The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-11-28
WHAT A CHILD DID.
An Anecdote Illustrating Mr. Lincoln'n
Great Tenderness of Heart.

Great Tenderness of Heart.
Will the world ever know. what
depths of tenderness there were in the
heart of Abraham Lincoln? An anec-
dote, which has never been published,
brings out one more instance in which
his sympathies, awakened by a little
child, nobly controlled his action. In
one of the first skirmishes of the civil
war, a young Union soldier was so Sc
verely wounded in the leg that the limb
had to be amputated. On leaving the
hospital, the young soldier, by the aid
OF influential gentlemen, obtained a po-
sition as Government weigher of hay
and grain. Not long after he had en-
tered upon his duties, his superior OFF,
Ger said to him:
.sSee here, MIR. NJ, this hay
weighs so much on these scales; but to
the Government it weighs so much
more"
81 do not understand, sir, that way
of doing business. I can enter but one
weight and that the correct one" an
swered the young weigher.
His superior walked away, muttering
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 OF his services.
The summary dismissal made him so
down-hearted that when he told the
story to his family, he seemed a man
without hope.
"Father," replied the eldest daugh-
ter, girl of thirteen, "cheer up! am
going to see President Lincoln. I know
he will make it all right"
Her father and mother tried to turn
her purpose, saying that it would be
useless to see the President, as he
would not attend to such petty matter
as the dismissal of a 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 of patient waiting in the ante
room, was admitted to Mr.. Lincoln's
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 youP''
She told her artless story. Mr.. Lin
coin listened attentively, and with a
smile asked: s.But how, my dear, do I
know that your statement is true?"
s.Mr. President, answered the girl,
with energy, "you must take my word
for it.
81 do" replied the President, rising
and taking her hand. "Come with me
to Mr., Stanton"
Stanton" said Mr. Lincoln, as they
entered the Office of the great War Sec
retary, Il wish you to hear this child's
story"
81 have no time" answered the over
worked man.
"But you must" replied Mr.: Lincoln.
81 have not a moment to spare to-
day, Mr.. President"
"Come again, my dear, tomorrow,
and Mr.. Stanton aoiU 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 Sec
retary listened to the child's simple
story and was so moved by it that he
Indignantly exclaimed, before she had
finished: "The Internal rascal! He
went to his desk and wrote an order
for the immediate dismissal of the dis
honest official, and for the app ONT
ing the little girls father to the va cant
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 Representatives.