Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-04-18

"Sit down, General said Mr.. Lincoln
in his considerate way, still wiping the
accumulation of dust and moisture from
his face. This is too hot a day for cere-
mony. l dropped in to tell you that !
have learned something to-day
"'What is that, Mr.. PresidentY asked
the General somewhat reassured.
"'The dignity of being an ofice-holder
General. Since o'cl elk this morning
have been trying to get a hearing from
some clerk in the Pension Bureau. be-
lieve that | have tried them all, but IN
vain. They have sent me up and down
those stairs, from the ground floor TO the
attic and back again, until | am about
tired out There were no elevators in the
Government buildings then and the Pres
ident's exudipg frame gave evidence OF
their absence.
"Excuse me, Mr.. President General
Scott replied, with a courteous gesture
but it is hardly becoming in the Presi'
dent of the United States to be a solici
tor # Pensions. If you have any mat
ters of that kind to attend to, send them
to me, and Col. Hamilton, Of my staff
will be pleased to look after them without
delay
al haven't doubt that the claim Is q
Just one went on Mr.. Lincoln, taking no
apparent notice of the Generals criticism
for | have examined it carefully, and he
took a package of papers from the pocket
of his dustcr, and, having adjusted bis
steel trimmed speelacles, went over them
one by one. You see, General, the poor
woman who makes this application for
pension lost her husband. who was a cor
pora in the -th Infantry, at the hands
of some bloody Indians, twenty-five year:
ago Nobody seems to have taken any
friendly interest in the case, and she has
been haunting the White House for weeks
until. between ourselves, and there was 4
merry twinkle in the Presidents eye 'Pn
afraid Mrs. Lincoln Is getting a liltl'
Jealous. thought | had better end the
matter up in some way or other TO day
aud l have promised the poor woman an
answer at / o'clock-shes waiting Over
there now. Between the two Of them
don't know that dare go home withou
having the job finished ! and Mr.. Lin
coins eyes tWinkled again.
a. was not far away, an interested
spectator of the scene, and when Genera
Scott cleared his throat and called Col
onel Hamilton, | came promptly to The
front
How long do you think it would taxi
you, Colonel, to get this case through the
Pension Office ? asked the President, aitei
brief explanation Of the facts.
"In from twenty to thirty minutes,
think, Mr.. President. glanced oyel
the papers and saw that they were il
proper form, IF you will await my re
turn I will come back to YOU in half al
hour; or | added, if you prefer it,
will take the certificate 10 you at the
White House, and save you that mucl
time.
"'No, no, young man. Mr.. Lincoln re
sponded cheeriIy, bring them back here
I'll wait for them here
"The Pension office was then located il
Winder's building, in Seventh street, onl,
few doors from the War Department
was not long in reaching the Office Of tL'
Commissioner, aud ] was not n momen
too soon. either, for it was 3 o'clock by
that time and the officers aud clerks wer,
putting away their papers and making
ready to depart for The day.
odd you see tall dark-complexionec
gentlemen here to-day, wearing linei
dusler, and interested in a pension for
woman who lost her husband in the Sem
mole war;? / asked Of the Commissioned
Yes was the answer, and the nal
has nearly bothered our lives out all day
He said he was a lawyer from somewhere
out West-the most persistent pension
beggar you ever saw. Guess he got tl'
worst of it, though.
"'You ale sure you remember him?
ooh. yes, perfeclly-iall-dark-sl.n
clothes didn't fit him-anxious-ke!
on saying he was sure it was all right
and
THAT will do, sir. All I have 10 "a!
TO you Is that you have made nice mes
fit. That man j. President Abral an
Lincoln. I've promised him an ansv eI
from You in thirty minutes. He is dovT
in General SCOTS Office now, wai.ing ol
that answer
"If YOU ever saw change Of front