Smyrna times., 1895-07-17
An Honest Man.

when | first entered upon nv du.
ties as president" said Mr.. Lincoln.
grasping our arm in his peculiar way
with one of his long, bony hands, while
he ran his fingers 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 anv
event. honesty should be the prere-
quisite, as the lack of little ability
might be easily made up by an honest
man endeavOring to do his whole duty
conscientiously. 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 vet
skaken the Illinois real estate off his
capacious boots.
Why, what brings you here, Mr..
Shoher (which was not his name, but
it will do just as well.)
Well, he replied, 1 came down
here, firstly, to see you and get an old
fashioned shake of the hand, and, sec
Ondly, to say that the folks of my con-
gregation are so poor that they can
hardly afford me decent living, and l
thought maybe you could give me some
sort of an Office that would pay me
BETTER
Certainly / answered quickly, for
knew he was an honest man, and |
was looking for stock of that kind
Have you in view any particular
office2
No. said the Rev. Mr.. Shofe com
placently. I would not know what to
select if you were to hand me a list to
choose FROM
Nor l 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 de.
partment. Go and see him. He is a
man of resources, and will get you out
of your difficulty. Come back to-mor-
row and report.
The next day, according to prom
ise, ShoAe put in an appearance, and
said that the colonel had recommended
him TO apply for certain position in
the revenue department.
What is the salary p said I. sign.
ing In mechanical way a pile of com
missions.
Two thousand dollars a year,
We'll, do you think that enough ?
| may be able to do better for you.5 ]
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 I've
been earning for years past
4 ANnuf L hoOan tbs,l~ ,osI
martyr president, "that / would have
to force him into a place paying 8
larger salary and where government
would have corresponding return fol
his valuable services, for ! was more
than ever-if that were possible con.
vinced that be was an honest man
But / finally concluded to give him his
own way, and he was appointed ac-
cordingly. Of he went rejoicing, bul
| ] felt rather mean at my one horse off
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
being, the incident just related, when
my messenger brought me a card bear.
ing the familiar name OF Rev. Adam
ahofe.' And Immediately there flashed
across my mind all the circumstance
attending my appointing him to Office.
/ directed him to be shown in, and in
walked, with cFeaky boots, one Of the
best and Rnest dressed men had seen
10 many a day. recognized his c0un.
tenance at a glance, but il was his
marvellous clothes that troubled me
They sat easily enough upon his body
but somehow or other they did not sill
so easy on my mind. But wherefore