The San Francisco call., 1906-05-20
GENERAL GR1AlNT,9 APPLE GIRL

he ordered the doorman to carry 1t to the
President at once The envelope and the
messenger disappeared through pair OF
green baiZe doors and Mary stood alone
She thought she had been tricked OF that
precious letter when suddenly there sour
ried into the room the messenger, who
announced
Send Miss Rogers In to see the Presi-
dent
why. how do you do. Mary?'' said
President Grant cheerily. What can 7
do for you?''
Mary was Immediately put at ease.
/ would like to get a position In one
or the government Offices she said. IT
am getting to be too big girl to be sell
ing apples much longer and I did not
know Of any one else who could help me
but you"
Have you anything in mind?' asked
General Grant
mo. but thought there must be some
chance Of girl Of my age
Yes, there is. I'll see that you get a
place such as a girl like you deserves
I'll tend to your case right away. too"
Bowling her thanks, little Mary went out
Of the White House. She went to the
paymaster, drst one, 70 tell him the good
news.
What did he say?" asked t=s pay
master.
He said he would take care Of my case
at once" returned the girl, so happy and
proud In her new world that she could
scarce restrain herself from crying alouc
in her Joy.
You run along home now and get two
or three good nights rest and do not go
out to sell anything more until send
for you. II you do not get position be-
fore the weeks out I'm very much mis-
taken in General Grant"
So, out went little Mary. She did not
heed the words OF her old friend to the
letter. because she knew that every cent
that she could make from the basket was
needed at home She took up a position at
busy cross street and disposed Of the
remaining part of her stock
With an empty basket Mary started for
home, taking her usual route along Penn
sylvania avenue. The two miles that she
usually trudged seemed but a few blocks
to her now. She had not gone a quarter
livery, planted himsefr directly in her
path. extending to her as he did 50 a
formidable looking envelope. In one
corner 1t bore the words Executive Man
sion," but Mary did not realize the true
import OF the letter. She took II trern-
bling. fearing that IL was some strange
sort Of order, as only a few days before
she had been warned by one Of the watch
men Of the Treasury Department that
IL was against the rules for peddlers to
enter the building. Without a moments
hesitation Mary started back for the
Treasury Department to tell the pay
master what had happened
What do you think IL Tsp asked the
paymaster, lightly, intending to put Mary
at ease.
Il don't know. I'm afraid it is some
thing awful
II guess it's your appointment. Open
1t and see.''
ssYou omen n
The paymaster opened il. and II was an
appointment to an unusually attractive
position for so young girl.
Mary disappeared from the paynaster's
life almost as strangely as she had en-
tered.
years later TALL strapping youth en-
woman to him and asked him II he rec
ognized IL.
No, said the paymaster.
Recognize this?'' he continued. az he
laid before the paymaster a little box
Opening 1t, the paymaster found inside a
bright silver quarter. dated 1858, looking
as fresh as IL Just out OF the mint
The paymaster did not recall the coin.
THAT is picture Of my mother" went
on the young man She told me on her
deathbed that IL ever came TO Washing
ton must look you up and tell you of
her good fortune. She was Mary Rogers
before she was married and used to sell
apples to you and General Grant when
she was girl The silver quarter Is the
very first coin she took In when YOU
called her to your window and bought
from her"