The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-04-04

StcVcuS StUe1ys
called to see MIR. 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 slight, very slight, hectic flush on
both his che Ks His blue eyes, sunk far be-
meath his brows, were bright as the eyes of con.
sumptive invalid. The whole expression of his
face and figure was i..-igorated; and when his
4 I'd grasped mine it felt like vital human
} nd, fit TO do a good deal more Of the work that
had ben doing.
II am glad, Mr.. Stevens, to find YOU looking so
much better"
"Thank you, sir" 'ly 81 am better
4 foel 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 yoa are, would set apart their future
years for rest"
swell sir, that has never been, and is less now
than ever my intention. / am one of those who
believe that until the end-which for me l
know is nigh'-the brain should work on, if It
can!"
1t is impossible to describe the pathos which
these words, uttered in "frm tones that trem-
bled, must have conveyed to the sense and heart
OF the hearer quote them literally but cam
not even indicate The extreme mortal resolute-
ness Of the expression of the pale lips that spoke
shem Altogether, they were key to the char
acter OF a man whom I shculd wish to be the
:ast 70 seriously accuse of being less than sincere
IN all things that it has become him to deal with
IN public life. He is nearly 70 years of age, and
ms once sncwy intellect, now failing, still ap-
pears to harber convictions as unwavcring as ev-
er The hostility which he has entertained, dur
ing longer than ordinary lifetime, against be-
Eefs opposing his, is as direct ard i,nplacable as
ever: and his scorn of double-dcaling and of
hallway" men and measures by the same in.
dlgnant. vtuperative treatment of them and their
names a. he has immemorally employed. His
power o'er the ma GRITTY in Congress wanes only
with tue : myth that dseascis riding him Of
III course" said to Mr.. Stevens, after some
conversation on other topics, "you must feel much
encouraged now by the fact that the President is
rsaMy going to be impsaohed, and probably tried,
at last"
eyes, sir, ] do, as every honest man in the
country ought to 81" r,f ~
And in fn-r i.aoments tool, my leave f,
Ever Jay, from the humble brick dwelling on
,youtn B. street; where Mr. Stevens lives. le is
-aken IN carriage to the entrance of the House
wing OF the capitol. Thence two men bear him
in chair along through the resounding corri-
dors 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 the House, and which is
known as "Thad. Stevens ROOM lie enters the
House itself rarely, except when, as during the
Late impeachment proceedings, it is necessary
that he shall be present. When he speaks he Is
assisted to place OF the platform next below,
the peakers desk, and az he talks very low.
most Of the Radical and some OF the Democratic
1nem' crowd int, the semi-circular open space
N front Of I'll desk to hear him
At half past three or four p. ". ic is borne in
q chair to his carr age, takc home, and taken in
4 chair or in he arms of two lnen who attend
MIN, up to his chamber. He.hear4 lis sufIerngs
liko . Spartan, and mas Ia 4ear Of ltatA.-Coy.
d. J. Void.