granting me leave of absence.

Natchez at that time was not connected with Jackson by railroad, so that
the only way for me to reach the capital was to go by steamer from
Natchez to Vicksburg or to New Orleans, and from there by rail to
Jackson. The trip, therefore, would necessarily consume the greater part
of a week. My employer,--who was what was known as a Northern man,
having come there after the occupation of the place by the Federal
troops,--not only granted me leave of absence but agreed to remain in
the city and carry on the business during my absence.

When I arrived at the building occupied by the Governor and sent up my
card, I had to wait only a few minutes before I was admitted to his
office. The Governor received me cordially and treated me with marked
courtesy, giving close attention while I presented as forcibly as I
could the merits and qualifications of the different persons whose names
were on the slate. When I had concluded my remarks the Governor's only
reply was that he would give the matter his early and careful
consideration. A few weeks later the appointments were announced; but
not many of the appointees were persons whose names I had presented.
However, to my great embarrassment I found that my own name had been
substituted for that of Jacobs for the office of Justice of the Peace. I
not only had no ambition in that direction but was not aware that my
name was under consideration for that or for any other office. Besides,
I was apprehensive that Jacobs and some of his friends might suspect me
of having been false to the trust that had been reposed in me, at least
so far as the office of Justice of the Peace was concerned. At first I
was of the opinion that the only way in which I could disabuse their
minds of that erroneous impression was to decline the appointment. But I
found out upon inquiry that in no event would Jacobs receive the
appointment. I was also reliably informed that I had not been
recommended nor suggested by any one, but that the Governor's action was
the result of the favorable impression I had made upon him when I
presented the slate. For this, of course, I was in no way responsible.
In fact the impression of my fitness for the office that my brief talk
had made upon the Governor was just what the club had hoped I would be
able to accomplish in the interest of the whole slate. That it so
happened that I was the beneficiary of the favorable impression that my
brief talk ha