Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-11-07
Lincoln and the Little Girl.

Youths Companion: Will the
world ever know what depth
OF tenderness there was in the
heart Of Abraham Lincoln? An
,l,ec.lote, which las never been pub
lislie,i. brings oa one iitore instance
III which his synipathies, awakened
by Il little child, nobly controlled his
action In one of the first skirmlshes
of the civil war, young Union
soldier was so severely wounded in
the leg that the limb had to be am
putated. On leaving the hospital,
the young soldier, by the aid Of in.
fuential gentleman, obtained q po-
sition as government weigher of hay
and grain. Not long after he had
entered upon his duties, his superior
officer said to him:
"See here, Mr.. NJ, this hay
weighs so much on these scales; but
to the government 1t weighs SO much
more"
II do not understand, sir, That way
of doing business. can enter but one
weight, and that is the correct one"
answered the young weigher.
His superior walked away, uttering
threats. The young man from that
day suffered many petty prosecutions
for his honesty, and it was not long
before he received notice that the
government had no further need for
his service. The summary dismissal
made him so down-hearted that when
he told the story to his family he
seemed man without hope.
Father" replied the eldest daugh-
ter, girl Of 10, "cheer up! I am going
to see President Lincoln. know he
will make it all right"
Her father and mother tried to
turn her purpose, saying that 1t
would be useless to see the President,
as he would not attend to such
petty matter as the dismissal of
weigher of grain. But her faith in
the Presidents sense of justice was
so strong that she went to the White
House, and after three days ofpatient
waiting in the ante-room, WAS adj
mitted to Mr.. Lincolns presence.
The hour for receiving visitors had
nearly expired, and as she entered
the room the President, throwing
himself on lounge, said, YEARLY,
"Well, my little girl, what can I do
for you?"
She told her artless story. Mr..
Lincoln listened attentiYely, and
with a smile asked, "But how, my
dear, do know that your statement
is true?"
"Mr. President" answered the girl,
With energy, "you must take my
word for it,"
II do" replied the President,
rising and taking her hand. "Come
with me to Mr.. Stanton"
"Stanton," said Mr.. Lincoln, rs
they entered the office of the great
war secretary, II wish you would
hear this child's story"
~ havo no time" answered the
overWorked man.
"But you must" replied Mr.. Lincoln.
II have not a moment to spare to
day, Mr.. President"
"Come again, my dear, tomorrow,
and MI. Stanton will hear you then,"
said the President, leading her away
The next day she was admitted at
once to the President, who took her
over to Mr.. Stanton's Office. The
secretary listened to the child's SIM
pie story and was so moved by it that
he indignantly exclaimed, before she
had finished. 1.-The Internal rascaIw
He went to his desk and wrote an
order for the immediate dismissal of
the dishonest official, aud for the ap-
pointing the little girls father to the
vacant place.
Mr. Lincoln never forgot the child;
he told her story to several congress
men, and through their influence her
two brothers were enrolled among
the pages of the House of Represen-
tatives.