Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-09-14

"reminiscences of Mr.. Lincoln.

penter, we find the following interesting
incidents in the life of Abraham Lincoln
MIR. LINcoLN's SIMPLICITY.
While paying visit TO Commodore
Porter at Fortress Monroe. on one occa-
sion, an incident occurred,rel by Lieut..
Braine, one of the officers on board the
flagship, to my friend, the Rev. Mr.. Ever,
of New York. Noticing that the banks
of the river were dotted with spring bios
SONS, the President said, with the manner
of one asking special favor: +. Commo-
dore, Tad is very fond of fowers--won.
you let couple of your men take boat
and 60 with him for an hour or two along
the shore and gather few? 1t will be
great qualification to him."
HOW HE BORE ABUSE.
The President was once speaking of an
attack made ON him by the Committee on
the Conduct of the war, for certain al
legged blunder or something worse, in the
Southwest-the matter involved being
one which had fallen directly under the OBJ
serva'ion of the officer to whom he was
talking, who possessed official evidence up
setting all the conclusions of the Commit
tee.
Might it not be well for me-" queried
the officer, " to set this matter right in a
letter to some paper, stating the facts as
they actually transpired ?"
"Oh, no replied the President, at
least, not now. If we're to try to read,
much less answer, all the attacks made up
on me, this shop might as well be closed
for any other business. / do the very best
L know how-the very best can; and /
mean to keep doing so until the end If
the end brings me out all right, what is
said against me won't amount to anything.
If the end brings me out all wrong, ten
angels swearing ] was right, would make
no difference"
IT is THE PEOPLES BUSINESS"
In August, 1864, the prospects of the
Union party, in reference tothe Presiden-
tial election,-became very gloomy. A
friend, the private secretary of one of the
Cabinet ministers, who spent few days
in New York at this juncture, returned to
Washington with so discouraging an ac-
count of the political situation. that after
hearing it the Secretary tod him to 90 to
the White House and repeat it to the
President. Ny friend said that he found
the President alone, looking more than
usually careworn and sad. Upon hearing
the statement he walked two or three
times across the floor in silence. Return
ing, he said with grim earnestness of tone
and manner; Well, / cannot run the
political machine ! have enough on my
hands without that. 1t is the peoples
business-the election is i'm their hands.
If they turn their backs to the fire, and
get scorched in the rear, they will find
they have got to sit on the blister"
MR.. LINCOLN AND GENERAL PHELPS.
When General Phelps took possession
of Ship Island, near New Orleans, early
in the war, it will be remembered that he
issued proclamation, somewhat bombas-
in tone, freeing the slaves. To the sur
prise of many people, on both sides, the
President took no official notice of this
movement. Some time had elapsed, when
one day friend took him to task for his
seeming indifference on so important
mat er.
Well" said Mr.. Lincoln, feel about
that good deal as man whom / will
call JONES' whom once knew, did about
his wife. He was one of your meek men,
and had the reputation of being badly
henpecked. AT last, one day his wife was
seen switching him out of the house. A
day or two sfterward a friend met him in
the street, and said: Jones, have al
ways stood up for you, as you know; but
/ am not going TO do it any longer. Any
man who will stand quietly and take a
switching fron, he wife, deserves to be
horsewhipped.' Jones' looked up with a
wink, patting his friend on the back
Now don t. said he; 'why, it didn't hurt
me any; and you have no idea what a
power of good it did Sarah Ann"
BROWSING AROUND"
A party of gentlemen, among whom
was decor of divinity of much dignity
of manner, calling at the White House
one day, was informed by the porter that
the President was at dinner, but that be
would present their cards. The doctor
d demurred TO this. saying that he would
call again. Edward assured them that
he thought it would make no difference,
and went in with the cards. In few
minutes the President walked into the
room, with kindly salutation, and request
that the friends would take seats. The
doctor expressed regret that their visit
,roz 81, I'll .r,,aJ anl ,ka,