Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1867-10-19
How Mr.. Lincoln Endorsed the Negro.

The third year of the war, William
Johnson, a 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 National Bank in Washington, to
borrow one hundred and fifty dollars on
his note off hand. Mr.. Huntington, who
is as kind to the poor as he is rigid in ad-
herring to the rules of good bank manage
ment, 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 a responsible endorser ;
can you give me one % 81 reckon kim y
replied. William, Strengthening himself up
with solid dignity. 81 kin give Abram
Linkon I" ''Oh he will do" said the
cashier, who turned to his desk and drew
two notes for twenty-five dollars each,
payable respectively in sixty and ninety
days. William got Mr.. Lincoln's endorse
ment, and got his money.
When the first note fell due it was not
paid, and Mr.. Huntington, soon after,
having business at the Treasury Depart
ment, 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 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. Lincolon, the barber who used to
shave you, hear, rs dead" "Oh, yes"
interrupted the President, with feeling ;
"William is gone, l bought coffin for
the poor fellow, and have had to help his
family" swell, Mr. Lincoin," resumed
the cashier, 81 was going to say that l
had in the bank two small notes of VIII;
liam's, endorsed by you, which 1 will now
said Old Abe, with lively arrHness, and
uncoiling himself upward in his arm
chair. Il endorsed the notes, and am
bound to pay them and it is your duty
to make me pay them" eyes" said the
cashier ssbut it has long been our Gus
tom to devote a-portion of our profits to
charitable objects, and this seems to be a
most deserving one. Mr.. Lincoln, how
ever, stood firm in his obligation and his
purpose to pay his endorsements. "Well,
Mr.. Lincoln, L will tell you how we can
arrange this finally, '1said Mr. HuRting-
ton 'sThe loan of William was a joint
one between you and the bank You
stand half the loss. and Twill stand half.
You pay one of the notes and | will can
Gel the other" Old Abe flung his leg
over the, armchair in that irresistibly
funny way he frequently had of nlusing
over proposition. He thought awhile,
the light playing all over his expressive
face, then Strengthened up, his sweet pa
tient eyes full OF laughter 'SMr. Hunt
ington," said he, "that sounds fair, but it
is insiduous ;. you are going to give me
the smallest note to pay. There must be
a fair divide over poor William. Reckon
up the interest ON both notes, and chop
the whole right straight through the
middle, SO that my halt shall be as big
as yours. That's the way we will tlx It,
And that is the way the good man
''fxedp the discharge of all his obllSS-