The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-07
THE SAME THREE FELLOWS.
A Story of Lincoln Which Contains a
Story by Him.


From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
Ex-senator Henderson, who represented Mis-
souri, in the Senate during the war, tells the fol-
lowing story OF Mr.. Lincoln There was a great
pressure being brought to bear upon the Presi-
dent by the anti slavery people. One day 100
clergymen came down In a body from New Eng
laHd TO urge emancipation Some of tie leaders
OF the republican party, notably Mr.. sumner,
pen wade and Zach Chandler made almost
daly visits TO the White House to tell the Presi-
dent what he ought to do.
MT Lincoln hesitated, not because Ia hadn't
made up his mind, but because he wanted to
project the loyal shareholders of the border
States as far as he could. His idea was that a
plan TO pay for these slaves could be put in OPP
eratlon, and then he would by proclamation
strike off the shackles of all whose owners were
engaged in rebellion. While he was trying to
get TINS programme going he sent often for
Ten Henderson to come to the White House to
discuss the details and to urge more rapid
actlon. 1t was on the occasion of one of these
talks that Mr. Lincoln told the story which
Gen. Henderson called to mind few evenings
since
AS Invent in" said the General, II noticed
The President was looking troubled. He was
slttlng In one of his favorite attitudes-in a
rocking chair, with one leg thrown over the
arm; knew that he suffered terribly from
headaches, and said to him:
Mr.. President. you must have Que of your
headaches; you look gloomy
- No. said he, it isn't headache this time
Chandler has just been here to talk about
emancipation; and he came on the heels of
wade and Sumner, who were here on the same
errand. / like those three men, but they bother
me nearly to death. They put me in the sitlIa
tlon OF a boy remember when was going to
school -
Gen. Henderson says the Presidents face
frightened, and he knew story was coming.
Mr.. Lincoln leaned forward and clasped his
hands around the knee of the leg resting on the
arm of the chair Then he proceeded with the
story:
go The text book was the Old Bible, Mr.. Lin
coin went on. There a rather dull little
fellow IN the class who didn't know very much,
ana he was reading the account of the three
Hebrews cast into the fiery furnace. The little
fellow was called on to read, and he stumbled
along until he came to the names of the three
Hebrews-shadrach Meshach and Abednego.
lie couldn't do anything with them. The
teacher pronounced them over slowly and told
the boy to try. The boy tried and missed. This
provoked the teacher, and she slapped the little
fellow; he cried vigorously. Then he attempted
again, but he couldn't get the names Well
SAID the teacher, impatiently. never mind the
names. Skip them and go on The poor boy
drew his shirt sleeve across his eyes two or
three times, shifted his nose, and started on to
read. He went on bravely a little way and then
he suddenly stopped dropped the book in front
OF him, looked in despair at the teacher. and
burst out crying. What's the matter now?'
shouted the teacher, thoroughly out of patience.
'He-he-here's them same - three fellers
agin,' sobbed the boy.
That, said Mr.. Lincoln, is just my fix to-
day, Henderson. These same - three fell
lows have been here again with their everlast-
ing emancipation talk"
HE stopped few moments to enjoy the
story, and then, becoming serious continued:
49, But Sumner and Wade and Chandler are
right about it. I've got to do something, and it
can't be put off much longer. We can't get
through this terrible war with slavery existing
You've got sense enough to know that. Why
can't you make the border State members see
it? Why don't you turn in and take pay for
your slaves from the government? Then all
your people can give their hearty support to
the Union. We can go ahead with emancipa-
ton of slaves in the other States by proclama-
ton and end the trouble"