Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-24
God bless youI she answered, and

1
until the room was filed. Some OF these
petitioners were insoleut beyond human
endurance; some were ludicrous in thei
pompousness, displaying piles of letter;
of Introduction, which the President
would not look at. They would, how.
ever, persist 10 their endeavors to make
him look at such letters from such persons
The President soon became exasper
ated, as be listened to one and another
In vain he shook his head and stamped
his feet. and brought bis hands violently
down upon the table, telling them that be
Uould not and could not listen to such
petitions They, with an assurance new.
er to be imagined, would still 90 on.
Men with defiant faces, men whining
and pleading, and forward women, grasp
| ed his arm to arrest his attention. His
patience with such rudeness was wonder
full. If he expressed contempt for affec
tations, he also did not forget to respect
modesty aud real sorrow when he met it.
Again the little bell was rung, and
again the room was filled. Those who
had just gone out muttered their dislike
for the good man who listened from early
morning till late Of night to people of
every grade.
Often the President was grave TO sad
ness. For hours in succession he ex.
pressed no anger, no mirth. Petition
after petition was presented in rapid sue
cession. 1t was the same story of sor.
row--of fathers, brothers and husbands
in prison, each pleading for theirs to be
the first released in the exchange of pris-
oners. Some had dear ones dying in
camp, beyond the lines; they were beg
ging to go TO them. Hundreds had
made the same request.
oh, let us go to them--only let US
gor
There were bands of poor, oppressed
sewing women, stating their wrongs
peace commissioners, and Southern refu,
CESS.
Many times the President started to 90
to his private room, but sad faces press
ing up the stairway stopped him as he
was crossing the hall, and he went back
again.
DO, kind President, grant my re-
quest!'
The woman's voice was very plaintive,
and large tears were falling but she made
no sound of crying.
mo, no, l cannot! cannot, good
woman. | cannot! | might grant such
requests thousand day. / can't turn
the government inside out and upside
az ehR Inv dffSe,! gRllsfqSe syerybqdy. | must
BODY wants their friends drafted-nobody
wants them taken as deserters. lie
should not have been absent so long; he
should not have taken upon himself the
appearance of, deserter. How do 4
know-how does anybody kuow-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 bis furlough being ended? Didn't
think. That was his business to think.
am sorry. Everybody ought to be
sorry for those who do wrong. When
he knew the laws, why did he break
them9 When he knew the penalty, why
did he bring it Upon himselfs You plead
for him, and tell me how upright he is.
That's all very well. 1t is easy for US to
overestimate the goodness of 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 any
thing for you!
PLEASE, President Lincolnp
No, no! no, no! ! can't won't, |
won'tr and he sprang to his feet, but in
an instant resumed his former position IN
his chair, and leaned forward to snap the
little bell.
oh! ohr
It was sound of intense grief, disap
pointment, and surprise, all mingled to
gether; coming up so from the heart a
this peculiar sound did, it arrested thu
hand upon the bell, lifted the eyes tia
were growing cold and stern in the plead
ing face of the woman before him. Sh'
had left her chair, and stood so near tina
her clothes brushed against him. Heav,
were the lines upon her face; lines O
care and sorrow; earnest were the tear
dimmed eyes.
do, kind sir, consider my case mo
ment more-ob, President Lincoln! Re
member, You were poor once-and-
and
Had no friends, do you mean ? he in
terrupted, almost scornfully.
sNo-oh, no!-had a fen friends
tried and true friends, who would neve
forsake you Only one of them know
one, who is alike friend to you an
to me. For his sake-for our dear Lord
sake-grant my petitionP
There was striking solemnity in he
/ whole attitude, and the President turne
very pale, his eyes misty, sad, and the
, sadder, as he repeated slowly and revel
entity:
For our dear Lords sakep
, Here are $500; IT was made up b
+. his neighbors. Couldn't you save hiI
from an iguominious death, which he doe
not deserve ?-no, he does not deserve
take back your money! cried th
: President, throwing away from him ht
> extended hand. take it back! d
( not want it!
Only an instant his hand and voit
r were raised, and then he resumed, kline
ly.
; Il shall not have your money, GOO
woman; the War Department will NJ