Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-29
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
"REMINISCENCES OF A LIFELONG AND INTIMATE
FRIEND.

Mr. speed gives his recollections OF MIR. Lin
coin, and they are more animated and natural
than any we have read. He writes
1.-THE last time saw him was about two
weeks before his assassination. He sent me
word by my brother James, then in his Oabi
net, that he desired to see me before / went
home. l went into his office about 1 o'clock
He looked jaded and weary. l staid in the
room until his hour for callers was over. He
ordered the door closed, and, looking over to
where l was sitting, asked me to draw up my
chair. But instead of being alone, az he sup
posed in the opposite direction from where l
sat, and across the Fireplace from him, sat
two humble-looking women. Seeing them
there seemed TO provoke him, and he said
We'll, ladies, what can do for your One
was an old woman the other young They
both commenced talking at once. The presi
dent soon comprehended them. Il suppose,
said he, that your son and your husband are
in prison for resisting the draft in Western
Pennsylvania. Where is your petition ? The
old lady replied Mr.. Lincoln, I've got no
petition; went to a lawyer to get one drawn,
and had not the money TO come here ana
pay him too, so l thought would just come
and ask you to lot me have my boy. And
it's your husband you want 2 said he turning
to the young woman. Yes, said she. He
rung his bell and called the servant, and bade
him go and tell Gen Dana to bring him the
list of prisoners for resisting the drift in
Western Pennsylvania.
The general soon came, bringing pack
age of papers. The president opened it and,
counting the names, said General, there
are p of these men. Is there any difference
in degree of their guiltY No. said the gem
eral it is bad case and merciful finding.
We'll, said the president, looking out of the
window and seemingly talking to himself,
these poor fellows have, / think, suffered
enough they have been in prison / 3 months.
l have been thinking so for somo time, and
have said 80 to Stanton, and he always threat
ems to resign If they are released. But he has
said 80 about other matters, and never did
so nov, while have the papers in my hand,
| will turn out tho flock. SO he wrote Let
the prisoners named in the within paper be
discharged, and sighedit The general made
his bow and left Then, turning to the wom-
en-, MIR. Lincoln said, Now, ladies, you can
go your son, madam, and your husband,
madam, is free
"The young woman ran across TO him and
| was about to kneel. He took her by the el-
bow and said impatiently, Get up, get up
| none Of this But the old woman went up
to him, wiping with her apron the tears that
we're coursing down her checks. She gave
him her hand, and looking into his face, said,
Goodbye, Mr.. Lincoln, we may never meet
| again till we meet in heaven A change came
| over his sad and weary face. He clasped her
| hand in both of his, and followed her to the
| door, saying as he went With all that /
| have to cross me here, am afraid that will
never get there but your wish that you may
meet me there has fully paid for what have
| done for you
We were then alone. He drew his chair to
the fire and said Speed, am little alarm
ed about myself just feel my hand 1t was
cold and cammy. He pulled of bis boots,
and putting his feet to the fire, the heat made
them steam. l said oyerwork was producing
| nervousness No. said he, Il am not tired
l said Such n scene as l have just witness
ed is enough to make you nervous How
| much you are mistaken, he returned. Il have
made two people happy to-day. have given
mother her son, and wife her husband.
That young woman is a counterfeit, but the
old woman is true mother
"Lincoln was fond of anecdotes, and told.
them well. Take, for instance, his conver-
sation with w. Q. Reeves of Virginia, whom
he greatly admired. Reeves came with other
gentlemen from Richmond soon after his in
augurAtion. A convention was in session in
Richmond to decide whether Virginia would
go out or stay in the Union. Mr. Reeves was
Union man, and proceeded to advise the
president His advice was to surrender Forts
Sumter and Pickens and all the property OF
| f..
Lincoln asked him if he remembered the fa-
ble of the Lion and the Woodman's Daugh-
ter. Mr.. Reeves said that he did not '.Esop,
said the president, reports that a lion was
very much in love with woodlands dRugh.
ter. The fair maiden, afraid TO say no, re.
frrred him to her father Tho lion applied
for the girl. The father replied, Your teeth
are too long The lion went to n dentist and
had them extracted Returning, he asked for
i y G-.l ~ Al. 1
claws are too long Going back to the den
tist, be had them drawn. Then, returning to
claim his BRIDE the wOodman, seeing that be
was dilarmed, beat cut his brains. May il
not be 80, said Mr. Lincoln with me, il ]
give up all that is asked ?
Il have often been asked what were Mr..
Linculn's religious opinions When know
him in carly life he was n skeptis. He had
tried hard to be u believer, but his reasou
could not grasp and solve the great problem
of salvation as taught. He was very careful
never to give expression TO any thought Of
sentim, ut that would crate harshly upon
Christians tar. For a sincere Christian ht
had great respect. lie often said that the
most ambitious man might live to see every
hope fail, but no Christian could live to see
his fail because fulflment could only CONF
when life ended But this was a subject We
never discussed. The only evidence l hav,
of any change is conversation l had Will
him the summer before he was killed. / wa
invited out to the Soldiers Home 10 spend th,
night. As l entered his room, near night, b,
was sitting ~ a window intently reading tn,
Bible. Approaching him, l said 1 an
glad to see you so profitably engaged. Yes,
he replied, L am prohtably engaged Well,
said l. If you have recovered from your skep
ticism, l am sorry to say that l have not.
Looking me earnestly in the face, and pacinj
his hand ON my shoulder, he said, You ar
wrong, Speed take all of this book upoi
reason that you can, and the balance on faith
and you will live and die a happier and bette
man.
Il am indebted for the following TO Judg
Gillespie, one of Mr.. Lncoln's most truste
and intimate friends, who occasionally wen
to Washington to see him. Wanting no Office
he was always welcome. The Judge says
, Mr.. Lincoln once said to me that he coul
+ never reconcile the proscience of the Deit
/ with the uncertainty Of events, but he though
u it would be proftless to teach his views. Th
b Judge adds I once asked him what was t
/ be done with the south after the rebellion wa
a put down. He said some thought their head
!. ought to come off, "but," he added, ''if it wa
i left to me- could not tell where to draw th
n line between those whose heads should com
4 of and those whose heads should stay on.
d He said that he had recently been reading tn
8 history of the rebellion of Absalom, and thl
81 he was inclined to adopt the views of David
1, Said he, "When David was fleeing from Jerl
t salem Shinei cursed him. After the rebellio
y was put down, Shimei craved a pardon. Alb
y. shat, Davids nephew, the son of Zeruiah, Dl
= vid's sister, said This man ought not to
pardoned, because he cursed the Lord q anoin
ed David said, What have 1 to do wit
you, ye SONS of Zeruiah, that you should In
day be Rdversaries unto me? Know ye this
not man shall be put to death in Israel
"This was like his anecdotes and was illu
tratiVe of what he thought would come abou
He would be pressed to put men to death b
cause they had rebelled, but, like David,
intended to say, Know ye that not me
shall be put to death in Israel ,"
FLOODING THE SAHARA. important T
rinnl Of inhnrnek hna of lnia haan nnIinnd