The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-01
Selections.
HOW MIR. LINCOLN ENDORSED THE NEGRO.


In the third year of the war, William
johnson, a negro messenger in the
Treasury Department, who added to
his pay and his duties the emoluments
and honor of shaving President Lin
coin, went to VIM. J. Huntington, the
cashier of the lst National Bank in
Washington to borrow one hundred
and fifty dollars on his note of hand
Mr. Huntington, who is kind to the
poor as he is rigid in adhering to the
rules OF good bank management, listen
ed favorably to the financial PROPOSE
tion Of William, and asked him what
he wanted the money for. "To finish
my little house." said he. "I have to
require responsible endorser; can you
give me one % &C l reckon l kin,'' re.
piled William, Strengthening himself up
with solid dignity. &C I kin give you
Abraham Linkon!'' "Oh he will
do" said the cashier, who turned to
his desk and drew two notes for seven
ty-tive dollars each, payable respect
lively in i'll sixty or ninety days. Will
liam got Mr.. Lincoln's endorsements,
When the first note fell due it was
not paid, and Mr.. Huntington, soon af.
ter having business at the Treasury
Department, sought for the colored de-
faulter to his big bank. William was
not in his messengers chair. Poor
William was dead. The cashier in the
course Of time, having occasion to do
some business with Mr.. Lincoln, took
with him Williams two promises to
pay. After concluding his interview
with the President upon the matter
principally in hand he said, Mr.. Lin
coin, the barber who used to shave
you is dead" "Oh yes" interrupted
the President with feeling William
is gone. l bought coffin for the poor
fellow, and have had to help his fam
hy." " Well, Mr.. Lincoln" resumed
the cashier, &C [ was going to say that I
had in the bank two small notes of
Williams endorsed by you, which I
will now surrender to you" " No you
DON'T" said Old Abe, with lively firm
ness, and uncoiling himself upward in
his armchair. L endorsed the notes,
and am bound to pay them; and it is
your duty to make ME pay them"
eyes," said the cashier; " but it has
long been our custom to devote a por
ton Of our profits to charitable objects ;
and this seems to be most deserving
one"
Mr.. Lincoln, however, stood firm on
his obligation and his purpose to pay
his endorsement. "Well, Mr.. Lincoln,
| will tell you how we can arrange
this" finally said Mr.. Huntingdon
"The loan to William was joint one
between you and the bank. You stand
half the loss, and will stand half
You pay one of the notes, and l will
cancel the other" Old Abe flung his
leg over the arm of his chair in that If
resistibly funny way he frequently had
Of musing over proposition. He
thought a while, the light playing all
over his expressive face, then strai ght-
ened up, his sweet, patient eyes full of
laughter, Mr. Huntington" said he,
"that sounds fair, but it is insidious ;
you are going to get ahead of me you
are going to give me the smallest note
to pay. There must be a fair divide
over poor William. Reckon up the in
terest on both notes, and chop the
whole right straight through the mid
die, so that my half shall be as
big as yours. That's the way we will
fix it,
And that is the way the grand man
fixed the discharge of all his obliga-
tions-scrupulously exact, religiously
honest, proudly independent.