Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-26
How VAR. lincoln Endorsed the
Negro. = t kH ~
BY SAMUEL WILKEsON.

In the third year of the war, William
johnson, q negro messenger In the Treas
ury Department, who added to his pay and
his duties the emoluments and honor of
shaving President Lincoln, went to VIM.
Huntington, the cashier of the First Ma
tional Bank in Washington, to borrow one
hundred and fifty dollars on his note of
hand Mr. Huntington, who is as kind to
the poor as he is rigid in adhering to the
Jules of good bank management, listened
favorably to the financial proposition of
William, and asked him what he wanted
to do with the money.
"To finish my little house" said he.
81 have to require responsible indor
ser; can you give me one?"
81 reckon I kim" replied the negro,
| Strengthening up with solid dignity. 81
kin give you Abram Lincoln p
ooh, he will do" said the cashier, who
turned to his desk and drew two notes for
seventy-five dollars each, payable respect
lively sixty and ninety days. Z
William got Mr.. Lincoln's Endorsement
and got his money.
When the first note fell due it was not
paid, and M Huntington, soon after, hay
ing business at the Treasury Department,
sought for the colored defaulter to his big
bank. William was not in his messengers
chair. Poor William was dead The
cashier, in the course of time, having oc
casion to do some business with Mr.. Lin
coin, took with him Williams two promises
to pay. After concluding his interview
with the President upon the matter princi-
| pal in hand, he said:
"Mr. Lincoln, the barber who used to
shave you, 1 hear, is dead"
| ooh voc III tho pracidauf with fnaI
| ing. civilian is gone / bought coffin
| for the poor fellow, and have had to help
his family"
2"Well, Mr.. Lincoln" resumed the cash
| Ter, 81 was going to say that had two
small notes Of Williams, indorsed by you,
which will now surrender to you."
No you don't" said Mr. Lincoln, with
a little frmness, and uncoiling himself up
ward in his armchair. 81 Endorsed the
notes, and | am bound to pay them"
Yes" said the cashier =" but it has
long been our custom to devote portion
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 in
dorsements.
"Well, Mr.. Lincoln, will tell you how
we can arrange this" said Mr.. Huntington.
"The loan to William was joint one be-
tween you and the bank. You stand half
the loss, and | will stand half. You pay
one of the notes and will cancel the
| other"
Old Abe flung his leg over the arm of
his chair in that irresistible funny way he
frequently had of musing over PROPOSE
ton. He thought while, the light play
| ing all over his expressive face, then he
Strengthened 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 q fair divide over poor William. Reck-
on up the interest 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'll fix it."
| And that is the way the grand man
fixed" the discharge of all his obligations
|--scrupulously exact, religiously honest,
proudly independent,
The cashier laughed, and as he handed
the notes to Mr.. Lincoln, said, pointing to
the signatures upon their backs:
i "After this, Mr. President, you can never
deny that you indorse the negro"
"That's fact p said Old Abe, laughing
ly; "but don't intend to deny it"
And doesn't the negro indorse him alld
his works? God bless his memory