The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-01-04

- aterY % Our Late Freetaene.
The annexed, another evidence o.
tbeakihd heart Of our late Pfosi lalta
Mf Lincoln, We take from the HaesS
pendent: -.
On the. Monday before Ais death,
when our late beloved President was
on his return from R.ebnlJnd ilestop.
ped at City Point. Calling upon tic
head Surgeon at that place. Mr. LIN
coin told him that he wished % visit
al! The hospitals under bis charge and
shake bands with every soldier. The Z
surgeon asked She President if he
knew what task be was undertaking,
and told him that there wcFe thea, he--i
tween FIVE and six thousand soldiers pt.
that place, and it would be quite h.
task upon his strength to visit an
the wards and shake hands with
every soldier. Nh. d.iReoln- answer.
ed with 4 smile, that Shop "gacssed
he was equal to the task; at atiysrito
he would try, and go as iara as he could.
be should meyer probably see the
boys again. and he wanted them To-
know that he appreciated what they
had done for their country H
Finding it useless to tFy TO dissuadea
him, the surgeon began bis rounds
With tho President, who walked from
bed to bed, extending his hand to all,,
saying few words Of sympathy to-
some, making kindinquiries Of otheVss8
aud welcomed, BY. all with the heart,
lest cordially. AS they passed along
they came TO a ward in which rebel
lay, who had b;en wounded and WAS
prisoner. As the tall figure Of the
kindly visitor appeared in sight he
was recognized by the rebel soldier,J
who raising himself on hisselbow in
bed, watched Mr.. Lincoln as he ap7y
preached, and extending bis band OK:
claimed, while teais ran down his
checks. 9 Mr.. Eiucoln have longg
wanted 10 sec you, 10 askyoup fors
giseness for ever raising my hand
against the old flag, Mr.. Lincoln.
was moved TO tears. He heartily
shook the hand Of the repentant rebel,
and assured him Of his good will, andy
with few words of kind advice, pass
ed on. After some hours the tour,of,
the various hospitals. was made, and.
Mr.. Lincoln returned with his sur.
geon TO his office. They had scarcely
entered, however, when n messenger
came, saying that one ward had been,
omitted, and sthc boys" wanted to see
Mr. Lincoln.
The surgeon, who wac thoroughly
.ried. and knew Mr. Lincoln must be,
tried TO dissuade HIM from going but
the good man said he must 90. back;
be would not knowingly omit one;
''the boys, would be SO disappointed.
SO he went with the messenger, aez
companicd BY thesurgeon, and shook
hands with the gratifed soldiers, and
then returned again to the Office, The
surgeon expressed the fear that Mr..
Lincoln arm would be lamed with so
much hand-shaking, saying that it
certainly must ache. Mr.. Lincoln
smiled. and, saying something about
his "strong muscles" stepped out
Inc OPOH uopIi tOOh uP WY ~
heavy axe, which lay there by a log
of wood, and chopped vigorously fora
few moments, sending, the chips flying
in ali directions; and then, pausing. be
extended his right arm to its full
length, holding the axe out horizon
tally, without its even quivering as he
held it. Strong men, who looked on
men accustomed, TO manual laboIT
could not hold the same axe in that
position for moment, Returning to
The office, he took a glass Of lemonade,
for he would take no stronger beverage;
and while be was within, the chips he
had chopped were gathered up and
safely cared for by Il hospital steward,
because they were the "chips that
Father Abraham chopped" In a few
hours more the beloved President was
at home in Washington; in q few days
more he had passed away, and be-
reaved nation. was in mourning.
III. W.