The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-05-13
A PRESIDENTS LOVE.
ANDREW JoHNsoN's coURTsHlP OF
MISS SARAH WORD

0ho Rejected the Future Chief Magistrate
for q saddler.-He was not Iliiterats
81 when Young, but to the Contrary wa,
Exceptionally Intelligent.
Tbree-quarters Of a century ago, IL
tire little village Of Laurens, In the
State of South Carolina, there LIVED
and labored at the tailor's trade o
yonng man who was destined to play
an important part in the affairs Of
this Nation. OF humble origin and
having had practically no educational
advantages. he had In his character
the elements Of true manhood, and by
force of brain power and ability at
Ained the highest position of honor
and trust in the Republic
Andrew johnson left his home IN
North Carolina by reason of some
trouble with his employer, and went
cratic village Of Laurens. He had nc
inauential family connections, and was
an poor as the traditional church
mouse, his worldly possessions con.
sisting only of the clothes he wore. TIC
one acquainted with the social condt
tons Of the ante bellum South, the
difficulties incident TO obtaining recog.
nition by man Handicapped as John.
sen was can be readily imagined. The
seeriing worth Of the young tailor,
however, made itself felt, and de.
mended the admiration and respect
soon accorded him by those who were
wont to consider one not to the man.
oe born deserving of but condescend.
ing notice.
Johnson's stay at Laurens marked a
very important epoch in his life. II
was there that he met his first love,
Miss Sarah Word, a charming young
woman of education and refinement,
who saw in the modest and retiring
young journeyman tailor a man of
character and strength and promise
Johnson's regard for Miss Word was
reciprocated, and the young people
entered into an engagement to marry
They were thrown constantly in each
others society, and the future Presi
dent of the United States once assist
ed his fiancee in laying stuffing and
quilting a quilt.
The irresistible tendency that young
men in love have to carve their sweet.
hearts names on everything movable
and immovable in their immediate vi.
cinity was not wanting in Johnson.
On the bottom of an old split-bot.
toned chair he engraved the inscrip,
don IS. W.-1S20" 1t is needless to
say that it was the chair in which
Miss Word was accustomed to sit on
the porch Of her home.
Having satisfactorily adjusted the
trouble with his former employer In
North Carolina, Johnson decided to
Hsturn and resume his place. Before
having Laurens, as a token of his af.
fectionate regard, he gave to Miss
Word his dearest possession, the
goose with which he had worked at
his trade. This act shows the tender
simplicity of the young tailor. He had
10 false pride about the matter. He
was leaving the woman he loved for
an indefinite time, and not ashamed of
his lOwly calling, gave her something
that would be a constant reminder of
him and his work. After leaving
Lanrens differences arose between
Miss Word and johnson, and their
engagement was terminated, but the
tAilOr's goose was never returned.
Miss Word rejected the tailor and
married William Hance, a saddler.
The tailor became President of the
United States.
Johnson's biOgraphers have all main.
tained that in early life he was un.'
cDuth, illiterate and ignorant, with no
refinement nor grace of manner. 1t
has been stated that he could neither
rad nor write, and that his wife
taught him both after marriage. This
error has become 80 firmly fixed that
tt is generally accepted as an historic
fact, and school children are told the
romantic story Of how a man who af.
osrward became President was taught
10 read and write by wife who was
ambitious for his advancement. This
STORY may be a beautiful object les.
son on the grand possibilities of Amer.
lean youth, but 1t has the fatal defect
Of being untrue. When johnson lived
in Laurens he could both read and
write, and was considered young
man of considerable Intelligence. Miss
Word, to whom he was engaged, is
authority for the statement that she
received man. notes and letters from
him. and that he wrote a good bust.
ness hand. She has also frequently
said that he was a man of more than
ordinary intelligence, of elegant ad.
dress and a brilliant conversational.
ist.-NaJiOnal Magazine.
Song Birds for Market In Italy.
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