Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-20
AnecdOte Of President Lincoln.
Harpers Magazine.

AS the President was passing through the wards
OF hospital near Washington upon one occasion
he observed in one of the beds young soldier
whose pallid countenance and expressionless glas-
sy eyes betokened great physical and mental pros
tratlon, and he inquired Of the attending surgeon
if there was any prospect Of his uitima.e recov-
''Not the slightest" replied the doctor. "His
vital powers are rapidly ebbing away, and will
soon be exhausted"
81 am heartily sorry for the poor boy" said
Mr.. Lincoln, land should like to do something
to make his last hours pass as comfortably as pos
sible. Would there be any harm in my speaking
to him ?" added he. And upon being assured
there would not, he sat down by the bedside, and
taking the young mans hand, in the kindest pos
sible tone of voice said "My young friend, am
the President of the United States, and am in
formed by the doctor that you can not possibly
live but short time Now if there is any request
you would like to make in regard to your family,
will afford me very great satisfaction to comply
with it, 5is.'-
The youth turned his dim eyes toward the
President, but made no response until the ques-
ton repeated, when, with great effort, he sue
ceeded in giving articulation to his thanks, and
expressed an earnest desire to see his aged grand
mother, who, he said, was then living in Bangor,
Maine.
The President, after assuring him that every
effort should be made to crafty his wishes, bade
him kind adieu, and calling the medical officer
aside asked if there was any prospect ofthe young
graphed to and come to Washington, and he
seemed good deal perplexed on being told there
was no hope of this; but after moments reflec-
tion he said the only eXpedient that occurred TO
him under the circumstances was the exercise of a
little of that harmless strategy which was always
allowable in times; that if he could only find
some old woman who would consent to personate
the grandmother, the boy was in such state of
lethargy that he would not probably detect the de-
ception, and would die with the consoling belief
that he had received the parting benediction of
his aged relative.
That would certainly be pei fectly justifiable
device" replied the surgeon; "but where will you
find the elderly female to enact the part Of the
grandmother" :"
"Let me see" soliloquized Mr. Lincoln, holding
up his left hand while he enumerated with the in
dex finger Of the right hand ''therc is old Mrs.
By, old Mrs SIX, and old Mrs. M-s
they all most benevolent ladies, but am ap-
prehensive they could not be prevailed upon to
undertake any thing which involved the faintes,
shadow of deception. No no." he continued,
"there is no hope for that direction; but if could
only induce my venerable friend Gideon Welles to
personate the old lady, in suitable costume, the
object would be attained, and nobody harmed"
But" remarked the doctor, "Nir. Weiss long
white beard would at once expose the artifce."
THAT can all be obviated by his wearing night
cap, tied down SO as to cover up the beard" said
the President. Accordingly he sat down at once
and addressed a note to the Secretary of the Ma
Wy begging him, as special favor, to comply with
the request at as early moment practicable, as
the boys hours were numbered.
Now it so happened when the Secretary received
this communication he was bnsily engaged in Of
fetal transactions, which, in his opinion, were of
so much consequence that they could not be post
poned for any thing else, and he replied that h.
entertained high appreciation of the Presidents
selecting him to perform the chief role in the sad
little drama indicated, but unfortunately ne wa,
at that very moment deeply absorbed in the So
luion of the difficult problem as to whether
Noah's ark or the new model gun-boat was adap-
ted to the purposes ofmodern warfare.-Editoi's
Dtamer, Ia Hatper'S Magazine for april