perpetual member Of
diplomatic body accredited to the creates
country on earth-do you call that moth
ing?"
1t was Washington's turn to be amazed
He WIS stricken dumb; but the wide-eyet
wonder, the reverent admiration espresso.
in his face were more eloquent than an
words could have been. The colonel
wounded spirit was healed, and he resumed
his seat pleased and content. lie leane'
forward and said impressively:
come forever conspicuous by nh OK
perience without precedent in the history q
the world2-- man made permanently AN
dipiomaticnll, sacred, 30 TO spsak, by hay
ing been connected temporarily. throuR