Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-09-28

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 emolu-
ments and honor of shaving President Lincoln,
went to VIM. j. Huntington, the cashier of the
First National 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 rules
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. " | have to re-
quire responsible endorser; can you give me
one ?' ~ reckon l kim" replied William,
Strengthening himself up with solid dignity. 81
kin give Abram Linkon ~ 9" Oh, he will do, "
said the cashier, who turned to his desk and
drew two notes for seventy-fve dollars each,
payable respectively in sixty and ninety days
William got Mr.. Lincoln's endorsements and got
his money.
When the first note fell due it was not paid,
and Mr.. Huntington, soon after having business
at the Treasury department, sought for the col
ored defaulter to his big bank. William
not in his messengers chair. Poor William was
dead. The cashier, in the course of time, hav-
ing occasion 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 principally in hand,
he said
"Mr. Lincoln, the barber who used to shave
you, hear is dead
oh yes, interrupted the President, with feel
ing William is gone. l bought coffin for
the poor fellow and have had to help his fam
iIy.'
Well, Mr. Lincoln" resumed the cashier
" l was going to say that had in the bank two
small notes of William endorsed by you, which
| will now surrender to you"
T" No you DON'T" said Old Abe, with lively
frmness, and uncoiling himself upward in his
armchair. / endorsed the notes, and am
bound to pay them and it is your duty to make
me pay them"
Yes," said the cashier I" 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 in his obliga-
tion and his purpose to pay his endorsements.
I" Well, Mr. Lincoln, / will tell you how we
can arrange this finally" said Mr.. Huntington.
I" The loan of William joint one between
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 chair in
that irresistible funny way be frequently had of
musing over proposition. He thought while,
the light playing all over his expressive face,
then Strengthened up his sweet, patient eyes full
of laughter.
&C Mr.. Huntingdon" said he, that sounds
fair, but II Is lnsldlous you are going to get
ahead of me, you are going to give me the small
est note to pay. There must be 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 fix it,"
And that is the way the grand man " fixed :"
the discharge of all his igatons-scrupulous
ly exact, religiously honest, proudly independ-
ent.
The cashier laughed, and as he handed the
notes to Mr.. Lincoln, said, pointing to his sigma
ture upon their backs:
After this, Mr.. President, you can never
deny that you indorse the negro"
=" That's a fact ~ said Old Abe, laughngly !;
" but don't intend to deny it,
And doesn't the negro indorse him and his
works :? God bless his memory l-Independent.