The Mineral argus., 1884-03-27

father, and Senator Morgan listened to
1t as attentively as the President.
When all the story had been told, the
Senator added:
"Mr. President, the lads statement is
substantially correct. From what / have
heard from others, l have no hesitation
In endorsing it. In my Judgment the
man should be p~ardoned."
so Morgan, your heart is 60 tender
that were you President, everybody
could be ~pardoned."
Not SO, Mr.. President; but when a
youth like this pleads so strongly and so
intelligently for a fathers life-for his
life is forfeited to the Government if
caught cannot listen TO him unmoved.
You have pardoned a great many de-
s~erters, Mr.. President, during your
term of office"
The Ex-Governor had gone too far in
making this last observation, and he
saw il when too late, for Mr.. Lincoln as
sumed his severest look, and risingfrom
his chair exclaimed in a loud voice:
That's just it, Mr.. Senator. J nave
pardoned too many. l can pardon no
more"
Maxwell Smiths face paled, and tears
filled his eyes. He was about to make
another appeal, when Senator Morgan
suggested that he (Morganl be allowed
TO call on the secretary of war, and OBJ
tain from him a report concerning the
elder Smiths a~ntecedents. This was ac-
quiegced in, and the senator and the boy
repaired immedi tely to the quarters Of
Mr.. Stanton.
Fortunately the secretary was unen-
gagged, and listened patiently to the
argument advanced by Mr.. Morgan for
the soldiers pardon. In reply he stated
that the mans record was good, and his
1csertion was his first breach of disci-
pline.
"But," said MI. Stanton, 81 could not
recommend the president to exercise his
prerogative in this or any similar case.
If the deserter be found, he must pay
the penalty of his infraction of the law"
Nothing more could be done that day,
and so Smith and his faithful friend de-
parted for their respective residences,
the understanding being that the youth
should call early the next morning at
the senator's house, and that they
should again repair together to the
white house
At the appointed time audience was
obtained of the president, and again the
subject of Smiths pardon was intro
duced. Mr.. Lincoln appeared to be in
better spirits than on the day before,
and listened to what the secretary of
war had said, with much interest.
When told that Mr.. Stanton had refused
to recommend Smiths pardon he
siid,-
Il thought it would be so when you
started 10 see him. Slant has often
found fault with me for my soft heart,
as he calls it, aud he could not stultify
himself by recommending what he has
condemned me for approving"
"Well Mr.. President" said senator
Morgan, "it is not often that | make a
personal appeal to you, but Ihave inter-
ested myself so much in this boys case
that l cannot abandon all hope of a sue
cessful result even now. In mercy's
name do the favor my young friend
raves of you, and send him back to
New York with a light heart. He has
promised to return to Washington with
his father within two weeks, and [ feel
sure that he will not falsify his word"
The president was visibly moved. He
looked at the lad Smith long and intent
ly, and then suddenly drawing a sheet
of paper toward him, he wrote a few
words to the secretary of war, and Civ
ing the note to a messenger, babe him
return with an answer as soon as posi-
BILE.
In half an hour the latter came back
with a document subscribed by Mr..
Stanton, and hastily writing the word
approved" the president handed it to
Maxwell Smith, who nervously
covered its purpose, and burst into
tears. His father had been uncondi-
t~ionally pardoned.-Youth's Companion.