I CHAPTER XVIII. ANDREW JOHNSON. SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. ANCESTRY. N attempting to write of the ancestry of Andrew Johnson, we are met at once by that sadly expressive term, "poor whites," so common and so well understood in the old days of the south. Poor indeed was his father, Jacob Johnson, whose employments were city constable, sexton and porter of a bank. He lost his life in attempting to save a man from drowning in 1812. But this humble origin is no discredit to him in American society, while the fact that he was born at the bottom and rose by his own force to the top, is one of the common things that glorifies our political institutions. Such instances as Jackson, Johnson, Lincoln, Garfield, no American recurs to but with pride. In no other country in the world can they so often occur. Parents are often best known by their children, and we may reasonably infer from these men the qualities and powers which existed in their ances. try unseen. Beneath common soils there are often precious ores. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, December 29, 1808. His father died when he was four years old. His childhood was subject to the hardships of the poor and fatherless in that section of the country. How he got up to ten years old his biographers do not say, but we must suppose that such a mother as Andrew Johnson must have had, found a way to care for him. At that age he was put to service with a tailor by the name of Shelby. While at work in this man's shop learning his trade, a neighbor who was fond of reading used to go in and read to the workmen from the "American Speaker." Andrew was an interested listener. That book became to him a wonder. He craved it for his own, but he knew it would reveal none of its secrets to him till he should learn to read. So he at once set about learning his letters, and then to spell and read. He became an industrious student in all his odd hours from work. He had an object to study for-to read that book for himself, and as soon as he could read, became an earnest reader of such books as he could get. When he was about sixteen years old he got into trouble by throwing stones at an old woman's house, and started at once for unknown parts. He found his way to Laurens Court House, South Carolina, where he procured work at his trade. Two years after he returned to Raleigh, and learned that Mr. Shelby had moved twenty miles into the country. On foot he sought and found him. He made all due apologies for his unceremonious departure two years before, and desired to go to work again for Mr. Shelby. But he demanded security for his faithfulness, which Andrew could not give, and so, heavy-hearted, he had to look the world in the face, which had no home and but little encouragement for him. In September, 1826, he went to Tennessee and took his mother with him. He found work at Greenville. During his first year there, with the courage of youth he took a wife to help him enjoy his poverty. Having married, he went west to find a place to make his fortune. After a fruitless search of several months, he returned to Greenville and went to work at his trade. He was fortunate in his marriage in this, that he found a teacher in his wife of whom he was glad to learn. The difference between him and most men is that they accept with ill |