the word) of the Senators and Representatives of their respective States.  It would be an odd circumstance to see a girl get employment at three or four dollars a week in one of the great public cribs without any political grandee to back her, but merely because she was worthy, and competent, and a good citizen of a free country that “treats all persons alike.”  Washington would be mildly thunderstruck at such a thing as that.  If you are a member of Congress, (no offence,) and one of your constituents who doesn’t know anything, and does not want to go into the bother of learning something, and has no money, and no employment, and can’t earn a living, comes besieging you for help, do you say, “Come, my friend, if your services were valuable you could get employment elsewhere—­don’t want you here?” Oh, no:  You take him to a Department and say, “Here, give this person something to pass away the time at—­and a salary”—­and the thing is done.  You throw him on his country.  He is his country’s child, let his country support him.  There is something good and motherly about Washington, the grand old benevolent National Asylum for the Helpless.

The wages received by this great hive of employees are placed at the liberal figure meet and just for skilled and competent labor.  Such of them as are immediately employed about the two Houses of Congress, are not only liberally paid also, but are remembered in the customary Extra Compensation bill which slides neatly through, annually, with the general grab that signalizes the last night of a session, and thus twenty per cent. is added to their wages, for—­for fun, no doubt.

Washington Hawkins’ new life was an unceasing delight to him.  Senator Dilworthy lived sumptuously, and Washington’s quarters were charming —­gas; running water, hot and cold; bath-room, coal-fires, rich carpets, beautiful pictures on the walls; books on religion, temperance, public charities and financial schemes; trim colored servants, dainty food —­everything a body could wish for.  And as for stationery, there was no end to it; the government furnished it; postage stamps were not needed —­the Senator’s frank could convey a horse through the mails, if necessary.

And then he saw such dazzling company.  Renowned generals and admirals who had seemed but colossal myths when he was in the far west, went in and out before him or sat at the Senator’s table, solidified into palpable flesh and blood; famous statesmen crossed his path daily; that once rare and awe-inspiring being, a Congressman, was become a common spectacle—­a spectacle so common, indeed, that he could contemplate it without excitement, even without embarrassment; foreign ministers were visible to the naked eye at happy intervals; he had looked upon the President himself, and lived.  And more; this world of enchantment teemed with speculation—­the whole atmosphere was thick with hand that indeed was Washington Hawkins’ native air; none other refreshed his lungs so gratefully.  He had found paradise at last.