White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-06-21
Special Waihington Correspondenee

EDITOR CHEZ :-Sines going to Chi
csgo, I have been rowing about the eOun
try considerably, and Just arrived here thil
morning. Shortly after the adjournment
Of the Convention. l proceeded. in com
pany with . number of distinguished gen
tlemen. to Springfield. to visit "Old Abe. .
We easily found his house. which il q
white frame. with two lightning rods or
it. Some time before we came to the
house, we saw an urehin scampsring to-
wards it. and bolt in at the open door
Immediately thereafter we saw Old ABB
shoot out at the back door. throw Of biz
coat. roll up his sleeves. gather up hinge
maui, and eommsnce tanning away at Al
iron wedge driven partly into the but
end Of large log. He always split
from the butt We entered the gate, up
on each post Ofwhich sat good chunk o
q boy, who informed rs that their nam'
was Lincoln, ct the same tins extending
their paws to shake hands. Il is sin
gular circumstance that Abe has num-
Der Of children. and they are all Lineolns
We approached Abe, who looked uE
as If he was surprised at our coming, and
remarked that be had been hard at worh
all the morning. But the fact is. he keeps
same log on hands, and has one Of biz
boys constantly on the watch for visitors
When any are reported. he hurries ouI
and goes to mauling with all his might
he had mauled at the log for FIVE thou
sand visitors. and the wedge was only
about two-t thirds of the way in, at that
Near BY he keeps a pile of rails. viii
one of which he presents each visitor, as
a specimen of his industry.
Presently we saw several neighbors Ap-
preaching with basket Of bottles and
glasses. At this. Lincoln gave Us the
we'll known Sons Of Malta sign, (he ID
Son, signifying. twill you take q
drink ?" We gave the response. accept.
ing the invitation. when all hands took
a good snort. This is likewise an invar-
liable custom of Lincoln's, whenever be
has visitors. Ifhs receives no answer to
the sign. he informs the persons bear.
ing the liquor, in firm but mild tone,
that he is greatly obliged to them for
their good intentions, but he cannot con-
sent to violate bis well known prinei.
pies of temperance upon any occasion
wbstsver-whereupOn they withdraw.
he insisted upon rs to remain for din
ner. to which we consented. The food
was plain. but MISUNDERSTANDING o!
mush and milk, with dessert Of onions
and salt. He observed that, If elected.
be meant to follow the same mode Of life
at the White House.
After dinner, Mr.. Lincoln entertained
rs with some wonderful and ediiying per.
formances. He would FIRST put both bis
fists into his mouth at once. then stood on
one leg. and hoped over the table. He
then sprsng from the floor, and before
alighting, struck his feet together three
times, and kicked of both his boots one
Of which went into the kitchen and lit in
the churn. and the other striking one Of
our company preston King) in the
paunch. We all exclaimed that it was
decidedly good. to which Preston King
agreed. merely observing that be did not
sit in favorable position to enjoy its full
beauty!
Mr.. Lincoln is of . very kind and &C.
commodating disposition. He told rs
that it was very expensive running for
President, as one had to please every
body. He makes it practice. since his
nomination, to buy everything that is
offered to him, whether he needs it or
not. BE conducted Us to shed contain
ing most Of his purchases, where We
found, among other articles, the follow
ing three corn shelters. Eve pitchforks.
two wheelbarrows. one shovel-plow,
dozen OK yokes, one Pixies Peak hand
cart, an old jack-plane, side-saddIs, and
six lightning rods. BE took occasion
remark that he had not much faith in
lightning-rods, but merely used them be-
cause it was customary. He had been
told, Just before the meeting of the Chi
cago Convention, that be stood q tsn.fold
better chance Of being struck BY lightning
than Of being nominated for President
Since the result Of the Convention, be had
begun to think that he ran some risk on
the lightning question. but was bound to
be on tbs safe side. if there was any virtue
in lightning rods.
Old Abe, since his nomination. attends
to law cases for poor people. gratis. He
informed rs that be had engaged to attend
to q case for . poor widow in Lower
Egypt, who had prosecuted 9 nsighbor
for stealing . litter of kittens. The trial