Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-01-19

/ ing up the stairway stopped him as he
was crossing the ball, and lie went back
again.
Do. kind President, grant my request
The womans voice was very plainiive
and large tears were falling, but she made
no SOUND OF crying.
'No, no, l can not 7 can not. good
wcman-I can not, might grant sucl,
requests thousand a day cant turn
! the Government inside out and upside
over. can't please everybody. must
| do my duty-stern duty as | see IT, No
body wants their friends drafted nobody
wants them taken as leserters. lie should
not have been absent so long; he should
mt have taken Upon himself the APPEAR
ance of deserter. Hay do | know
how does ANYBODY kuov-how does the
War Depar, ment know-that he dill not
intend To stay upon the boat where tho
soldiers found him? How does anyb,2dy
know that he didn't think ABOUT his fur
Tough being ended? Didn't think Tha,
was his business to think. 1 am sorry
Everybody ought tn be sorry for those
| who do wrong. When he knew the laws
why did he break them? When he knew
the penalty. why did he bring il upon
himself? You plead TOR him. ana tel mt
how upright he is. That's al verv well
II is easy FIR US to over estimate the good
ness of those we love. You are his neigh
Dor. II is very kind ia you to come SO far
and p'cad so strongly; butt can't
cant do anything for you,'
please, President Lincoln"
mo. no, no. no, | CAN'T WON'T
won t. and he sprsng to his feet, but in
an instant resumed his former position in
his chair. and leaned forward to tap the
little hell.
s'Oh. oh.s
1t was sound OF intense grief, disap
pointment and surprise. all ming'el to.
gether; coming up so from the heart as
this peculiar sound did, it arrested the
hand upon the bell litled the eyes that
were growing cold and stern 10 the plead
ing face OF the woman before him. She
had left her chair. and stood 80 near that
her clothes crushed against him. Heavy
were the lines upon her ce--lines OF care
and sorrow: earnest were The tear dimmed
eyes.
do. kind sir, cousidr ms case a, mo
ment more--oh, President L:ncelnl Re
member. you were poor once--and--
and"
Had no friends, do you mean" he in
ierrupted, almost sc0rnfnly.
"No-oh. no,-had a few friends-tried
and tue friends, who would never forsa Ike
You. Only one of them / know-One,
who is alike friend to you and to me
For his sakc-for cur dear Lords sake
grant my pe,itioD.''
There was a striking solemnity in hel
whole attitude; end the President turned
very pale. his eyes misty, sad. and then
sadder, as lie repeated, slowly and rev.
erently:
For our dear Lord s sake
Here are three hundred dollars: il was
ma lie ND nv his neighbors. Couldn't You
save him from an ignominions death,
which he does not desrye?-no, he does
not deserve"
Take back your money! cried the
President, throwing away from him her
extended hand. Take il back. do no;
want it,
Only an instant his hand ard voice were
raised. and then he re sunea, kindly:
81 shall not have your money, good wo-
man. the War Department will not have
il. Take il back where it came from; and
and you shall take hack his release. Your
petition shall be wholly granted
oh. President Lincolnl | believe You
are Christian. will pray for every day
with my whole heart
Il have need Of your prayers; have
reed OF all the prayers that can be offered
tor me-
"Oh, Mr. LincGn. that is the Chr stan
spirit-ihat is faith in Jesus. Oh, let NE
h, ar you believe in Him."
Il do was The solemn answer. Il be-
leve in NV SayiO'.
And when she arose to depart, the Prs
ident also Arose and opened the door tor
her. and led her through The outer room
and across the hall Ia The head of the
staircase. and shook hands, said good
by, and went back again TO receive more
nd siill more petitioners