meeting a fat and patriotic1 statesman on his way to washington to
beseech2 the president for an office, an idle tramp accosted3 him and
begged twenty-five cents with which to buy a suit of clothes.
"melancholy4 wreck," said the statesman, "what brought you to this
state of degradation5? liquor, i suppose."
"i am temperate6 to the verge7 of absurdity," replied the tramp. "my
foible was patriotism8; i was ruined by the baneful9 ha*t of trying
to serve my country. what ruined you?"
"indolence."
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