The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-02
AN HONEST MAN.

"When I 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, 81 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-
reqCAsite, as the lack of a 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, a 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..
Shofe?' (Which was not his name, but it
will do just as wel.)
g Well, he replied, Il 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 I thought maybe you
could give me some sort of an office that
would pay me better
Certainly, 1 answered quickly, for I
knew he was an honest man, and was
looking for stock of that kind. Have you
AL Wow any pebIU1CU1dI O4AAOO4
No. said the Rev. Mr.. Shof1e COM
p1acently. I would not know what to Sc
lect if you were to hand me a list to choose
from.
90 Nor what to give you, but will tell
you who will help you out. You know
Colonel Chootsper Of our county He is
now on duty in the treasury department.
Go and see him. He is a man of resources,
and will get you out of your difficulty.
Come 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-
partment.
What is the salaryP' said I, signing IN
a mechanical way pile of commissions.
1.-Two thousand dollars year
" well, do you think that enough? I
may be 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.
'; ooh, plenty, Uncle Abe for that is
! more than double the amount I've been
| earning for years past.
'tNow 1 began to think, - said our mar
tyr president, 'that I would have to force
him into a place paying larger salary
and where government would have a cor
responding return for his valuable serv-
| ices, for was more imam eVer-n Ihat
were possible-convinced that he was an
| honest man. But finally concluded to
F., give him his own way, and he was APP
: pointed accordingly. OFF be 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-
-Iov,
messenger brought me card bearing the
| familiar name Rev Adam Shofie.' And
| Immediately there flashed across my mind
| all the circumstances attending my ap-
| pointing him to Office. I directed him to
be shown in, and in walked, with creaky
boots, one of the best and finest dressed
1 men had seen in many day, Eecog'