A Queer Scene at the Door of the House

There was a queer scene at the door of the national house of representatives, a few days since. One of the assistant doorkeepers is a good Democrat from Cork. Mr. Luckey, the President's private secretary, arrived with a message, introduced himself, and said he had a message from the President of the United States. "Have ye's?" says Pat; "let me see it." Mr. Luckey handed him the formidable looking envelope, fastened with red tape and sealing wax. Pat looked at it; he could read, and said, "This is for the speaker, sure?" Mr. Luckey nodded assent.

"Well," said Pat, "go around there in the lobby and the speaker will come out some time, when you can give it to him." "But that is not the usual way," said Mr. Luckey. "Divil a bit do I care," said Pat, "dodge round there in the lobby and wait." "You had better call the door-keeper," responded Mr. Luckey. "Niver a bit of it — I can't be afther callin' the door-keeper for the likes of ye," answered Pat; and Mr. Luckey, despairing, sought some other medium through which to communicate with the speaker.