Saint Mary's beacon., 1903-12-17
How President Andrew jackson
Collected q Bfll for q Widow.

Wueh AnureW jackson developer
from his army position as Genera
into that as President Of the Unites
States he found himself a mucl
sought after man.
Ii did not take him long to learr
that while head of the army and ma
tion, he was regarded by the people
as their servant. He was bounded
down by men who sought to use hin
as a tool, and, like his successors
In the Office, found it necessary u
devote portion of bis waking hours
- tlse public service and shut on,
ofice-seekers. To this end he gave
strict orders TO his messenger at the
door 10 admit only certain persons
on particular day.
Despite this peremptory order,
however, the attendant bolted into
bis apartment during the forenoon
and informed the General that q per-
son was outside that he could not
control and who demanded to see the
President, orders or no orders.
by the eternal I" exclaimed the
old man, nervously, II wont SUBJ
NIT tothis annoyance! Who is it 2"
Dom know, sir
Don I know? What s his name ?''
asked the President.
Beg pardon, sir, it's a woman, p"
Seplied the man.
IA woman! Show her in" ex-
claimed the General, promptly.
The next moment there entered
the apartment a neatly clad woman
of middle age, who courteously ad-
vanced toward the old man and ac-
cepted the chair offered her.
You are very kind, sir; am a
poor woman, General"
Poverty is no crime, madam, 4"
remarked the great man.
II am a widow, sir, and clerk in
the Government employ is indebted
to me for q considerable amount,
which ! cannot collect. I need the
money sadly, and | came to ask il a
portion of his pay cannot be stopped
from time to time until this claim OF
lsine-an honest one, General, of
which he had the full value-shall
be paid"
What is the amount, madam ?"
Seventy dollars, sir. Here is the
bill.
Exactly, see. And his sala-
ry? ?" asked the President.
''It is said to be twelve hundred
q year, she replied.
And not pay his board bill ?"
he calculated.
"As you see, sir-this has been
standing five months unpaid. In
three days he will draw his month
ly pay, and l thought, sir, If you
would be kind enough to"
"Yes, have it," remarked the
General. Go to him and get his
note today, for thirty days"
His note, General ?" exclaimed
the widow, in surprise. 1T would
not be worth the paper on which it
is written. He pays no one dollar
voluntarily.
But he will give you his note,
madam" calmly remarked the Pres
ident.
"Oh, yes; no doubt he would be
glad to have a respite in that way
for month, answered the lady re-
luctantly.
That's right, then. Go to him,
obtain his note for thirty days, give
him a receipt in full and come to me
this evening"
The lady departed under the Pres.
ident's orders, called upon the clerk
dunned him for the amount, at which
he only smiled and made the usua
excuses. Finally she asked him Il
give his note for the amount at thir
ty days.
ITO be sure" readily replied the
clerk.
"You will pay it when it falls due
sir, thirty days hence, won't you
sir ?" asked the. lady.
"Yes, certainly; of course, / will
I always pay my notes. | do, ant
as the widow departed the knowing
young man believed he had accom-
plished a very neat trick.
The widow called again upon th,
President, who asked her, did yo,
get the note, madam ?"
Yes, General. Here il is," sh,
replied.
The President quickly turned i
over and with a dash of his pei
wrote upon the back OF it the nam
of the President Of the United States
Take il to the bank, madam,
said the General smilingly, "an,
you can get the money for it.
She found no difficulty in obtain
ing the cash for it at sight. On
week before the end of the thirt,
days ]. Smith received notice tha
his note for $40 would be due on tn
9th inst, and he was requested /