Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-08-26
AN HONEST MAN.

"When first entered upon my duties as
president, said Mr.. Lincoln, grasping
our 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, II fully made up my mind to
appoint to office those only whom knew
to be honest and who had suitable ability
In any event, honesty should be the pre-
requisite, as the lack of little ability
might be easily made up by an honest man
endeavoring to do his whole duty consci-
entiously. While this resolve was fresh
upon me, there came to visit me 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.
Shofle?' (Which was not his name but it
will do just as wel].)
Well, he replied, 4 came down here
firstly, to see you and get an old fashioned
shake of the hand, and secondly, to say
that the folks of my congregation are so
poor that they can hardly afford me de-
cent living and l thought maybe you
could give me some sort of an office that
would pay me better.
Certainly, answered quickly, for I
knew he was an honest man, and was
looking for stock of that kind. Have you
in view any particular Officer
"No, said the Rev. Mr.. Shofle COM
placently. I would not know what to So
lect if you were to hand me list to choose
from
"'Nor Iwhat 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 the 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,
Shone put in an appearance, and said that
the colonel had recommended him to apply
for certain position in the revenue de-
partment.
"'What is the salary?' said l, signing in
mechanical way a pile Of commissions.
"'Two thousand dollars year
Well, do you think that enough?
may be able to do better for you l
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
moro than double the amount I've been
earning for years past.
"Now I began to think, said our mar
tyr president, that would havo to force
him into place paying a larger salary
and where government would have cor
responding return for his valuable serv-
ices, for 1 was more than ever-if that
were possible-convinced that he was an
honest man. But finally concluded to
give him his own way, and he was ap-
pointed accordingly OFF he went rejoic-
ing, but I felt rather mean at my one
horse gift to my good, honest, reverend
friend.
"Three years elapsed, and the anx-
ieties attending the war had complete
ly driven from my mind, for the time be-
ing, the incident just related when my
messenger brought me card bearing the
familiar name Rev. Adam Shofe' And
Immediately there flashed across my mind
all the 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. I recog-
nized his countenance at q glance, but 1t
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 mo tell, If l had
tried, which didn't
"'Good morning, Mr.. President no
longer Uncle Abe, as before-said he in a
sort of grandiloquent manner. I hope
you are well and getting on nicely
"'Oh, yes said L. we poor folks exc
out living after fashion, intending to
give him tho bit in his mouth, for knew
what an honest man he was and how
much-I couldn't tell then exactly how
much, for had lost the run of him-we
were indebted to him.
"'Mr President, have come to resign
my office
Feeling somewhat as though I had
been struck by lightning, managed to
exclaim, 'Indeedp
"'Yes. feel that there are many Others
deserving of the place, and that it is my
duty to make way for Them
"'Was there ever such an honest man as
that?' said to myself, chuckling over my
stupidity ON the clothes surprise. But,
said I, aloud, I'm afraid you arc not con-
sidering yourself, Friend Shofle, 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. am going to Europe
during that time but I hope to see you
hove x,,hnv, r : rl
after few more kind expressions off went
Rev Shoflc.
"About month after, one of the rev.
erend gentlemans neighbors paid me a
VISIT and, among other things, remarked
casually that had done q pretty good
thing for Shof1e.'
"'Yes, replied, I gave him 50, 900 a
year position for three years
"'Besides the BALANCED added my visit
or why, if he's worth cent, he Is
worth today 5000, 900, and I can prove it II
necessary.
"What could the idiot meanp To satisfy
myself of the falsity of the charge, sent
detectives to where he lived, and they
brought back word that he had made his
Sc, 600 salary in the aggregate yield fully
5000, OO0-but then I knew he was an
honest man, and there must be mistake
somewherep'
"By the way" added Mr. Lincoln, with
one Of his knowing winks. "We have
plenty of Shofos' left, but the mischief of
it is it is hard finding them out, and they
are not considerable enough to resign, as
did out honest friend Shofe. TRUE Flag.
The New Maid.
Mistress-Biddy, run and fetch me the
plum tart out of the pantry.
Biddy (returning)-Please, ma'am, it
iu,,lk