Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-11-12
From the independent
THE LAST RECEPTIONS OF THE
GREAT PRESIDENT.

BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
Iu the spring OF 1854, l attended the last
morning reception Of the season, at the White
House, taking with me my little daughter
who had An inteuse desire to gee the good
President who had set the poor slaves tree.
had not seen Mr.. Lincoln for more than
year, and, as drew near where he stood, 60
ing patiently through his weary, monotonous
task OF and.taking, | wondered II he weuld
remember my face among the countless faces
that had beset and beseiged him, or passed in
mute review before him, since the pleasant
evening on which had convpraed most freely
with him, and heard most OF his easy, charm
ing, cordial talk. But before could be pre-
sented, he gave me shock OF pleasant sur
prise by stretching his hand over the shoulder
of gentleman with whom he was conyersing
and greeting me by name, with the smile and
tone of an old friend. When no perceived
littlo A, the pleasant lock of Irue child
lover came into his sad eyes.
sis this your little daughter" he said
"Aow do you do, DEAR" As he took her hand
the child raised TO his face, her large, brown
eyes, full offender reverence. The look seemed
to touch him; he smiled smile that was
benediction, then bent and kissed her.
She blushed, but said nothing till We had
passed on n step or Two, when she exclaimed
"Why, he 10 only man after all"
Something in the tone struck the President,
and he asked what she had said. When | re-.
peated the naive remark, his worn face was
again lit by that smile OF quaint, kindly hu-
NOR, so peculiar to him-that hash of sunshine
that, once soen, could never be forgotten.
had not the opportunity TO tell Mr.. Lin
coin OF a scene in the past which this littlt
incident brought to my MUD. In noble ole
New England town, yeas on years ago, ther'
was great gathering of the people, to see no
| less parsonage than the first Pfesinent OF hi
Bepublic, who was to be received and enter
tanned by the noble governor of the State
| the "brother Jonathan" of the revolution, A
last he came-ths beloved ruler, the her
Without stain, the patriot without haw, thu
matchless gentleman, slowly riding beside th'
good governor, between ranks oil soldiers an'
crowds OF citizens, bowing grsciously, thougl
! somewhat coldly to the right end left st him
"0h, father, cried little dsrk-eyed boy =
a gentleman who held him by the hand q
can't see him. Please lit me up go that
can look over the peoples heads" The klnt
gentleman lifted him high in his arms, and tn
child looked full 10 the face OF Washington
| AS he did so, his own eager cOuatenancs fell
and he exclaimed, "Why, father, he is nothiu!
| but man, after all"
Washington beard, paused a moment, an
with an amused smile, replied 70 the child
ayes, my little lad; nothing but man"
1t seemed tome au odd coincidence that, d
sight Of our second Washington, my littl
daughter had repeated the thought sud almos
the words of her grandfather
II was somewhat more than yeAl from thi
time before we again looked upon the face {
the great President But now no smile, 4
cordial word greeted The friend, no kiss We
coined the child. 1t was one OF those las
silent, solemn receptions which he gave t
the people as he journeyed homeward, leaYin
the wide land In great shadow OF mourning
We saw him in that moat fitting resting plac
of all on that long, sad journey, lndependen
Hall.
1t SO happened hat general otioer in con
mand of the military escort was good trieu
of ours, and by him We We're introduced into Il
Hall by private entrance, thus avoiding Il
terrible crush OF the vast crowd admitted iro
the street.
We remained as long as We desired to 10 Il
chamber, and were able 10 contemplate Il
face OF the Pre- ident from almost every poi
OF view 6ne gray dust was constantly re
tling upon it, and at first, that strange, col
ashen lack disappointed me- but gradual
much Of the old expression came back to tn
marked head, TO those features, SO ludividus
t so powerful, and 80 manly. You missed Il
dark, soft, benignant eyes; but Gods pea0
| not mans violence, seemed TO have press
. down the weary lids Into welcome rest The
4 was look of patient serenity and torgivebe
= about the tace most touching aud eulls
{, The hands seemed to have drspped into ~
Al such tired position as | had seen them fl
= n into in briei intervals OF weary hand shakin
II Yet he seemed TO be graciously reeelving
all, though go mutely and with 10 token
! welcome.
y General c. took our little girl in
v arms, and stood with her for some minutes
= the head of the lin, and she looked sorro
FULLY down on the great President, who
10 once so smlingly looked down on her.
Standing back from the centre OF the cha
}. Der, we watched Tor sometime, with profou
a., interest the never ending file ct people,
o. tering from the street, passing the cof1n, vi
eager, awe-struck looks, and hurried out il
"a "a the shadowy park Some seemed exhaust
tc aud terrified by their struggles il gaining
III ball, and cast bewildered, vacant glanee2
10 the dead face, as though not seeing il. NJ
~. of the women seemed melted with tender gr
In while many men snatehed even their hi
look at the nations murdered father with
- lips and c'enched hands, IS though will
fierce, passionate sense of The "Seep dan
lion o his taking uH
As gsze1 around on that old hall, con
I'm. Grated to freedom by one ot The CRANE
events in our rational history, tet that
All scene had other witnesses than vel
~ those armed watchers-than that passing n
ttt tnAa t.r.r 81 ,LaIn nt