The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-04-07

very short time after the scene | have
just described, he came into my store
and his salutation was:
"Senator X will give his support
and vote to General Blair for the United
States Senate"
OF course felt gratified, and there
upon ventured to express my surprise at
the active interest he had displayed in
the matter. Said he:
II have asked Senator x to vote
for General Blair as a special personal |
favor to me, and [ told him why it
would be a great favor. I will now tell
YOU. In 1868, think it was, our father |
provincial, at my request, had granted
me permission to visit again, after a
long absence, my poor children OF the
forest. the Flathead and Blackfeet In
dams. I had fully prepared for the
Journey when | discovered that the
United States Government had, for mil
itary reasons, drawn its lines along the
entire Indian frontier, and it was, there
fore, impossible to get through without
a pass. was informed that l could
net get pass without going to Wash
ington. l accordingly journeyed to the
capital; but on my arrival found that
ali of my friends who had been men,
bers of Congress at my last visit were
either dead or in the rebellion. had
no alternative, therefore, but to call on
General Blair, who was then represent
ing St. Louis in the Lower House. Hav-
ing never met him, went to his resi-
dence, and introduced myself and the
subject of my mission, and asked his good
offices. He requested me to call on him
the following morning at 10 O'Clock,
and in the meanwhile he would see
what could be done. | did so, entered
his carriage, and was driven to the
White House. On the route he was
kind enough to say that he had heard
of my labors among the Indians, and
finally asked me if I had any money
with which to reach my destination. l
told him that I could get sufficient to
bring me to the borders of civilization,
and after that laughingly remarked that
l would walk the rest of the way. After
leaving the carriage, and when just
about to enter the Presidential Mansion,
he stopped me and said: Father De
Smet, l am about to introduce you to
President Lincoln, and to ask from him
a favor for you. Please promise me
that you will express no surprise at
what either he or / may say, but that
you will content yourself with thanking
him if he grants my request / readi-
" acceded. We found the President in
his room leaning upon his hand with a
weary expression of countenance as
though he were entertaining sad
thoughts. His face, however, lighted
up at our coming, and after being form
ally introduced we took chairs and he
opened the conversation with this re-
mark to Gen. Blair:
"sFrank, is Father DeSmet trying to
make Catholic out of you, or are you
trying to make a Presbyterian out Of
him, which?'
"sNeither, Mr.. President, but / have
come here to ask favor for him from
you.'
"sWhat is it?'
"sMr. Stanton tells me, said the Gen.
eral, that the 4th Cavalry, think it is
the 4th Cavalry, is stationed out on the
Northwestern frontier, and that they
have no Chaplain. l want you to make
Father De Smet the Chaplain of the
regiment and give him twelve months
furlough, at which time he expects to
return from his mission, when he can
resign, unless he wants to go into thu
war;
1.-THE President Immediately took ur
his pen, wrote q few lines, and handed
the paper to Gen. Blair, saying, Take
that to Stanton 49,
"Before I had time to say . word
). Mr.. Lincoln took me by the hand, ant
in bidding me adieu, remarked: sYol
, will do more good out there than all my
soldiers and commissioners Their,
was pay attached to the position (for
believe / ranked as Major), but neve
drew it. OF course / thanked Genera
Blair for the handsome manner in Whicl
he had spoken for me, but I never unit
now had an opportunity Of doing hin
a service in return. And now 20
bnow why I want to see himsin the Sen
ate.''
Both Father DeSmet and Frank Blai
rest to-day under six feet of Missouri
soil, but let us hope that the noble quail
: ties of heart that marked the Statesman
no less than the sublime self abnegatio
that distinguished the priest, have er
: titled both to a habitation among th
blessed ones who circle around th
! throne of the Eternal. J.D.F.
CREAM CAKE.-7hc Shells.-Beat
eggs, yellow and white separately, ad
. to the yelks cupful Of sugar, then tn
whites whisked until they sstan
alone" rub / teaspoonful Of soda int
> teacupful of -four, beat this into th
, eggs and sugar, and add full tes