St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-06-29

takon any friendly interest IN the case
and she has been haunting the White
House for weeks until between our
selves (anl there was a merry twinkle
in the Presidents eye) I'm afraid
Mrs Lincoln is getting little jealous.
l thought had better end the matter
up in some way or other to-day and I
have promised the poor woman an
answer at four o'clobk; she's waiting
over there now. Between the two OF
them l don't know that dare go home
without having the job finishej,' and
Mr.. Lincoln's eyes twinkled again.
Il was not far away. an interested
spectator OF the scene. and when Cen
eral Scott cleared his throat and called
Colonel Hamilton l came promptly
to the front
How long do you think it would
take you. Colonel, to. get this case
through the pension Office? asked the
President after brief examination OF
the facts.
"In from twenty to thirty minutes.
I think. Mr.. President l glanced
over the papers and saw that they
were In proper form. III you will
await my return will come back to
you In half an hour; or l added.
If you prefer it, will take the certiti-
cate to you at the White House and
save you that much time
".No, no. young man. Mr. Lincoln
responded. cheerily. bring them back
here. I'll wait for them here
1.-The Pension Office was then located
In Winder's building in Seventeenth
street, only few doors from the War
Department. was not long in reach
ing the Office of the commissioner. and
l was not a moment too soon. either,
for it was three o'clock b. that time.
and the Off GERS and clerks were put
ting away their papers and making
ready to depart for the day.
Ibid you see tall. dark complex
ionded gentleman here to-day. wearing
linen dustcr. and interested in pen
sion for woman who lost her hus-
band in the Seminole WARP" l asked
of the commissioner.
Yes was the answer, and the
man has nearly bothered our lives out
all day. He said he was a lawyer from
somewhere out West-the most per-
sistent pension-beggar you ever saw.
Guess he got the worst Of it. though.
"'YOu are sure you remember him?'
oh. yes. perfectly-tall-dark-
slim-clothes didn't fit him-anxious-
kept on saying he was sure it was all
right-and-'
=. That will do, sir. All l have TO
sa; to you is that you have made nice
mess of it That man is President
Abraham Lincoln. I've promised him
an answer from you in thirty minutes.
He is down in General Scott's Office now
waiting for that answer
If you ever saw a change OF front,
boys. and q sudden movement from
slow music to dOuble-quick, it was in
that Office. Bells were rung and the
heads of all the divisions summoned.
desks were unlocked, papers few out
again. clerks and messengers ran up
and down and in and out. at the peril
OF life and limb. At intervals between
the orders to clerks and officers the
commissioner sought to cover over the
matter with apologies. He hoped that
l would explain to the President that
it was all a mistake-if he had only
made himself knownAif some one had
only recognized him-hOw anxious
they would have been to accO mmOdate
him. This was repeated over and over
in a dozen ways
1T didn't take them twenty minutes
10 verify all the statements and afii-
davits and certify the case for pay
ment. In less than the thirty minutes
asked for had every thing properly
signed and executed, and had placed
the final papers in the Presidents
hands.
He looked at them quizzically,
turned them over. and having exam
ined them carefully, rs if to make
surc that they were really all right.
he said to me. with that quaint express
sion SO often seen on his face:
".Iwould like to know. Colonel Ham
ilton. how it is that l was SO long and
failed and you were SO short and suc-
ceeded?"
".Well. Mr.. President replied. 4
did not conceal the fact from the PEN
sion Bureau that it was the President
who championed the poor woman's
cause. You couldn't do that OF
course, and they didn't know you
there. sir
MIR. Lincoln smiled. placed the pa
pers il his pocket, and turning to
General Scott said:
~ understand. General. that it is
one Of your standing rules that when
the President or a member OF the Cab
met comes to see you member OF your
staff shall accompany him on his re-
turn home. With your permi ssion
would be glad to have Colonel Hamil-
ton go back with me to-day
..When we reached the White House.
sure enough there on the portico stood
the old Irish woman waiting for Mr..
Lincoln. He walked up to her and
handing her the papers. said:
There you are. my good woman.
Your pension is all right and all you
have to do now is TO 60 tomorrow
morning at nine o'clock and get your
money. But from my experience to-
day would advise you not to go be-
fore ten o'clock; if you do you won't
find the officers there
ss1'bo poor old wOnnan carpht his