The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-12-17

Many people. presumably political aspir-
ants, with an eye to future prospects. be-
sieged my door tor interviews. but mauc
it a rule to keep it locked, and think
Mr. Lincoln appreciated the precaution.
The last sitting was given Thursday
morning. ami noticed that Mr. Lincoln
was in something of n hurry. hal fin
iShcd the head. hut desired to represent
his breast and brawny shoulders as nature
presented them: SO he stripped oil his
coat, waistcoat. shirt. cravat and collar
threw them on a chair. pulled his under
shirt down Il short distance, tying the
sleeves behind him. and stood up with
out a murmur for an hour or so. then
said that | was done. and WAS thousand
times obliged to him for his promptncss
and patience. and offered to assist him to
redress. but he said: - No, | can do it
better alone" | kept at my work with
out looking toward him. wishing to catch
the form as accurately as possible while
it was fresh in my memory. Mr.. Lincoln
lett hurriedly, saying he had an engage
mcnt. and with cordial Good bye
will see you again soon. passed out. \
few moments after. recognized his steps
rapidly returning. The door opened and
in he came, eXcaiming: = Hello. Mr.. Y ok
got down on the sidewalk and found
had forgotten to put on my undershirt.
IL ', ~ 1,
the streets TINS way" sure enough. there
were the sleeves Of that garment dang
ling below the skirts OF his broadcloth
frock-coat. went at once to his assist
ance. and helped to undresS and redress
him all right, and out he went. With a
hearty laugh at the absurdity of the thing
On 4 Thursday in the month of June
following. Mr.. Lincoln received the nOmi-
nation on the third ballot for President
Of the United States. And it happened
| that on the same day was on the cars.
nearing Springfield. About midday. we
reached Bloomington, and there learned
of his nomination. At three OF four
| o'clock. we arrived at our destination.
| The afternoon was iovely-bright and
! sunny, neither too warm nor too cool:
| the grass, trees. and the hosts of bloom
| ing roses. SO profuse in Springfield. APP
peared to be vying with the ringing bells
and waving flags.
As soon as had brushed off the dust
| and registered at the old Chenery House.
| went straight to Mr.. Lincolns unpre-
tentious little two-story house. He saw
me from his door or window coming down
! the street, and as | entered the gate. he
was on the platform in front of the door,
and quite alone. His face looked rali-
ant. / exclaimed: Il am the first man
from Chicago, | believe, who has the
honor of congratulating You on your
nomination for President. Then those
two great hands took both of mine with
Il grasp never to be forgotten. And while
shaking, / said: " Now that you will
doubtless be the next President of the
United States. | want to make statue
OF you, and shall do my best to do you
justice. said he: I" don doubt. for |
have come to the conclusion that You are
an honest man, and with that greeting
thought my hands We're in 4 fair way of
being crushed. | was invited into the
parlor and soon Mrs. Lincoln entered.
holdinga rose bouquet in her hand, which
she presented to me after the introduce
I r, in atr,Y |
size bust OF her husband. which I had
modelled from the large one, and hap
pened to have with me. Before leaving
the house, it waS arranged that Mr.. Lin
coin would give Saturday afternoon to
obtaining full length photographs to serve
me for the proposed statue.
On Saturday evening. the committee
appointed by the Convention to notify
Mr.. Lincoln formally of his nomination.
headed by Mr.. Ashmun, of Massachu-
sets. reached Springfield by special train.
bearing large number of people. two or
three hundred OF whom carried rails upon
their shoulders, marching in military
style from the train to the cd State
House Hall of Representatives, where
they stacked them like muskets The
evening was beautiful and clear, and the
entire population was astir. The bells
pcaled, flags waved, and cannon thun-
dered forth the triumphant nomination
of Springfield S favorite and distinguished
citizen. The bonfres blazed brightly,
and especially in front Of that prim-lo
ing white house on Eighth street. The
committee and the vast crowd following
passed in at the front door, and made
their exit through the kitchen door in
the rear, Mr.. Lincoln giving them all a
hearty shake of the hand is they passed
him in the paror.
After it was all over ami the crowd dis
persed, late III the evening. ! took stroll
and passed the house. \ few. small boys
only were in the street. trying to keep
| up Il little blaze among the dying embers
of the bonfire. One Of them cried out:
Here. Bill Lihcoin-here : stick"
| Another chimcd in:
Il nave got good one. Bill "a picket
he had >lyly knocked from door yard
! fence.
by previous appointment, was to east
Mr. Iincoln's hands on thc Sunday fol
| lowing this memorable Saturday, at A.
NJ. fcund him ready. bat he looked
more grave and serious than he had ap-
peared on the previous days ! wished
| him to hold something in his right hand
and he looked for piece Of pasteboard,
| but could find none. | told him 4 round
! stick would do as we'll us anything.
Thcreupon he went to the wood shed,
and heard the saw go, and he soon re
! turned to the dining room (where did
the work, whiting OFF tie end Of a piece
/ Of broom handle. remarked to lin
! that he need not white of the edges.
''Oh, WELL" said he. Il thought
would like to have it nice.
When l had successfully east the mold
| of the right hand, | began the left. paus-
! ing few moments to hear Mr. Lincoln
| tell me about a scar on the thumb.
D." lou have heard that they call me a
rail-splitter. and You saw them carrying
rails in the procession on Saturday even
| ing: well, it is true that did split rails,
and one day, while ! was sharpening
wedge on Il log. the axe glanced and nearly
/ took my thumb of, and there is the scar.
you see"
! Tho ,.;uL+ hand annpnraI SwnlIau *