Barry Wynn; Or, The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States CongressBarton, George
General
Barry Wynn; Or, The Adventures of a Page Boy in the United States Congress
Barton, George
Capitol pages -- Fiction; Political fiction; United States. Congress -- Fiction
At breakfast the next morning Mrs. Johnson informed Barry that
Congressman Carlton had sent a message to the house requesting that he
call at his office as early as possible that day. The boy hurried
through his meal and in a few minutes was swinging down Pennsylvania
Avenue on his way to the Capitol. Despite his hurry, his eye lingered on
the various edifices which were springing up on either side indicating
the beautiful city in store for future generations. Indeed, the charm of
Washington always remained fresh in Barry's mind.
He learned that Mr. Carlton had his headquarters in the new office
building of the House of Representatives, which was but a stone's throw
from the Capitol. In a few minutes the boy was tapping timidly at the
door opening from one of the marble corridors of the substantial
building. There was no response and he turned the knob and walked in. He
found that he was in a suite of rooms, and through the door he could see
the Congressman seated at his desk in another room.
He paused a moment before announcing himself. John Carlton, absorbed in
the work before him, presented an interesting study. His smooth-shaven
face was most attractive, and even in the privacy of his room he did not
lose that appearance of authority which is carried so well by men who
mix in the practical affairs of life. A half smile hovered about his
lips, but at that very moment a kind of sadness showed itself in his
eyes. He was a combination of the man of imagination and the man of the
practical world. As he laid down the letter which he had been reading,
he raised his eyes and saw the boy standing in the doorway.
"Come in, Barry," he exclaimed. "Come in and let me get a good look at
you."
The new page walked in and stood before the desk very modestly.
"I suppose," said the Congressman, "that you are feeling very big this
morning?"
Barry looked at him in surprise.
"Why, no," he said, "I don't quite understand you, Mr. Carlton."
The legislator lay back in his chair and laughed with undisguised
enjoyment.
"I am glad of it. I am heartily glad of it," he said. "It proves that
there is one person in Washington who is not likely to be afflicted with
the awful disease which goes down here under the name of 'swelled
head.'"
The boy's eyes were globular with wonder.
"I don't suppose you know what I am talking about, Barry, do you?"
"No," was the simple response, "I do not."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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