The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-07-26
AN HONEST NAN.

he ran his fingers through and brush
ed back bis shaggay black hair, L
fully made up my miEd to appoint to
office those only who | knew to be
honest, and who had suitable ability.
In any event, honesty should be the
prerequisite, as the lack of Il little
ability might be easily male up by
an honest mar endeavoring to do his
whole duty conscientiously. While
this resolve was fresh upon me, there
came to visit me very old friend, IA
minister, who had travelled so fast
that he ad not yet shaken the ILLINOIS
real estate off his capaclous boots.
"Why, what brings you here, Mr..
Shofe: (Which was not his name, but
it will do just as welD.
"Wel,' be replied, 1 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 deem living, and
| thought maybe you could give me
some sort Of an Office that would pay
me better .
" Certainly | answered, quickly,
for knew h; was an honest man, and
was looking for stock of that kind.
Have YOU In view AIRY pan cular
Office
'sNo,' said the Rev. Mr.. Sh fl
compl gently; i would not know what
10 selec; if YOU were to hand ne a list
to choose from
Nor | what to give you; but l will
tell you who will help you out. You
know Col. Chootsper, OF our country.
He is now on duty in the treasury de-
rartment Go and see him: he is a
man of resources, and will get you out
of your Difficult y. Come back to-
morrow and report.
''The next day, according to promis
Shofe put in his appearance, and said
that the colonel had recommended
him to apply for certain position i'll
the revenue department.
''What is the salary said signing
in mechanical way Il pile Of com
missions.
1.-TWO thousand dollars year.
"Well, do you think that enough:
| may BE- able to do better for you:
for | 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 doubt the amount We been
earning for years past
CHOW | began to think" said our
ariyr-president, that | would have
to force him into Il place paving u
larger salary, and where Government
would have "a corresponding return for
his valuable services for | was more
than ever-if that were possible-con
WINGED that he was an honest man: but
l finally concluded to give him his
own way, and he was appointed accord
ing y. OF he went rejoicing, but
felt rather mean at my one horse gift
10 my good, honest, reverend friend.
Three years elapsed, and the
anxieties attending the war had
completely driven from my mind, for
the time being, the incident just re-
lated when my messenger brous hit me
Il card bearing the familiar name.
Rev. Adam Shohe' And immediatel,
there flashed across my mind all the
circumstances attending my appoint
ing him to Office. | directed HIM to
be shown in, and walked with creaky
boots, one OF the best and fiuest-dress-
ed men | had seen many day. !
recognized his countenance at 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, if had tried, which !
didn't.
"Good-moorning, Mr.. President
no longer Uncle Abe as before-said
he, in a sort Of grandlloquent manner:
4 hope you are well, and getting Oh
nicely
"Oh, yes said I; we poor folks exc
out living after fashion, intending
to give him the bit III 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 |
had been struck by lightning, l
managed to ezclaim, Indeed"
Yes. | feel that there are many
others deserving the place and that it
is my duty to make way for them
WAS there ever such an honest
msn as that said I, to myself, chuck.
ling over my stupidity on the clothes
surprise. But, SAID l, aloud Pm
afraid you are not considering your.
self, Friend Shohe, and that when
you 60 back to preaching you will be
as hard up DIS when you came here
three years ago. Hadn't you better
hold on little longer, say IL year
more and let Us both 90 out Of office
together"
no, thank you. l am going to
Europe during that time, but hope
to see you here, as President, when |
return; and alter few more kind eX-
pressions, off went Rev. Shohe.'
about Il month alter one of the
reverend gentleman's ntighbors paid
me a visir, and among other things,
remarked, casually, that had done
pretty good thing for Shoh
Yes | replied, Il gave him il two
thousand dollors ii Year position for
three years.
Besides the balance and the
visitor. why, if he's worth cent
he is worth to-day two hundred thou
sand dol ars, aud | can pove it if
necessary
What could the idiot mean: To
satisfy myself Of the falsity of the
charge, | sent detec ives to where he
lived, and they brought back word that
he had made his Sc 900 salary in the
aggregate yield fully $500 900, but
then | knew he was an there must be
a mistake SOmeW here