The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-10
AN HONEST MAN.

PRESIDENT" said Mr.. Lincoln, grasping
rur arm In his peculiar way with one Of
his long, bony hands, while he ran his fin
gers through and brushed back his shaggy
black hair 81 fully made up my mind to
nppoint to Office those only whom knew
10 be honest and who had suitable ability.
in any event, honesty should be tho pro-
requisite, as the lack Of little ability
hight he easily made up by an honest man
endeayoring to do his whole duty consci-
entiously. While this resolve was fresh
upon mo, there came to visit me n very old
friend, minister who had travelled SO
fast that he had not yet shaken the Illinois
real estate off his capacious boots
"'Why, what brings you here, Mr..
Shoaor (Which was not his name, but 1t
will do just ns well.)
Well, hc replied, i came down here,
firstly, to SEQ you and got an old fashioned
ihake of tho hand, and, secondly, to say
that the folks of my congregation are SO
poor that they can hardly afford me n de-
cont living, and ! thought maybe you
could give mo some sort of an office that
would pay mo better
Certainly l answered quickly, for
knew ho was an honest man, and l wns
looking for stock of that kind. Have you
In view any particular officer
"'No, said the Rev. Mr.. Shofle COM
placently. Il would not know what to So
lect II you were to hand me n list to choose
from.
"'Nor what to give you, but will tell
you who will help you out. You know
Colonel Chootspcr of our county. He is
| now on duty In tho treasury department.
| Go and sec him. He is man of resources,
| and will get you out of your difficulty.
| Como back tomorrow and report
"The next day, according to promise,
Shofle put In an appearance, and said that
the colonel had recommended him to apply
for a certain position in the revenue de-
| partmcnt.
| "'What is the salaryp' said I, signing in
mechanical way pile of commissions.
"'Two thousand dollars year.
"tWell do you think that enoughp I
may BIO able to do better for you
knew he was an honest man and thought
he might just as well as not get place
where he could earn more money.
"'Oh, plenty, Uncle Abe, for that is
more than double the amount Two been
earning for years past
"Now began to think, said our mar
tyr president, THAT would have to force
him into place paying a larger salary
and whore government would have n cor
responding rcturn for his valuable serv-
Ices, for was more than ever-if that
were possible-convinced that he was an
honest man. But / finally concluded to
pointed accordingly. OF he went roioic-
ing, but / felt rather moan at my one
horse gift to my good, honest, reverend
friend.
"Three years elapsed, and the anx-
ieties attending the war had complete
4 ly driven from my mind, for the time be-
ing, the incident just related, when my
messenger brought mo n cnrd bearing the
familiar name Rev. Adam Shofle.' And
Immediately there flashed across my mind
all tho circumstances attending my ap-
pointing him to office. directed him to
be shown in, and in walked, with creaky
boots, one of the best and finest dressed
men had seen in many day. recog-
nized his countenance at a glance, but it
was his marvellous clothes that troubled
me. They sat easily enough upon his
body, but somehow or other they did not
sit so easy ON my mind. But wherefore
could not for the life of me TELL IL 1 had
tried, which didn't.
"'Good morning, Mr.. President'-no
longer Uncle Abe, as bcfore-said he in q
sort Of graudiloquent manner. Il hope
you nro we'll and getting on nicely
"tOh, yes, said /. We poor folks eke
out living after fashion, intending to
give him the bit in his mouth, for knew
what an honest man he was and how
muoh-I couldn't tell then exactly how
much, for had lost tho run of him-we
were indebted to him.
+" Mr.. President, have como to resign
my Office
"Feeling somewhat as though I had
been struck by lightning, managed to
exclaim, 'Indecdp
:" Yes. / feel that there are many others
deserving of the place. and that 1t is my
duty to make way for them.'
+" Was there ever such an honest man as
that2' said L to myself, ohuczling over my
n IL. - =
said I, aloud, I'm afraid you are not con-
siderlng yourself Friend Shohe, and that
when you go back to preaching you will be
as hard up as when you came here three
years ago. Hadn't you better hold on a
little longer, say year more, and let us
both go out of Office together9'
No, thank you. l am going to Europe
during that time, but 1 hope to sec you
here, as president, when 1 return, and,
aftor fow more kind expressions Off went
Rev Shone.
about q month after ono of the rev
erend gentleman's noighbors paid mo q
visit and, among other things, remarked
casually that l had done pretty good
thing for Shofe.
Yes replied, I gave him So, 900 q
year position for three yoars.'
Besides the balancei' added my visit
OF. why, If he's worth cent, he i;
worth today $500, 900, and can provo it II
necessary
"What could the idiot meanP To satisfy
myself Of the falsity of the charge, 1 sent
detectives to where ho lived, and they
brought back word that ho had made hi.
$4,000 salary in tho aggregate yield fully
5000, 000-but then l knew he was al
honest man, and there must be a mistak,
somewherel"
By tho way" added Mr.. Lincoln, witt
ono of his knowing winks. 'Wo hay,
plenty of 'Shofles left, but the mischief O
1t Is 1t Is hard finding them out, and they
are not considerate enough to resign, a
did out honest friend Shoflo. True Flag