The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-09-10
From Dickens All The Year Round.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
A New and True Story of President Lin
eoIn.

SOlA hOduS. HI nearing Oh Ills
critical condition. his wife left her Northern
home. and, after much difficulty, made her
way to his bedside. Her cheerful presence
and careful nursing SO far restored him that
ne was IN short time able TO be transferred
to Washington.
In the Potomac river the steamer in which
the invalid officer, Colonel Scott, and his
family had taken passage. was sunk. in 4
collision with q large vessel. in the night.
Inc crew and nearly all the soldiers OH board
were rescued or saved themselves: but amid
the horrible confusion of the scene, Colonel
Scott became separated from his wife, and
she was lost. The Colonel was picked up in
the water by the crew of the large steamer,
and under his direction every effort was
made to discover his wife. or rather her
body, for all hope of finding her alive was
abandoned. The sad search was fruitless {;
1t was resumed in the morning. the people
along the shore, humane Confederates.
lending their aid. But the gray, sullen riv-
er refused to give upits dead, and the young
officer, half frantic with grief, was COM
PEELED to go on to Washington. Within a
week, he received word that the body of
the lady had been washed ashore; that those
good country people, generous foes, had
secured it, and were keeping it for him.
1t happened that just at that time impera-
tive orders We're issued from the War De-
partment prohibiting all intercourse with
the PENINSULA necessary precaution
against premature disclosures of important
givings that Colonel Scott applied to Mr..
Secretary Stanton for leave to return TO Vir-
ginia, on his melancholy duty.
impossible, Colonel, - replied Mr.. Sec
rotary Stanton; ''no one can have leave to
go down the river at this time, on any pri-
vate mission whatever. Our present ext
gencles demand the most stringent regula-
tons, and hope l need not say to you that
no merely personal consideration should be
allowed to Interfere with great national in
" 4 ~
a critical, perilous, cruel time. The dead
must bury the dead. -
The Colonel would have entreated but the
busy Secretary cut him short with another
impossible, from which there was abso-
lutely no appeal. He went forth from the
presence, and returned to his hotel, quite
overwhelmed.
Fortunately, he was that afternoon visit
ed by friend, to whom he told the story of
his unsuccessful application and sad per-
pleXIty, and who immediately exclaimed,
''Why not apply to the President!'' The
Colonel had but little hope, but acknowl-
edged that the plan was worth trying. drove
to the White House.
They were too late. 1t was Saturday
evening, and Mr.. Lincoln had gone to spend
Sunday at Soldiers, Rest, his summer re-
treat. This was but a few miles from town,
and the Colonel's indomitable friend pro-
posed that they should follow him out, and
they went. There was then a popular be
lief that all the wronged. the troubled and
suffering could find Il refuge in Father
Abraham s capaciOus bosom,'' belief that
was not far out of the way. Yet there were
times when Overbur(lened. wearied. tortur-
ed. the patriarch longed TO clear that asy-
lum of its fOrlOrn inmates, to bolt and bar
and double-lock it against the world; times
when life became too hard and perpleXing
for his genial, honest nature, too serious
and tragic and rascally thing by half.
1t happened unluckily, that the poor Col
w,al 4 L.
one of his most respondent and disguised
moods. He was in his private parlor. alone
in the cleaning. He was lounging loosely
In large rocking chair, jutting over it in
all directions. His slippered feet were eX-
allied. his rough head was thrown back, his
throat bare-he was in his shirt sleeves.
Yes, dear. fastidiOus English reader, it was
genuine Yankee dbaHdo1-make the most
of it.
He turned upon his visitors with look of
almost savage inquiry. There was. indeed,
in his usually pleasant eyes, wild angry
gleam-a something like a worried animal
ut bay.
Colonel Scott proceeded very modestly to
tell his story, but the President interrupted
MN, to say brusquely, $50 to Stanton, this
is his business -
81 have been to him, Mr. President, and
he will do nothing for me-
''You have been to him and got your
answer, and still presume to come to me!
Il
be logged to my last fastness. and worried
to death by inches? Mr.. Stanton has done
just right. He knows what he is about.
Your demands are unreasonable, sir.
But, Mr.. Lincoln, thought you would
feel for me. -
Feel for you, Good God! have to
feel for five hundred thousand more unfor-
tunate than you. We are at war sir; don't
you know we are at war? Sorrow is the lot
of all: bear your share like a man and a SOL
der.
81 try, Mr.. President, but it seems hard.
My devoted wife lost her life from coming to
nurse me in my sickness, and cannot even
take her body home to her children.
to the army. She could have stayed at
home. That is the place for women. But
If they Will go tearing about the country. in
such times as these, and running into all
sorts OF danger. they must take the cOnse
quences. Not but that am sorry for you.
Colonel. AS for my wife, she's at rest, and
wish | were.''
Saying this, the President leaned back
wearily i'll his chair. and closed his eyes,
not noticing, except by a slight wave OF his
hand, the departure of his visitors.
am not ashamed TO confess that my hero
tossed restlessly that night upon a pillow
wet with many tears; that he was desperate
and resentful. utterly unresigned to the de-
cress of Providence and the War Depart
ment; and he thought Abraham Lincoln as
hard as he was ugly, and as unhumane as he
was ungainlY.
Toward morning he fell asleep. and slept
late. Before he was fully dressed there came
a quick knock at the door of his chamber.
and he opened it to President Lincolni
The good man came forward. pale and
eager, tears glistening in his eyes. and
grasped the Colonel's hand saying: -
treated you brutally last night. l was ut
terly tired out, badgered to death. l gem
orally become about as savage as a wildcat
by Saturday night. drained dry of the milk
of human Kindness / must have seemed
to you the very gorilla the rebels paint me.
was sorry enough for it when YOU were
gone. l could not sleep moment last
the cool OF the morning. and make it all
right. Fortunately, had little difficulty
in finding you.
This is very good of you. Mr. Presi-
dent. said the Colonel, deeply moved.
No, 1t Il; but that was very bad of
me last night. / never should have forgiven
myself If l had left that piece of ugly work
stand. That was a noble wife of yours,
Colonei- on were happy man to have
such u noble woman to love YOU: and You
must be a good fellow or such a woman
would never have risked so much for you.
ana what grand women there are in these
times, Colonel! What angels of devotion
and mercy. and how brave and plucky =
gong everywhere at the call of duty. facing
every dangerl l tell Won if it were not for
the women, we should all go to the devil,
and should deserve to. They are the saliva
tlon OF the nation. Now, come Colonel:
my carriage is at the door III drive you
to the War Department. and We'll see STAN
ton about this matter .
Even at that early hour they found the
Secretary at his post. The President plead
ed the case of Colonel Scott. and not only
that leave of absence should be
given him, but that a steamer should be
sent down the river expressly to bring up
the body of his wife. Humanity. Mr.
stanton said the good President. his home
" face transfigured with the glow of Garnet,
tender feeling. humanity should override
of policy, and even military
necessity. in matters like this
The Seernf.I.x x,ens for,nl.od .n,..l h -a:.a