The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-06

A Story of the Great EmancipasOr's Fidei
to Companion of His Youth.

LINCOLN WAS us FRIEND.
| A Story of the Great EmancipatOr's Fidelity
to a Companion of His Youth.
Correspondence Boston Journal.
Several years ago-before the war-says a
gentleman with whom we spent an hour in con-
versatlon, few evenings since, was engaged
IN speculation, and the merchandise in which
dealt occasioned frequent visits to Lawrence.
Mass. 1t was during one of my visits to that
city that made the ACQUAINTANCE of George
clark, who IN small way, was an insurance
agent
Clark, though ia humble circumstances and
o,ten pincher.a In pecuniary matters. was of that
class OF men whom misfortunes do not sour, who
oc.row very little trouble, and who, awake or
asleep, are happy and contented with their lot
Everything he had was good enough and would
do till the tide turned" He was, withal, an
eccentric individual and he had a habit of mag
nlfylng his statements regarding many things
to the degree that those who knew him best al
ways accepted his tales with large degree of
allowance
Among his many claims was one that he was
born in log cabin in Illinois, and that ne grew
up in the same neighborhood with Abraham
Lincoln; had split rails with him; had bunked
with him: knew him backwards and forwards,
and that during Mr.. Lincoln's brief stumping
tour in New England he had come out all the
way from Boston to see him; declined the ac-
commodations Of the best hotel in the city and
slept on an improyised bed in one of the two
rooms which he and his wife occupied. He also
claimed that ''Abe"-he mentioned him fami
iarly-was the grandest man in thiscountry, and
that the fates had more in store for him than
most people realized. l knew very little about
Mr.. Lincoln at the time. Like most people in
the East believed Mr.. Seward was the coming
man.
A few years passed and Mr. Lincoln, sure
enough, was the man of the hour. Clark, when
ever l met him, was talking about him. Il
can have any office want" he said emphatic
ally; ABE will look out for me-" / thought
him a dreamer, and like all his acquaintance
doubted his claim. One day when he was re-
peatlng his story mildly informed him that
nobody believed him. To my surprise he was
not indignant. He only insisted that I should
accompany him to the Appleton Mills and take
note of the fact that at the time Mr.. Lincoln
visited him they registered there together, he
having shown Abe through the mills of the
company The record was as he stated. was
Shortly after Clark said he was going to have
An office, and that in order to get il he must
raise $l2 to pay his fare to Washington. told
him it was useless undertaking. He laughed
at me- ABE" wouldn't refuse him anything he
asked He had made up his mind he must have
postofice. 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 hotelsl Abe II take
care of me. All want is money enough to get
there"
Half in earnest. half in jest, and wholly in
doubt about the propriety of the thing, the late
Hon. Dana Sargent-then resident of Law
rence-several other gentlemen and myself con-
tributed the amount and sent him on his journey
rejoicing
In due time Clark arrived in Washington 1t
was evening. He had no money and no place to
lodge He was hungry. A reception was taking
place at the White House. and man of his
plebeian appearance was not only "out of place"
but was hustled about in an unceremonious
manner, and in one way and another deferred
from approaching Mr.. Lincoln. Clarks patience
under the embarrassing situation served him for
more than an hour. when hunger and anxiety
about place to put up for the night" caused
him to lose his discretion and become desperate.
Mounting chair just as foreign minister was
approaching Mr.. Lincoln, he sang out "Abe!
Abep Mr.. Lincoln instantly recognized the
speaker. The passing pageant of chivalrv and
fashion became to his mind like the unreality of
dream from which he had been suddenly
aroused, and in all that brilliant assembly he
saw only George Clark, the man who had shared
with him the hardship and prvations of frontier
life in the days of small things.
Make way for my friend!" exclaimed the
President and the surprised ladies and gentle
men paused in establishment as Mr.. Clark ap-
preached MIR. Lincoln, and was received with
cordiality and warmth of greeting that had not
been accorded any other guest of the evening.
A few minutes later Mr.. Lincoln excused him
self from the reception and passed into another
room with his old friend and closed the door
The scence that followed is known only through
Mr.. Clark, and, as he was inclined somewhat to
exaggerate circumstances, must be considered
with some grains of allowance.
Mr.. Lincoln, so Clark repeatedly told his
friends, was as familiar and off hand as in their
youth. He leaned against the wall and laughed
He was like an overjoyed boy. You don't
know" he said, ''how glad am to see you. The
face of an old friend is like ray of sunshine
through dark and omnibus clouds. I've shook
hands till am treder than ever was splitting
rails He inquired where Clark was stopping
and if he bad been to supper, and when Clark
told him that he was stopping with Abe Lin
coin and hadn't had anything of any account to
eat since leaving home" he ordered the best the
White House afforded set before him while he
returned to finish up the business he had in
hand"
Clark used to say that he never Jared so
sumptuousy before in his life. Ii he'd been a
foreign prince or some big gun from nobody
knows where instead of an Office seeker he
couldn't have been treated better. The cooks
and servants actually overwhelmed him with
kindness, and to use his words gave him
"oysters and meats cooked in five different
languages Until late that highland till late
hour for several nights after-Mr Lincoln
laughed and talked with him concerning the
events of their youth. In fact through recourse
to Clark, and the stories of the days when they
were companions Mr.. Lincoln found needed
relief from the tremendous tension to which his
strength and mind were subjected in those try
ing hours that preceded the opening of the Re-
bellion.
During the days Clark rode about in Mr.. Lin
coins carriage when the horses were being
aired, and was shown many attentions from peo-
pie of note. Somehow, Clark affirmed, it got
out that he was the man behind the throne
and SO it happened that he was in great de-
mand by office seekers from all over the coun-
try, who desired his influence and offered to paw
literally for it. But he was proof against tempt
alton.
Finally he told Mr.. Lincoln the object of his
visit and solicited the Lawrence postmastership
Mr.. Lincoln laughed at him and 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." Mr.. Lincoln then in
quired whether or not he had money or tickets
with which to get home and when he discovered