Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-12-13
DENNIS HANKS STORY.
Ne Called on President Lincoln and Had
an Interesting Experience.


an Interesting Experience.
Dennis Hanks, cousin and early com
panion OF Abraham Lincoln. still lives.
at the age of 81, near Charleston, Ills,
and at intervals talks with much anima-
ton Of Lincoln's early life. Though ten |
years older, he has long outl;ved the
martyr president. He gives this &C
count Of his only visit TO Washington;
"whenI went down TO Washington 10
see him 1t was about neighbor that had
got into trouble. The folks here sent me
TO speak 10 Abe about him. II was durin'
the war, and thar was a lot o soldiers
around the White House stickin' their
guns In everybody's face. went to q
door-thars only one. though looked
round fur a back door, thinkin' to sneak
In. porter stopped me. and asked as
smart: who do you want TO seer
al want to see Abe Lincoln, says.
"sYou can't see him this time o. day.
he says as smart.
".You bet / kim / answered him.
He's not goin' back ON Dennis HANKS,
his cousin, and the boy he's rassled with.
II he is the president. hain't come here
from Illinois to he told l can't see Abe
Lincoln
"He grinned and showed me the Office.
There was a lot OF fellers waitin', but
waded through 'em and opened the door
and thar sot Abe, as tails his own shad
der, writin' at a old desk he TUX from
Illinois.
"'Heyr / hollered. You're purt,
president, amt your Git up hyur anC
shake hands amt after no Office yit
Abe
"sWell, Dennis, is that your Tm gla'
you don't want an Office. Most Of then
} do. You've got big heart, but no hea'
for an Office Then he run and jist getll
cred me in to him like they did in th
Bible, and so wept little SO / had I
take my bandanner out. He locke
kinder tired. When l told him what
wanted he said:
"'Tm busy today, but I'll get Stanto
10 fix that up. You go down and Mar
will give you something to eat and
shakedown.'
81 knowed it was too fine for IN
where Mary was. She was good we
man, but was too highfalutin' for me; 1
list went 10 tavern and put up. Ne,
mornin' Abe had lot of papers for m
case and told me to take 'em to Stanton
"'Abe,' says /, blamed il ! kno
where the plagueoned place is So |
called feller and sent the papers, al
pretty soon Mr.. Stanton come looki
like jaybird in spike tailed coat, ar
snarled about them papers, but Abe g
him TO sine 'em. He acted so ugly tn
when he went out said:
"'Abe, If Tsas big as you would tai
that little Teller over my knee and spar
him. Abe, he laughed and said
guessed Stanton was bigger man tha
9 he was in some respects. came hon
he then and the next spring Abe was shot
81 heard of 1t this way. l was s
= ting in my shop peggin' away at sh
= when a man came in and said; 'DeDn
y Honest Abe is deadr
dead, dead. Old Abe dead
sayin to myself. My God, 1t amt S
mt went out to see Sairy where she liv
of all alone after Tom died, and sa
of Grandmother, Abe's dead Yes,
en- know says she. I've ben waitin'
~ 1t. / knowed they'd kill him. and 9
- - never asked any questions. A body'o
= thought the earth stopped whiriin' fu
ali few days, the way everybody went I
th- 1t was like, even here in Charleston. Ii
an n black cloud that covered the SUM-"
rd dim old eyes became blurred by the I
he memory Exchange.