The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-12-11
HIGH TIME AT THE WHITE
HOUSE. g 80
Presentation of Private Miles
O'Reilly.
MIR. Lincoln Tells his Best Story.
Speeches by Count Mercter, Lord
Lyons, General NIeagher, and Song
by Private OsRielly. 3G ne Is
MR.. LINCOLN TELLS ANOTHER STORY
WASHINGTON. Nov. 26 1863

Ireland, ana let 1t live as the greatest of
Thanksgiving Days in American history This
afternoon took place the interesting ceremo-
nial of presenting private Miles O'Reilly, 47th
regiment New York volunteers, to his excel.
lency the President of the United States, by
whom, in turn the young Milesian warrior
and bard of the 10th army corps was presented
to severa! members of the cabinet and foreign
diplomatic corps, who were paying a Thanks
giving Day call to the President when the
cards of General Thos. f. Meagher and Father
Murphy were handed in by Colonel Huy-I
these gentlemen having kindly consented to
act as the chdpe'oRs, or social godfathers and
godmothers OF private O'Relly ni2 '-fst
vus PICTURE OF PRIVATE o'RIELLY. 3
Private OReilly is q brawny, large boned,
rather od-looking young Mesian, with
curly reddish hair "rey eyes, one Of which
has a cataract upon it. high cheek bones. a
cooked nose, square lower jaws, and the usual
strong type of Irish forehead-the perceptive
bumps, Immediately above the eyes, being ex-
tremely prominent. more good humored or
radently expressive face it is impossible to
conceive. The whole cOuntenance beams with
candor and unreserve equal to that of a mealy
potato which has burst its skin or jacket by too
rapid boiling. He stands about six feet seven
inches, is broad chested, barrel bodied firm on
his pins, and with sinewy, kJotted fists of a
hardness and heaviness seldom equalled.
GEN. MEAGHER's sPEEoH fa
General Meagher, in presenting private
ORielly TO the President made some remarks
10 the effect that he was happy to have the
honor of Introducing 10 one who was regarded
as the Either of the Army, this enfisst perau
or lost boy of the Irish race. g ~"
MR.. LINCOLN's spEECH-TIIs STORY ABOUT
THE WIDOW ZOLLIOoFFER'S DARKEY.''
Mr.. Lincoln replied that he was happy to see
Private OReiiley, but did not care to make
set speech. In his position it was no. wise to
talk .iooiishly aud he would, therefore but
rarely talk at all. As to the . war for the sue
cession about which the Heral9 and Mr. Wen-
dell Phillips appeared crazy, he would say some
few words. Men Oftenest betray and defeat
themselves BY oyer-anxiety to secure their OBJ
ject, just as the widow Zoicoffers nigger did
away down in Bourbon county when he had
been eating her cranberry jam. Uaughter.)
The widow. while making her jam, was called
away TO 4 deighbOr who was about increasing
the population. Cloud laughter.) "Sam. YOU
rascal. she said, you'll be eating my jam
when I'm away Sam protested he'd die first,
but the whites Of his eyes rolled hungrily to-
wards the bubbiing crimson. ''See here
Sam" said the widow taking up a piece of
chalk, "I'll chalk your lips and then on my
return I'll know if you've eaten any," So say
ing, she passed her foreiinger heavily over the
thick lips of her darkey. holding the chalk in
The palm OF her hand, and not letting it touch
him. Well when she came back Sans lips
were chalked quarter OF an inch thick. and
Q4aughter.) Now, it is much the same about
the presidency. (Renewed mrth) A good
friend of mine declares that he wouldn't take it
at any price: but his lips were thickly chalked
when he came back from Ohio. daughter
in which Mr.. Chase joined heartily So were
General FremOnt's out in Missouri, when he
Issued his emancipation Order;" and General
Buffers were not only chalked, but had the
jam on. and had it thick. Secretary Seward
once chalked very badly, but had given it up
rs of no use since his quarrel with the machine
proprietor of his own state. cloud laughter
Mingled chalk aud jam might be seen on the
lips OF Gen. Banks. while the same compound
formed quite paste around the orifice through
which his good friend Governor Seymour sup
piled the wants of nature. (Roars of laughter
He had never SEN any chalk ON the lips of
Secretary Stanton or General Henry W. Hal
ieck; but with these exceptions, there was
scarcely man connected with the army who
did not chalk his lips. (Coutinued mirth. the
foreign diplomatic corps joining heartily
He believed many Of the Generals would COM
promise for Il Brgadier's commission in the
regular army: but these were matters too
grave to be joked about He would now in
trOduce TO all present private Miles O'Riley, of
the 10th army cOyps-an army corps which had
done well under General Gilmore, having been
magnfcently disciplined by General Hunter.
perhaps the Very strictest field officer in the
service. Mr.. Lincoln would now conclude bv
wishing the bard OF Morris Island welcome to
tho White House. and at the same time ex.
tending his hand for a friendly shake.
I;,kt As A DocrOR.
Mr.. Luee lark suggested that il timorous
the boy was: that his heart was too full and the
wmds bubh'ed up SO quick to his tongue that thev
ehoked and killed each other like an audience
crowdius OFT AT the narrow doors of theatre in
"hich the cry oil fire. has been raised If his Rev
erenc5s hAcelletcy. the President would only order
up a jag Oh Wafer with no more whisky in it than
prss dent Fierce crank at The opening Of the crystal
Clark WAS vi opinron that Miles would rapidly
recover. f'
The order was given. Private Miles retired for a
few moments into sr Nc,,ays room inst ont;
the council chamber. from whence he soon returned
wiping his mouth with the cuff OF his coat ya nin
a little for breath and his whole face omuch bright
er and lvelier that it seemed like tran fgurat;on
Your Riverency's Exce'lency." he said scrapinp
his left foot backwards hOwiny forward his bodvy
and giving one OF his red foreocks jerk between
erence's Excellency, though I'm wipin my lips. it's
Bayther chalk cranberries had on them ,asf :,
Loud laughter
LYONS sDSG--TliE CABINET poxrN.
FUN"
suppose, Mr.. Seward, you ask your young friend
to give a sOng," said Lord Lyons who had been
looking rather supe ciIiousy at all parts of The cere
mOniai "They cay the fellow can sing, and sun
pose it is because he can sing he is here"
Mr.. Seward referred the matter by bow to the
President, who glanced sharply at lord Lyons. For
one moment a cloud pissed over Mr.. Abe Lincolns
face but disappeared as he turned and let his eyes
"What SOY YOU private o'keillys Willyou sing r r
II will that, your kiverence's Exceency," was
the response with just one flash of seowl towards
Lord Ii ons. Its my prayer for your Excelency
berry makes a nightcap for you; and may you have
the vigor of Lord Palmer-hin- that's your boss
Lord Lyons-till the day you ore a hundred and
fty! IUproarioas laughter: in which all ined ex-
cept Father Muphy-Lord Lyons laughing the
loudest.l Now, what snail singy' continued pri-
yate Miles, If his kverence Father Patrick
INV n !a 6nro - aoYlO In Of
my countryman, he same Lord Pamershin, tha' Id
give you. 'Tsn't that ever loved him any other
anti-lrish Irshman who takes blood money for the
I'm sick of the humbug that's in them English jour
mails that cay the ould man ought to be ashamed Of
himself Laughter. Fax, at his age, can't see
any shame about 1t. loud laughter
:. Iu oontyGirc" suggested Count Mercier with q
smile and shrug 'Gu sou age, devrait, n0tss. ~
entire fev."s 9..-ss ss iii.
Roars Of laughter, amidst which Father Murphy