Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-10-01
NUMBER 81.
deed. in his usually pleasant eye. wild,
angry gleam something like the glare
of a worried animal aL bay

to tell his story, but the President inter-
rupted him to say brusquely. $50 to Stan-
ton this is his business
Il have been 10 him, Mr.. President,
and he will do nothing for me-
You have been To him. and got your
answer, aud still presume to come to me!
Am Ia have no resi' no privacy' Must
be logged to my last fsstncss, and
worried 10 death ny inches' Mr.. Stanton
has done llst right lie knows what he
is about Your demands are unrcasona-
BILE, SIR
"But. Mr.. Lincoln, thought you would
iecl for me-"
Feel for youl Good God. ! have 10
feel Tor five thousand more unfortunate
than YOU. We are at war. sir; don't sou
know We are at war? Sorrow Is the lot OF
all; bear your share like man and
soldier"
81 try to. Mr.. President. but it seems
hard. My devoted wife lost her life for
coming TO nurse me in my sickness, and
I cannot even take her body home TO my
children"
"Well. she ought not to have come
down to the army. She should have staid
at home. That ia the place for women.
But if they will 60 tearing about the
country, in such times as these, and run.
ming into all sorts Of danger, they must
take the consequences Not but that am
sorry for you. Colonel. As for your wife.
she at rest, aud wish werr.'
Saying this, the President leaned back
wearily in hi chair and closed his eyes,
not noticing. except by a slight wave of
the hand. the departure ot his visitors.
am not ashamed Ia confess that my
hero tossed res,lcssly that night upon
pillow wet with manly tears, that he was
desperate ind r.yengrful. utterly unrec-
oncird b the lrrrce> of Providence and
the War Department. and that he thought
Abraham Lincoln ~ hard ~ he was ugly,
and rs inhunan ~ he was ungainly.
Toward morning he fell asleep, and
slept late. Before he was fully dressed,
there came quick knock at he door OF
his chamber, aud he opened It to Presi-
dent Lincoln.
The good man came forward, pale and
eager, tears glstening in his eyes, and
grasped the Coloners hand, saying, Il
treated you brutally last night. | ask
your pardon. was utterly tired out,
hadgered to death. generally become
about as savage rs a wild cat by Saturday
night, drained dry of the milk Of human
Kindness | must have seemed 10 you
the very gorilla the rebels PAM me-
VA, sorry enough for it wuen you uwerc
zone. cprlA not sleep moment l:st
night. 80 though RI drive into town in
the co,l nf tn 70 n;nL .nd make all
r.ght r"a ril' dilliculty
Im faj.n- y,.
IL
lIra
tjpt; tf 'i
,lt ln.,.r- ~
-, lrt'+ttttT ~
liyw wife of
,o- = h.Ppy man
ttu...... .tptl - lore YOU;
Fellow. or such
la A,t ..I nn,r haze ri,ked so
mach g.. YOU AMI whd gran women
there are in thrs., times. Colone', What
angels OF devotion and mercy, and how
brave and pIucky!-going everywhere at
the call OF duty, facing every danger |
tell you, il il were not for the women we
should all 90 to the devil. and should de-
serve TO. They are the salvation Of the
nation. Now come, Colonel my car
riagc is ut the door. I'll drive you to the
War Department. and well see Stanton
about this matter"
Even at that early hour they found the
Secretary at his post The President
pleaded the case ofColonel Scott, and not
only requested that leave OF absence
should be given hin. but that steamer
should be sent down the river expressly
to bring the body ofhi' wife. "Hnmani-
" Mr.. Stanton" said the good Pr -:"nt,
his homely face transit cured VIII ihe
glow Of earnest, tender feeling, human
ity should over1ule consider .tions ofpOli-
cy. and even military necessities Ia mat.
tgrs like this
The Secretary WAS touched, aud he
said something al this regret at not hav-
ing felt himself al liberty to grant Colonel
SCOTS request in the first place.
mo, no, Mr.. Stanton said the Presi-
dent '.you lid right in adhering to your
own rule; you are the right man for this
place. five had such a soft headed old
fool as here, there would be no rules Of
regulations that the army of the country
could depend upon. But this is peculiar
case. Only think of that poor woman"
OF cou.sc the impossible" was accom-
plished.
To the surprise ofthe Colonel, the Presi-
dent insisted on driving him to the Navy
Yard. to see that the Secretary's order
was carried on. Immediately; seeming to
have a nervous fear that some obstacle
might he thrown in Inc way OF the pious
eypedition. He waited at the landing
till All was ready, then charged the otlic-