University of Virginia Library

MODERN CHIVALRY.
A Chapter to be referred to the third Volume,
at the Conclusion.

Not withstanding the fairy scene of
imagination with respect to the advancement
of Teague, in which the Captain
had suffered himself to be engaged;
yet sometimes he would begin to doubt
with regard to the reality of the prospects,
and to question whether, after all, it was
probable that the executive of the United
States would think him adequate to the
discharge of judicial or ministerial functions,
and appoint him accordingly. Ruminating
one day on this subject, a servant
presented a billet: It was from the President
of the United States, expressing a desire
to see the Captain, and to converse
with him relative to the appointment of the
young man in his service, of the name of
Teague O'Regan, to some office in the government.
Nothing could be more opportune:
for the Captain at that moment,
weary

weary of his charge, and dispairing of success,
was just about to re inquish all further
prosecution of his object, and to remand
Teague to his boot-cleaning and
horse currying as formerly. It may easily
be supposed that he lost no time in having
his coat and hat brushed, and setting out
to wait on his excellency. Presenting
himself, he was asked to fit down; and the
conversation opening on the subject of
Teague, and his qualifications for office.
The Captain not willing to be the means of
deception in the introduction of his valet,
thought proper to deal candidly with his
excellency, and to give him an exact account
of the education and history of the
bog-trotter; that if, on a full view of his
character, he should think proper to appoint
him, the responsibility might lie with
himself. For to be candid, faid the Captain,
I should doubt the expediency of appointing
him, in the first instance, to any of
the higher offices of government. Such as
Secretary of State, or even that of Secretary
at War; though, I presume, requiring
less talents than the former: The business
of a soldier lying more in the heart than
the head. As to Secretary of the Treasury,
should bar that altogether; as it might be
unsafe
unsafe all at once to trust him with too
much money, until he had given greater
proofs of fidelity in this particular, than
those of his nation and rank are usually
found to possess. The diplomatic line
might suit him best, were it not that the
sending him off the continent will put him
out of the way of that superintendence
which for some time I myself am willing
to take of him, until he shall have acquired
habits of diligence, and principles of integrity
in business. The President smiled,
doubtless at the idea of the Sans Cullotte
(for such I figuratively call him, because he
had now got on breeches,) being at all in
the way of appointment to such trusts; for
a thought of the kind had never come into
his mind. He was thinking of an office of
much less dignity, and which came nearer
to the capacity and grade of ordinary education.
It was that of an excise officer.
Having mentioned this, the Captain approved
of it, and thanked his excellency, and
took his leave.

Teague having received his commission,
was elated beyond measure, and impatient
to fet out to his district, in order to enter
on the functions of his office. The
Captain having purchased him a horse, for
he

refused to bog-trot any longer, the revenue
officer took leave of his old master,
who had previously given him much good
advice with regard to duty in office, and
promised to follow him, as soon as he could
provide himself with another servant, that
he might be on the spot to give him countenance,
and assist him occasionally, with
such farther lessons of prudence and morality,
as his experience in life might enable
him to give, and which it could not be
unbecoming in one of his age, however
dignified by office, to receive.BOOK