The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-04-04
Thaddeus Stevens In his Study.

called to see Nr. Stevens the second time last
Friday afternoon.
The old man sat in the same chair, beside his
little writing table, in the same comfortable
chamber. CHASTITY and feeble as he appeared,
there was a slight, very slight, hectic flush on
both his cheeks. His blue eyes. sunk far be.
noath his brows were bright as the eyes of a con-
sumptive invalid. The whole expression of his
face and figure was invigoratsd; and when his
hand grasped mine it felt like vital human
hand fit to do good deal more Of the work that
1t had been doing.
81 am glad, MIR. Stevens to find you looking SO
much better"
Thank you, sir" kindly. II am better. ]
feel good deal better to-day"
"You keep at work, see" pointing to the pa
pers strewn on the table; 'most men at your age,
and i'll as you are, would set apart their future
years for rest"
swell sir that has never been, and is less now
than ever my intention. I am one Of those who
believe that until the cnd-which for me
know is nigh-the brain should work on, if t
eann
1t Is impossible to describe the pathos which
these words, uttered in "frm tones that trem-
D!ed, must have conveyed to the sense and heart
OF the nearer. quote them literally but can.
not even indicate the extreme mortal resolute-
ness of the expression of the pale lips that spoke
acter OF a man whom / should wish to be the
last to seriously accuse Of being less than sincere
IN al things that il has become him to deal with
in public life He is nearly rs years of age and
his once sinowy intellect, now failing, still APP
pears to barber convictions as unwavering as ev.
er The hostility which he has entertained, dur
ing longer than ordinary lifetime, against be-
Aefs OPPOSING his is as direct and implacable as
ever; and his scorn of double-dealing and of
q = IL
dlgnant, vitupcratiye treatment of them and their
names as he has immemorially employed His
power over the majority in Congress wanes only
with the strength that disease is rifing him Of
"Ut COURSE ! said to Mr. Stevens, after some
conversation on other topics ''you must feel much
encouraged now by the fact that the President is
really going to be impeachod, and probably tried,
at last"
eyes, sir, ! do, as every honest man in the
country ought to feel"
And il o few moments I took my leave.
Every day, from the humble brick dwelling on
South b. street, where .Ir. Stevens lives. he is
taken in cayrias4 to TIC entrance of the House
wing OF the capitol, Thence two men bear him
in chair along Through the resounding corri-
doris OF the basement, up one Of the broad stair
ways and along again through the halls to the
room OF the Committee on Appropriations, adj.
Joining the lobby of tie House, and which is
known 40 "Ihad. Stevens room lie enters the
House itself rarely, except when, as during the
late impeachment proceedings, it is necessary
that he shall he present. When he speaks he is
assisted to a place on the platform next below
the Speakers desk, and as he talks very low,
most Of tae Radical and some OF the Democratic
members crowd int the semi-circular open space
~ front OF the desk TO hear him
~ hall past three or four =. w. he is borne in
q chair TO his carriage, tion h, nc, and taken in
a char, or in the arms Of two men who attend
MN. npto MS chamber. Ho bears his sufrerlngs
L.- Spartan, and has 10 fear Of death.-C9r.
n. \. World