Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-27
LITERARY.
The
Boy s.
and the =.
Ludgeshp

A judge of the Common Pleas Court
had resigned, and the governor was
giving the appointment of successor
the serious attention it demanded, for
many important considerations entered
into the selection. The man must
have recognized fitness for the bench,
and have. at the same time, personal
character such as to uphold the dignity
of the position, as we'll as to reflect
credit upon the appointing power.
Friends of the many worthy aspirants
for the honor waited singly and in del
egatons upon the executive, and the
POST brought urgent letters by the
score.
Ore morning, when many persons
were waiting their turn in the reception
room of the executive department, a
| boy of fourteen walked in timidly. He
had an attractive, intelligent face, and
| his eyes wandered with well-restrained
curiosity over the people, the rich fur
niture and the portraits of former
| executives. He was dressed in jeans
of rural make, but he was clean and
| neat, his hair brushed tidily, and there
| were signs of the mother hand that
| had put on the last careful touches be-
fore he left home.
| Many sightseers go through the de-
partment daily, but the boy at once at
who went to him and asked if he
wished to see any one.
Il came to see the governor" the
boy answered.
1.-The governor is unusually busy
/ of q
you cannot see him unless you have
some business"
| Il have business with him." the boy
replied. Father said it was very i'm
portant and told me to wait until
| could see him."
| The attendant found a place for him
| in one Of the big leather-covered
chairs, and, being interested in the
unusual visitor, went into the adjoin-
| ing office and told the private secre-
| tary about him. His interest was also
aroused, and he glanced through the
| doorway to where the lad had as
sumed an attitude of patient waiting
in the large chair. He went out to
him presently, and, wi most as
| much courtesy as he have be-
slowed upon one of 4Ignitaries OF
| the State, he said:
| Il am told that you wish to see the
| governor, my boy"
| yes. sir, l do"
There are many other people also
waiting to see him this morning, as
you See and I'm afraid he will have nc
time to give to you, as he has a great
deal of important business to attend to-
and he expects to take a train at two
o'clock this afternoon for the western
part of the State, where he will be a
| week or ten days. I am here to rep
resent the governor, however, and if
you will tell me your errand perhaps
! can do what you want to have done
Il am obliged to YOU said the
| hoy. Perhaps you could do it, but
father sent me to the governor with a
letter. and he told me to be sure not to
give it to any one but the governor, SO
| that he could see me and talk to me.
/ would rather do as father said, SIR
"Of course you would, and that is
| right said the private secretary, but
you may have to wait a long WHILE
Father said I might have to, and
that 1 might have trouble in getting
to see the governor, but he told me
to try, so. if you will let me, I'll wait
here. 1 don't know what is in the let
ter, but I know it doesn't ask for
money, sir"
what is your name, my boy?"
1T is David Blair, and my fathers
name is Daniel
Very well. David, you may sit here
as long as you like. No one will inter-
fere with you. 1 am quite busy my
| self 1p6 pprhnnc cannot 10nly oftar
you as much as I would like, but I'll
send you out some books to look at,
and if l find a chance to let you give
the governor your letter, you may de-
pend upon my doing So"
The private secretary left him and
sent out some books by a page, but
the boy found the room and the wait
ing people more interesting He
watched the latter curiously as they
went by turns between the swing
ing mahogany doors and came out.
He noticed that he could not tell from
the faces of those who came out
whether they had succeeded in their
missions or not. He wondered vague
lily whether the governor was like
any of the men who sat waiting. He
remembered that he had once heard a
man making a political speech and
was told that he was a state senator.
He recalled his disappointment in find
ing that he looked like other men. only
that he was better dressed than his
father, so he decided that the governor
was only a man like others, after all,
and might take him by the hand and
be as kind as the private secretary
had been.
During a dictation the private sec
rotary told Miss Gerble, the stenog-
rapher of the department, about the
boy. and, as soon as she could find
time, she went out to him.
1--WE are all very much interested in
YOU she began, "and all of us wish
YOU had come on morning when the
governor was not so busy. I wish you
could get to see him, but if you cannot,
what will you do?"
Il suppose I'll have to go back home
and come again when the governor
comes home, or else stay in the city
until l do see him.
But he will not be back for ten
| days. Does he know your father"
Father thinks he will remember
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