A
persistent job-seeker once appeared
before President Lincoln and demanded
an appointment to a judgeship. He
was informed that there were no
vacancies. The next day, while
walking along the river, he saw a drowned man
being pulled out, and
recognized him as a federal judge.

He ran back to the White House
and demanded the position. “Sorry,”
said the President, “but the
lawyer who saw that judge fall in beat you
here by a good five
minutes.”