The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-19
a story Of Our Late President.

The following we take from the New
York Independent 1t can be vouched for
by many now living:-
On the Monday before his de ath, 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 sol-'
der. The surgeon asked the President
If he knew what task he was uudertak-
ing, and told him that there were between
five and six thousand soldiers at that
place, aud 1t would be quite tax upon
his strength to visit all the wards and
shake hands with all the soldiers Mr..
Lincoln answered with a smile, that he
guessed he was equal to the task 4; at any
rate he would try, and go as far as he
could he should probably never see the
boys again, and he wanted them to know
that he appreciated what they had done
for their country.
Fiding it useless to try to dissuade him,
the surgeon began to make lis rounds
with the President, who walked from bed
70 bed, extending his hand to all, saying
O few words of sympathy to some, making
kind inquiries Of others, and welcomed by
all with the heartiest cordiality. As they
passed along, they came 20 a ward in
which lay a rebel, who had been wounded
and was prisoner. AS the tall figure of
the kindly visitor appeared in sight, he
was recognized by the rebel soldier, who,
raising himself on his elbow in bed, watch
ed Mr.. Lincoln as he approached, and ex-
tending his hand, he exclaimed, while
tears ran down his cheeks: "Mr. Lin
coin, have long wanted to see you, to
ask your forgiveness for ever raising my
hand against the dear old fac !" Mr..
Lincoln was moved to tears. He heartily
shook the hand of the repentant rebel and
assured him of his good will, and, with
few words o: kind advice, passed on. AT
ter some hours the tour of the various
hospitals was made, and Mr.. Lincoln re-
turned with the surgeon to his Office
They had scarcely entered, however, when
messenger came, saying that one ward
had been omitted, and the "boys" wanted
to see Mr.. Lincoln. The surgeon, who
was thoroughly tired, and knew Mr.. Lin
coin must be, tried to dissuade him from
6OlhS OOb DuI IhC SaOpN dldu Sdlh nc uiuSl
go out; be would not knowingly omit one
of ''the boys" they would be so disap-
pointed. He went with the. messenger
accompanied by the surgeon, and shook
hands with the gratifed soldiers, aud then
returned to the Office. The surgeon ex-
pressed fear that Mr.. Lincoln's arm
would be lamed with so much hand-shak-
ing, saying that it certainly must ache
Mr.. Lincoln smiled, and saying something
about his strong muscles, stepped out at
the open door, took up a very large heavy
axe, which lay there by log of wood, and
chopped vigorously for a few minutes,
seUdiug the chips flying in all directions
and then, pau>iug, he extended his right
arm to its tull length, holding the axe out
horizontally, without its even quivering
as he held it. Strong men who looked on
men accustomed to manual labor
could not hold the same axe in that posi-
ton for a moment. Returning to the
Office, he took a glass of lemonade, for
he would take nc stronger beverage-and
while he was within, the chips he had
chopped were gathered up and safely
cared for by the hospital steward, because
they were the "chips that Father Abra-
ham had chopped" In few hours more,
the beloved President was at home in
Washington J.; in a few more days, he had
passed away, and bereaTed nation was in
mourning.