The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-06
STORY OF JACKSON.
How "OId Hickory" Collected n Bill
for "A widow.

| anu SHORTCOMINGS, OWING TO ms lnOTul-
nate vanity, arrogance and stubborn
disposition when once determined upon
| his course, Gen. Jackson had one weak
| point by which he might have been led
as lamb to the slaughter, and this
| fact was never more clearly demon
strated than in the following true little
store, now printed for the first time.
When Andrew Jackson developed
from his army position of general in
to that of President of the United
| States he found himself a much sought
after man. 1t did not take him long
to learn that while head of the army
| and the nation, he was regarded by the
| people as their servant. He was hound
ed down by men who sought to use
him as a tool, and. like his successors
in the office, found it necessary to
| devote a portion of his waking hours
| to the public service and shut out
self-seekers. To this end he gave strict
orders to his messenger at the door
| to admit only certain persons on par
ticular day. Despite this peremptory
order, however, the attendant bolted
into his apartment during the fore
noon and informed the General that
| a person was outside whom he could
not control, and who demanded to see
the President, orders or no orders.
by the Eeternal!" exclaimed the old
man, nervously, II wont submit to
this annoyance! Who is it?"
Don't know, sir"
Don't know? What's his name?'
asked the President.
beg pardon, sir, it's a woman, "
replied the man.
"A woman Show her in," exclam-
ed the General, promptly.
The next moment there entered the
apartment a neatly clad woman of
middle age, who cautiously advanced
toward the old man and accepted the
chair offered her.
BE seated madam" he said assur-
ingly in kindly voice.
Thank, you, General" responded the
lady, throwing aside her veil and re-
yelling a handsome face. MY mission
! here to-day, General" she continued,
lis a novel one, and perhaps you can
aid me-"
Madam" Said the President, who
always loved to be called by his mill
tary title, you may command me-"
You are very kind. sir; am a poor
woman. General"
| Poverty is no crime, madam" re-
| marked the great man.
Il am a widow, sir, and a clerk in
| the government employ is indebted to
me for board to considerable amount,
which L cannot collect. 1 need money
| sadly and / came to ask if a PARTON
of his pay cannot be stopped from time
to time until this claim of mine-an
| honest one, General, of which he had
the full Value-sh'all be paid
What is the amount, madam"
Seventy dollars, sir. Here is the
bill"
Exactly, 1 see. And his salary?''
asked the President
1T is said to be $1,000 a year." she
replied.
And not pay his board billy" he
CALCULATED.
LAS you see, sir-this has been
standing five months unpaid. In three
days he will draw his monthly pay,
and l thought, sir, if you would be
kind enough to"
Yes, 1 have it," remarked the gem
eral. 60 to him and get his note to-
day for thirty days"
His note. general?" exclaimed the
widow, in surprise. 1T wouldn't be
worth the paper on which it is writ
ten. He pays no one dollar volun-
| tarily."
But he will give you his note, mad
am" calmly remarked the President
"Oh, yes; no doubt he would be glad
1 to have respite in that way for a
month";" answered the lady reluctant
| ly
That's right, then. Go to him. OBJ
tain his note at thirty days. give him
a receipt in full and come to me this
evening""
The lady departed under the Presi-
| dents orders, called upon the clerk
dunned him for the amount, at which
he only smiled and made the usual
excuses. Finally she asked him to
| give his note for the amount at thir-
ty days.
ITO be sure" readily replied the
clerk.
You'll pay it when it falls due, sir,
thirty days hence, won't you sir?''
asked the lady.
Yes, certainly; OF course I will. 1
always pay my notes, l do" and as
the widow departed the knowing
young man believed he had accom-
plished a very neat trick.
The widow called again upon the
President, who asked her, Did you
| get the note, madam"
Yes, general. Here it is" she re-
piled.
The President quickly turned 1t over
| and with dash of his pen wrote up
on the back of it the name of the
President of the United States.
Take 1t to the bank madam" said
the general smilingly, land you can
get the money for it."
She found no difficulty In obtaining
the cash for it at sight. One week be-
fore the end or the thirty days j 4.
Smith received notice that his note
| for $40 would be due on the 9th inst,
and he was requested to call at the
bank and pay the same.
"Ha, hal" laughed Mr. Smith, and
very soon forgot it. Pay day came
around again, and he once more re-
ceived his monthly salary from Uncle
Sam-$100.
As he passed down Pennsylvania
avenue the note came to his mind
again, and he wondered who could
have been fool enough to aid the
woman. He determined to go to the
bank and solve the mystery.
1T was discounted" said the note
teller.
"Discounted!" exclaimed the clerk;
who on earth would discount my
note?"
Anybody, with such a hacker as
| YOU have on this" replied the smiling
teller.
"Backer! Me? What backer?"
asked the bewildered boarding house
| cheat.
Here's the note, you see." said the
teller, presenting the document, on
which the clerk instantly recognized
the bold signature of the then Presi-
dent Of the United States.
He recognized in that signature the
hand of fate. and counted out $40 for
the piece Of paper. Another paper
greeted him next morning at the de-
| partment, which told him that his
| services were no longer required to
run the government.
| --S-or~
THE ELI IN THE PANSIES.