Post by Apple on Feb 9, 2009 16:45:01 GMT -8
Tennyson
by
S. Rider
by
S. Rider
Respectful. That is how I would describe the two Secret Service Agents I served with in the early 1870’s. I was not with them long, just through a few cases, but during that time the adventures I had!
I was born in England and came to America for adventure after the American Civil War. My life in London was dull and grey. A new vista was what I craved. That craving, that desire, brought me across the Atlantic to pursue adventure and new sights.
When I first arrived in New York Harbor there was a lot of jostling and pushing to get through the crowds. Finally pushing my way through I found myself in a strange new place, tall dirty buildings, people everywhere. That much was like London, at least! Now I needed to secure a flat as well as a position somewhere. Somehow over the next few days, during which I spent a fair amount of my savings on a hotel room, I was directed to Wall Street. I was told that with my skills as a manservant that one of the muckity-mucks (such a terrible expression, don’t you think?) would be willing to have me hire on in their home.
I worked for a gentleman for three months before he had a party where several government officials were in attendance. Overhearing conversation is a skill that I had honed and in doing so I was able to find out that a butler was needed to travel out west with a man who would be living fashionably. That was all I heard by way of a job description. Little did I know that the adventure for which I had come to America was finally in my path.
The gentlemen who had been discussing this job were doing so in the private study of my employer. Later I was able to find them at a hotel in Manhattan and “apply” for the position. They admired my persistence in finding them and following through on my intention to submit myself as a candidate when I did find them.
Afterward I wondered what I had gotten myself into, involved with two gentleman who were always courteous to a fault, making meals, serving tea, laundry, all the while being armed against those who would defy the American Government. I learned quickly to fire rounds from weapons ranging in size from a small derringer to a rifle. A good shot too, I must say!
Unfortunately the Secret Service did not require the gentlemen to maintain the cover of illustrious gentlemen for too long and my services were no longer required. They were traveling in the Territories to the West, what use did have for a manservant?
So my stint as manservant to two secret service agents came to an end, uneventful for the most part, exciting nonetheless. Was that the end of my government career? Absolutely not! In fact, I trained further with the service and became a servant in the White House where I remained until my retirement, serving visiting dignitaries. Exciting? Yes. Adventurous? Not really, but I had had my fill of adventure in the territories with Agents James West and Artemus Gordon.
~END~
Copyright 2008