The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-11-05

duty-stern duty-as see it. No
body wants their friends drafted


absent SO long; he should not have
taken upon himself the appearance
of a deserter. How do / know
how does anybody knou-how
does the War Department know
that he did not intend to stay upon
the boat where the soldiers found
him? How does anybody know
that he didn't think about his fur>
Tough being ended? Didn't think?
That was his business to think.
am sorry. Everybody ought to be
sorry for those who do wrong.
When ae knew the laws why did
he break them? When he knew
the penalty, why did he bring it
upon himself You plead for him,
and tell me how upright he is.
That's all very we'll. 1t is easy
for US to overestimate those we
love. You are his neighbor.
1t is very kind in you to come SO
far and plead so strongly; butt
CAN'T can't do anything for
you"
please, Presid ent Lincoln
No, no! no! I can't--I won't, l
won't. and he sprang to his feet,
but in an instant resumed his for
mer position in his chair, and
lean ed forward to snap the little
bell.
ooh! OH
Itwas q sound of intense grief,
disappointment and surprise, all
mingled together; coming up SO
from the heart as this peculiar
sound did, it arrested the hand
upon the bell, lifted the eyes that
were growing cold and stern to.
the pleading face of the woman
before him. She had left her chair,
and stood SO near that her clothes
brushed against him. Heavy were
the lines upon her face-lines of
care and sorrow; earnest were the
tear-dimmed eyes.
DO, kind sir, consider my case
"a moment more-oh, President
Lincoln! Remember, you were
poor once-and--and-
Had no friends, do you mean?'
he interrupted, almost scornfully.
.No--oh, no!--had few friends
tried and true friends, who would
never forsake you. Only one OF
them l know--one, who is alike
friend to you and 10 me. For his
sake--for our dear Lords sake
grant my petition!'
There was striking solemnity
in her whole attitude; and the
President turned very pale, his
eyes misty, sad, and then sadder,
as he repeated, slowly and rever-
| entity:
For our dear Lords sake!'
Here are three hundred dollars,
it was made up by his neighbors'
Couldn't you save him from an ig
nominious death which he does not
deserve?--no, he does not deserved
Take back your money! cried
the President, throwing away from
him her extended hand. Take it
back! do not want it'
Only an instant his hand and
voice were raised, and then he re-
sumed, kindly:
Il shall not have your money,
good woman. the War Department
will not have it. Take it back
where it came from; and you shall
take back his release.
oh, President Lincoln, I believe
you are a Christian 1 will pray
for you every day with my whole
heart
4 have need of your prayers;
I have need of all the prayers that
are offered for me-
sOh, Mr.. Lincoln, that is the
Christian spirit--that is faith in
Jesus! Oh. let me hear you say
that you believe in Him.
4 do was the solemn answer.
/ believe in my Savior
And when she arose to depart,
the President also arose and open
ed the door for her, and led her
through the outer room and across
the hall to the head of the stair
case, and shook hands, said good
by and went back again to re-
ceive more and still more petition
| ers.
| The authenticity of these notes is
vouched for BY the writer, whose good faith
| is well endorsed.
Emerson is no: given much to
compliment. He says he hates the
shallow Americanism which hopes
to get rich by credit, to get knowl-
| edge bv raps on midniphI tahlea