The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-04-08
A STORY OF LINCOLN.

Mr.. Wade came in, laughing all over his
face, and said:-
"Well, Old Abe has just done the
iamnedest thing you ever heard of. lie
has given out he has the smallpox to
keep the politicians and office seekers
away from the White House."
The story ran thus: Mr.. Wade went
to the White House to see Lincoln, who
had been i'll. He found the president
little pale, but jolly as he could be.
''Sit down, Wade; 1 SIN glad to see
you. Oh, have the funniest thing to
tell you; it will make you laugh. new
ar did such thing before in my life, and
never will again." Then the president
laughed until the tears ran down his face.
"Now, Wade" he said, ''you are not
70 repeat this outside, for it would give
offense, and it by no manner of means
eomports with the dignity which is sup
posed to hedge president about. The
doctor put me up to it to rid myself of
bore; ought not to have done it, but |
couldn't help if. it was so funny. You
know J. have been i'll, and great many
people have wondered what allied me, but
none of them could find out. The truth
is / was worried to death, and talked sick
pretty much by one man, the most ever
lasting bore you ever saw, who wanted an
office. I knew he would come again as
soon as / was able to sit up, and the doc
tor put me up to get rid of him by saying
had the smallpox. l only got out yes
terday, and sure enough this morning he
called on me. Ihad determined to be
polite to him, but he stayed SO long the
humor seized me and sent for the doc
tor. Giving him the wink, held out
my hand and inquired
doctor, what marks gre those on my
hand2"
That's varioloid, or mild smallpox,
said the doctor.
"Well," said I, "its all over me. It's
contagious, is it not, doctor2"
Every contagious indeed he replied,
''and you should see no one."
"My visitor, who had been getting
more and more nervous every moment,
now could not stand it no longer, and,
rising, said:-
"'Well, Mr.. Lincoln, L can't stop any
longer. l just called to see how you
were, and then he started to hurry out.
"'Stop minute; want to talk to you
said 1, about that Office
"'Excusc NE, Mr.. President. You are
not well this morning and I won't bother
you, SAID he, showing toward the door.
"'Never mind. said I; don't be in
hurry. It's all right, and if you are 60
ing to get the varioloid you will get it
now anyhow; so you might as well sit
down."
"'Thank you, sir, but I'll call again"
he replied, fairly turning livid and ex-
ecuting a mastery retreat from the fear
ful contagion with which he supposed me
to be afflicted.
"Now," said Uncle Abe, sit will be all
over the city in an hour that l have the
smallpox, and you can contradict the
story, but L want you to promise you
Won't repeat what have just told you"
Wade laughed until he was weak and
when he could get his breath sufficiently
10 speak he looked at the clock as was
his custom and said:-
"Now for little business and then I
Will CO."
"Don't CO." cried Uncle Abe, and lay
ing his head in his hands on the desk in
hoat OF him he laughed until he shook
all over. Presently raising up his face
from between his hands he wiped his
eyes and blew his nose until the report
sounded like the winding of horn.-
Ater another fit of laughing he said
"Wade, you should have seen him,and
bw scared he was. I'll bet that fellow
never comes back here while I am presi-
bnt."
As might have been expected, hardly
nd Mr.. Wade quilted the White House
wlen he heard that the president had the
smallpox, and was very sick. Wade
Fomptly contradicted the story, but
tat night it was telegraphed all over the
cuntry, and many people will yet re-
member the story of Mr.. Lincoln's hav-
lg the varioloid during the war.
Commenting on the report, Uncle Abe
aid to Wade: "Some people said they
culd not take my proclamation very well,
Int when 1 get the small l-pox, Wade, I |
sall then be happy to say 1 have some
ting everybody can take