St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-07-24
Letter from Orpheus c. Kerr.
Honest ABE Tells Gen. scott 1 Little Story
~ Tho Negro In Congress- -.


- , Tho Negro In CohSress. ''.:r
The sudden and electrical visit Of Hon.
es: Abe to West Point this week, my boy,
rather destroyed my ;presehc ce Of mind, un-
til its occasion was explained to me by a
superaunuated Treasury clerk, as We COD
templated together couple Of small plan
tations, recently overaowed.
"Tcll me, my financial Antique" says
I, cautiously, "why has the Honest Abe
percgrinated at this peculiar crisis in the
history Of our distracted country :" ;,
The ancient Treasury chap softly laid
aside his steaming spoon, and says he:
"It's great secret, and [ ius5:saw re-
liable respectable reporter which has the
apoplexy because he can't find it out. Our
six feet and some inches Of Honest Presi-
dent" says the chap, calculatingly, "has
gone to visit General Scott. He has goue
to see General Scott" says the ancient
Treasury chap slowly, "for the express pur-
pose of telling him little story" 49,.
And such was really, the case, my boy,
as have since learned from a,Geatleman.
Of Em;nence, who had heard it from a
person Of Prominence. AS the story goes,
Honest Abe and the aged veteran were
discussing the best way to strengthen the
army of the Shenandoah Valley, as they
sat together in the hotel at West Point;
and the aged veteran was questioning how
fresh men could be sent thither when
there were no men, at present, to spare
"O," says the Honest Abe, placing his
other foot on the table also, "there's always
a way when there's will, neighbour
And that reminds me of = small moral
tale," says the Honest Abe, turning his
foot so that it would rest more easily on
the mantel.piecc. "Ttere was an old fel.
low out in Wisconsin who had just got
all his hay into the barn, when he discov-
cred that he hadn't so much as single
pitchfork. Ito toss it into the lofts with -
it was bad fix you sce," says the Hon.
est Abe, stcadyiug the chair on which his
right boot rested, land would have discour-
aged an ordinary man but the old man
made u? his mind to put up that hay into.
those Icfts if he had to take it up wisp by
wisp Finally he hit upon plan. He
had little black bull of morose teinpera-
mcnt, and six little ofsprings of the trow-
sers persuasion. So what does he do,"
says the poncst Abs, crossing one leg
over the other as they projected out Of the
window-''so what does he do, but,
dress all his little boysin their red Sunday
breecbes, tic bundle of hay to each ones
arms, put them ON their knees in a. row
across the barn floor, and then introduces
the little black bull. When that little
black bull saw the red breeches,". says the
Honest Abe, kicking of one boot as he
placed his foot on the generals shoulder
"when that little ack bull saw the red
breeches, he caught the first boy on his
knoLbed horns and sent him flying up in.
to the loft, where his father was waiting to
receive him and his bundle of hay. Then
he served the next one in the same way
and as fast as the Old nian took the bun
dies away from his rising sons, he sent
them down again by ladder, to gct-fresh
bundles, and be tossed again. For whole
hour" says the Honest Abe, elevating his
other foot also to the back of the sofa
"for whole hour the air was full of red
breeched offspring with bundles of hay,
and then the last boy came up with the
sweepings So you see, general, there's
always way to do a thing when it's 'got
to be did," 'v T., ~-".: =
And that's the little story, my boy,
which our Uncle Abe told to the aged
veteran; !; so you may feel perfectly com.
Portable about the strengthening Of Banks
and Fremont in the. Valley. Aut viam
inveniun,, ant faciun,. 49,
Speaking Of Congress; I attended one
of its sittings the other day, my boy, and
was deeply edited to observe it's manner
Of le5islating for our happy but distracted
country.
The Honorable Speaker" lne Crow
occupied the chair. '''"'.
Mr.. Podgers (republican, Mass J desir-
ed to know if the tax upon Young Hysoa
is not TO be moderated? Speaking for his
constituents he would say, that the pres
ent rate was entirely too high to suit any
grocer "f>, '.- "li '','
Mr.. Staggers CONSERVATIVE, Border
State) wished to know whether this body
intended to legislate for white men or mig
gers !? His friend, the pusillanimous
scoundrel from Massachusetts,, chose to op-
pose the tai. on Young Hyson because
to use his own words-it would not sault
a negro, sir i.ai.. .,iruy .sr,:l:,
MI. Podgers thought his friend from
tho Border State was too hasty. The
phrase be used was "any grocer" .....
MI. Staggers withdrew bis previous re-
mark, We were fighting this war to Sc
cure the Constitution and the pursuit Of
happiness to the misguided South, and he
accepted bis friends apology. .......
MI; Higgins Democrat, q Nev =, ,; ;Jee'rns.ey)