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[467] pleasant and expressed his sorrow, but he said: “General Howard, it will not do to have a penitentiary man in Government employ.” Such was his decision. With a sad heart I stepped out and told the young man that the secretary did not dare to put him on the rolls again. The effect upon Cudlipp was startling. Pale as death, he leaned against the wall and murmured: “It is no use, general I can never do anything in this world!” That was the nearest approach to despair that I ever witnessed. I said to him: “Cudlipp, look at me. Who am I? ” With a faint smile he said: “General Howard, of course.” “ Have I been your friend?” He said: “I should think so.” “Are you sure” “I could not doubt you.” “Now you may understand this: that if I am once a man's friend, I remain so, unless there is some good reason for a change. I am going to start for the Pacific coast in a few days and I will take you as my clerk.” The revulsion was very strong. His face flushed and his eyes filled as he said: “Would you do that?” My answer was: “Go home and get your wife and Susie ready and go with me.” So on the same train and steamer with us William Cudlipp and his wife and child made their way to Portland, Ore. There he became, in my office, as he had been before, an energetic, hard-working, faithful clerk.
Baker and Taylor. 1908.
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