St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-01
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Interesting "reminiscences of a Life Long
and Intimate Characteristic IN


they are animated and natural. He writes
! ''The last time l saw him was about two
weeks before his assassination. He sent me
word by my brother James, then in his cabi-
net, that he desired to see me before l went
home / went into his Office about II O'Clock.
He looked jaded and weary. l stayed
in the room until his hour for callers
was over He ordered the door closed,
and, looking over to where Il was sitting,
asked me to draw up my chair But instead
of being alone, as he supposed, in the oppo-
site direction from where 1 sat and across
the fireplace from him sat two hnmble-look-
| ing women. Seeing them there seemed to
provoke him, and he said: well, ladies,
what can l do for you!' One was an old
woman, the other young. They both COM
menced talking at once. The president
soon comprehends3 them. 4 suppose said
he, that your son and your husband are in
prison for resisting the draft in western
Pennsylvania. Where is your petition! 2
The old lady replied; Mr.. Lincoln,
I've got no petition; 1 went to a
lawyer to get one drawn, and
had not the money to pay him and come
here, too, so 1 thought would just come and
ask you to let me have my boy And it's
your husband you wantn said he, turning to
the young woman. Yes said she. He
rang his bell and called his servant, and babe
him 90 and tell Gen. Dana to bring him the
list of prisoners for resisting the draft in
western Pennsylvania.
1.-The general soon came bringing a pack
age of papers. The president openedit. and.
counting the names, said: General. there
are twenty-seven of these men. Is there any
difference in the degree of their quite NO,
said the general; 1T is a bad case
and a merciful finding WELL 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 fifteen months. / have
been thinking so for some time, and have
said so to Stanton, and he always threatens
to resign if they are released. But he has
said so about other matters, and never did.
So now, while have the papers in my hand.
| will turn out the flock So he wrote Let
the prisoners named in the within papers be
| discharged and signed it. The general
made his bow, and left. Then, turning to the
ladies, he said: Now, ladies, you can 90.
Your son, madam, and your husband,
madam, is free
The young woman ran across to him and
began 10 kncel. He took her by the elbow
and said impatiently: Get up, get up; none
of this here But the old woman walked to
him, wiping with her apron the tears that
were coursing down her cheeks. She gave
him her hand, and looking into his face, said
| 'Good-by, Mr.. Lincoln, we may never meet
again till we meet in heaven A change
came over his sad and weary face He casped
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 l will
never get there; but your wish that you will
meet me there has fully paid for all 1 have
| done for YOU
1--WE were then alone. He drew his chair
to the fire and said: Speed, l am little
alarmed about myself; just feel my hand
1t was cold and clammy. He pulled off his
| boots, and putting his feet to the fire, the
heat made them steam. ] said overwork
was producing nervousness. No. said he,
| Il am not tired / said; Such n scene as
| have just witnessed is enough to make you
nervous How much you are mistaken
said he. i have made two people happy to-
day; have given a mother her son, and q
wife her husband That young woman is a
counterfeit, but the old woman a true
mother
Lincoln was fond of anecdotes, and told
them well. Take for instance, his CONVEX
sation with w. G. Reeves, of Virginia, whom
he greatly admired Reeves came with
other gentlemen from Richmond soon after
his Inauguration. A convention was in ses-
sion 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 sur
render Fort Sumter and Pickens and all of
the property of the government in the south
ern states. Mr.. Lincoln asked him if he re-
membered the fable of the lion
and the woodsman's daughter.
Mr.. Reeves said that he did not
| ,Ksop,' said the president, reports that a
lion was very much in love with woods
mans daughter. The fair maid, afraid to
say no, referred him to her father. The lion
applied for the girl The father replied
Your teeth are too long. The lion went
to dentist and had them extracted. Re
turning, he asked for his bride. No. said
the woodsman, your jaws are too long Going
back TO the dentist he had them drawn
Then, returning to claim his bride, the
woodsman, seeing that he was disarmed.
beat out his brains. May not it be so, said
Mr.. Lincoln, with me, if / give up all that
is asked!'
II have often been asked what were Mr.
Lincoln's religious opinions. When I knew
him in early life he was a slleptic He had
tried hard 10 be believer, but his reason
could not grasp and solve the great problem
| of redemption as taught. He was very eau
tious never to give expression to any thought
or sentiment that would CRATE harshly upon
a Christians ears. For sincere Christian
he had great respect. He often said
that the most ambitious man might
live to see every hope fail, because fulfllmcnt
could only come when life ended. But this
was n subject we never discussed.
The only evidence / have of any change
was in the summer before he was killed. was
invited out to the Soldiers home to spend
the night. As | entered the room, near
night he was sitting near q window intently
reading the bible. Approaching him ! said
i am glad to see you so proftably engaged.
Yes said he, L am proftably engaged
We'll, said /, If you have recovered from
your skepticism ! am sorry to say that / have
not. Looking me earnestly in the face, and
placing his hand on my shoulder, he said
You are wrong, Speed; take all this book
upon reason that you can and the balance on
faith, and you will live and die a happier and
better man.
II am indebted for the following to Judge
Gillespie, one of Lincolns most trusted and
intimate friends, who occasionally went to
Washington to see him. Wanting no office,
he was always welcome. The Judge says
Mr.. Lincoln once said to me that he could
never reconcile the prescience of the Deity
with the uncertainty of events But he
thought it would be profitess to teach his
views The judge added: L asked him
once what was to be done with the south
after the rebellion was mt down IJa ooid
some thought their heads ought to come off.
But, said he, If it was left to me, | could
not tell where to draw the line between those
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