, 1884-04-05
TURNING THEM OUT.
q Lifelong and IntimatI Friend
Glvos a Remintscence of
Lincoln

Joshua F. Speed, n lifelong friend Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, gives his recollections OF Mr..
Lincoln, and they are more minated and
natural than any we have read. Ho writes:
~The last time l snw him was about two
weeks before his assassination. He sent me
word by my brother James, then in his
cabinet, that no desired to see mo before l
went home. | went into his Office about IL
o'clock. Ho looked jaIOd and weary. 1
staid in the room until his hour for callers
was over. lie ordered the doors closed, and,
looking over TO where / was sitting, asked me
70 draw up my chair. But instead OF being
alone, rs he supposed. in the opposite direc-
tiOn from where l sat, and across the fire.
place from him, sat two humble-lookinx
women, Seeing them there seemed to pro-
woke him, aud he said: Well, ladies,
what can L do for your One was
an old woman, the other young. They
both commenced talking at once. The
president soon comprehended them. 4 sup.
pose said he, that your son and husband
arc in prison for resisting the draft in west
crn Pennsylvania. Where is your petitionF
The old lady replied: Mr.. Lincoln, Pva got
no petition; | went to a lawyer to get one
drawn, and l had not the money to pay him
and come here too, so | thought l would just
come and ask you to let me have my boy.'
And it's your husband you wantr said he,
u mug ~ Nht 1bulB "OHlhu- IS, hAlQ
she. He rung his bell and called his servant,
and babe him go and tell Gen. Dana to bring
him the list Of prisoners for resisting the
draft in Western Pennsylvania
"The general soon came, bringing a pack
ago of papers. The president opened It and,
counting the names, said: General, there arr
twenty-seven of these men. Is there any Diff
ference in the degree of their guiltF NO.
said the general, 1T is q bad case and a merci-
full finding Well said the president, look
ing out Of the window and seemingly talking
to himself, these poor fellows have, l think,
suffered enough: they have been in prison
fifteen months. / have been thinking so for
some time, and have so said to Stanton, and
he always threatens TO resign IL they are re-
leased. But he has said so about other mat
ters, and never did. So now, while l have
the papers in my hand, l will turn out the
flock SO he wrote: Let the prisoners named
in the within paper be discharged, and signed
it The general made his bow and left. Then
turning 10 the ladies', he snid: Now, ladies,
you can go. Your son, madame, and your
husband, madame, is free
"rhe young woman ran across to him-and
began to kneel. He took her by tho elbow
and said, impatiently: Get up, get up;
none of this But the old woman walked
10 him, wiping with her apron the tears that
We're couising down her checks. She gave
him her land, and, looking into his face,
said; Goodbye, Mr.. Lincoln, we may
never meet again till VIC meet in heaven A
change came over his Snd and weary face.
He clGsped her hand in both of his. and fol-
lowed her to tho door, saying as he went:
With all that | have TO cross me here, l am
afraid that | will never get there; but your
wish that you will meet me there has fully
paid for all l have done for YOU
we were then alone. He drew his chair
TO the fire and said: "Speed, l am a lite
alarmed about myself; just feel my hand 1t
was cold and ciammy. He pulled Off his
boots, and, putting his feet to the fire, the
heat made them steam. l said overwork was
producing nervousness. No. said he, Il am
not tired l said; Such n scene as / nave
just witnessed "a enough to make you merry
Gus How much you are mistaken said
he; 1 have made two people happy to-day;
have given IA mother her son, and Il wife her
husband That young woman is a counter
felt, but tue old woman is n true mother"