, 1885-06-27
LINcoln,s HUMBLE FRIEND.
= Piebeian at a white House Reception
Lincoin'- Cordially.

Lincoin'- Cordially.
lCor. Boston Journal
George Clark, an eccentric man in
humble circumstances, was an early
friend OF Lincoln, who subsequently re-
moved to New England. He met Lincoln
in Boston during a stumping tour in the
east. A few years passed and Mr.. Lin
coin was the man OF the hour. Clark,
whenever | met him, was talking about
him. Il can have any Office | want, "
he said emphatically; ABE will look out
for me thought him a dreamer, and.
like all his acquaintance, doubted his
claim. Shortly after Clark said he was
going to have an Office, and that in order
to get it he must have Sl2 to pay his
fare to Washington. | told him it was
n useless undertaking. He laughed at
me. "Abe wouldn't refuse him my
thing he asked. He had made up his
mind he must have q p~ostofice. told
him that $12 would only pay his fare,
and that everything was so high and
the hotels so crowded that he couldn't
live twenty-four hours in Washington.
Again he laughed in my face and then
said. What do | care for high prices
and hottest Abe1l take care Of me. All
] want is money enough to get there.
Half in earnest, half in Jest, the
money was raised and Clark went to
Washington. A reception was taking
place at the White House, and a man Of his
plebeian appearance was not only o
OF place, but was hustled about in an
unceremonious manner and in one way
and another deferred from approaching
Mr.. Lincoln. Clark's patience under
the embarrassing situation served him
for more than an hour, when hunger
and anxiety about a place to put up
for the night caused him TO lose his
discretion and become desperate. .
Mounting a chair just as n foreign
minister was approaching Mr.. Lin
coin, he sang out ABE Abei'
Mr.. Lincoln instantly recognized
the speaker. The passing pageant
Of chivalry and fashion became
to his mind like the unreality of a dream
from which he had been suddenly
aroused, and in all the brilliant assem-
bly, he saw only George Clark, the man
who had shared with him the hardships
and ~privations Of frontier life in thedays
of small things.
Make way for my friendl' exclaimed
the president, and the surprised ladies
and gentlemen paused in astonishment
as Mr.. Clark approached Mr.. Lincoln,
and was received with a cordially and
warmth OF greeting that had not been
accorded any other guest of the evening.
A few minutes later Mr.. Lincoln Ok
cused himself from the reception and
passed into another room with his old
fr. end and closed the door. The scene
that followed is known only through
Mr.. Clark and as he was inclined some
what to e~xaggerate circumstances, must
be considered with some grains OF al
lowance.
Mr.. Lincoln, so Clark repeatedly told
his friends, was as familiar and off hand
as in their youth. lie leaned against
the wall and laughed. He was like an
overjoyed boy. ~ gu don't know" he
said, how glad | am to see you. The
face of an old friend is like "A ray of sun
shine through dark and ominous clouds.
I've shook hands till I'm tireder than
| ever was splitting rails" He inquired
where Clark was stopping and if he had
been to supper, and when Clark told
him he was stopping with Abe Lincoln
and hadn't had anything of any account
to eat since leaving home" he ordered
the best the White House afforded set
ItAOAO MIN NhAb Nv AbAhA y ~ Ahhh
up the business he had in hand"
finally, he told Mr.. Lincoln the object
Of his visit and solicited the Lawrence
postmastership. Mr.. Lincoln laughed
at him, md said: You amt quite up
in education, George, to take that kind
of a Job. But I've fixed you all snug
and right. Take this letter" The let
ter was addressed: TO the collector of
the port of Boston," Clark presented
himself at the custom house one morn
ing, and, upon being snubbed by one
and another when he inquired for the
collector, remarked that he had a letter
from his friend Abraham Lincoln, ad-
dressed to the gentleman for whom he
had inquired. This opened the doors.
The letter said, in substance: The
bearer is my friend, George Clark. Give
him the best position he can fill. II he
fails in n place give him another.
The collector settled him as Waterman
on board vessels in the harbor-a berth
in which he could sleep as much as he
hked-at 81, 200 a year.