The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-12-21
NOE.
A Story of our Late President,

The annexed, another evidence of the
kind heart of our late President Mr..
Lincoln we take from the Independent
On the Monday before his death, when
our late beloved President was on his re-
turn from Richmond, he stopped at City
Point. Calling upon the head surgeon
at that place, Mr.. Lincoln told him that
he wished to visit all the hospitals under
his charge, and shake hands with every
soldier, The surgeon asked the Pres
dent if he knew what a task he was un-
dertaking, and told him that there were
then between five and six thousand sold
iers at that place. and it would be quite
a tax upon his strength to visit all the
wards and shake hands with every soldier
Mr., Lincoln answered, with smile, that
he 'guessed he was equal to the task at
any rate he would try. and go as far as
he could he should never probably see
the boys again, and he wanted them to
know that he appreciated what they had
done for their country"
Finding it useless to try to dissuade
him, the surgeon began to make his
rounds with the President, who walked
from bed to bed, extending his hand to
all, saying few words of symapthy to
some, making kind inquiries of others,
and welcomed by with all the heartiest
cordiality. As they passed along they
came to ward in which lay rebel, who
had been wounded, and was a prisoner
AS the tall figure Of the kindly visitor
appeared in sight, he was recognized by
the rebel solder, who raising himself OF,
his elbow in bed, watched Mr.. Lincoln as
he approached, and, extending his hand,
exclaimed, while tears ran down his
cheeks "Mr. Lincoln, have long wan
ted to see you, to ask your forgiveness
for ever raising my hand against the old
flag" Mr. Lincoln was moved to tears.
He heartily shook the hand of the re-
pentant rebel, and assured him of his
good will. and, with a few words of kind
advice, passed on.
After some hours the tour of the various
hospitals was made, and Lincoln returned
with the surgeon to his Office They had
scarcely entered, however, when messen
ger came, saying that one ward had been
omitted, aud 1.-The boys" wanted to see
Mr.. Lincoln. The surgeon, who was
thoroughly tired, and knew Mr. Lincoln
must be. tried to dissuade him from 90
ing but the good man said he must GO
back ; he would not knowingly omit ope2
'the boys" would be so Disappointed
So he went with the messenger, accom-
panied by the surgeon, and shook hands
with the gratifed soldiers, and then re-
turned gain to the Office.
The surgeon expressed the fear that
Mr.. Lincoln's arm would be famed with
so much handshaking, saying that it GER
tainly must ache. MIR Lincoln smiled,
and, saying something about his ''strong
muscles" stepped out at the open door,
took up very large, heavy axe, which
lay there by log of wood, and chopped
vigorously for few moments, sending
the chips flying in all directions aud
then, pausing, he extending his right
arm to its full length, holding the axe
out horizontally, without its even guiver-
ing as he held it. Strong men, who
looked on-men accustomed to manual
lahor-could not hold the same axe in
that position for moment. Returning
to the office, he took glass of lemonade,
for he would take no stronger beverage;
and while he was within, the chips he
had chopped were gathered up and safely
cared for by hospital steward, because
they were "the chips that Father Abra-
ham chopped"
In a few hours more the beloved Pres
ident was at home in Washington in a
few days more he had passed away, and a
bereayed nation was in mourning.