When the long ceremony was at length over he was thoroughly
chilled, but no serious illness followed.
It was soon seen, however, that he could not bear the strain of his
great office. He had never been strong. Of late years he had been
used to a quiet country life, seeing few people and taking things
easily.
Now from morning till night he lived in a whirl. He was besieged
with people who wanted posts. For the spoils system being once
begun, every President was almost forced to continue it. And never
before had any President been beset by such a buzzing crowd.
Harrison was a kindly old man, and he would gladly have given
offices to all who asked. It grieved him that he could not. But
he was honest, too, and he tried to be just in making these new
appointments. So his days were full of worry and anxious thought.
Soon under the heavy burden he fell ill. And just a month after
his inauguration he died.
Never before had a President died in office, and it was a shock to
the whole people. Every one grieved, for even those who had been
his political enemies and worked hard to prevent his election loved
the good old man. Death stilled every whisper of anger against
him, and, united in sorrow, the whole nation mourned his loss and
followed him reverently to the grave.
__________
Chapter 75 - Tyler - Florida Becomes a State
John Tyler now became President.
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