The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1891-05-19
Daniel Wo bster and His School
master.

/
lished by Harper e Bros, gives thi
story as it was told by Lincoln jus
after he had reviewed a procession o
colored Sunday School children iron
the window of the White House. Mr.
Chittenden was on the most familiar
terms with Lincoln, and delighted il
getting him in a storytelling mood
He bears witness against the prevalen
opinion that the stories were offer
coarse, and says: III never heard hin
relate story or utter a sentence which
l could not have repeated TO my wife
or daughters. The story of young
Webster aud the schoolmaster was the
least refined ever told in my presence,
Here is the story referred y
When the procession had passed,
and the last of the innumerable God
bless him's' had died away, without
breaking the silence which he had
maintained for an hour, Mir. Lincoln
turned from the window and walked
slowly back toward the well-known
little room in which he had received
so many visitors, followed by those
who with him had witnessed the pro-
cession. When the President entered
the room, his face wore that look of
melancholy so habitual to it; so differ
cnt from that of any other human
being.
Suddenly he stopped and turned
about. In an instant the whole as
pect Of the man had changed; the
melancholy look had disappeared, and
his sad eyes sparkled with humor.
Without addressing anyone in particu-
lar, he exclaimed:
did you ever hear the story of
Daniel Webster and the school
mastcr?"
. No one answered. "Well," he said,
this is the story: Daniel was very
careless, some called him a dirty, boy.
His teacher had many times reproved
him for not washing his hand. He
had coaXed and scolded him, but it
was useless; Daniel would come to
school with dirty hands. Out of all
patience with him, one day he called
Daniel to his desk, made him hold up
his hands in the presence of the
whole school, and solemnly warned
him that if he ever came to school
again with his hands in that copditio.S
he would give him a fefruIng that he
would long remember.
Daniel promised better behavior,
and for two or three days there was
great improvement i'll his appearance.
His hands looked as if they were
washed daily. But the reformation
was not permanent. In a few days
his hands were as dirty as ever. The
teachers sharp eyes detected them,
and as soon as school had opened for
the day, with a stern voice he said,
Daniel, come here - the guilty Gull
prit knew what was coming. His
palms were beginning to Jingle in an
He stealthily brought the
palm Of his right hand into contact
with his tongue, and, as he walked
slowly toward the masters desk,
rubbed the same upon his pantaloons,
in the effort to remove some of the
dirt. Hold out your hand, STRIP said
the master, Daniel extended his
right hand, palm upward. do you
call that a clean hand p demanded the
teacher. Not very, sir modestly re-
piled the offender. Il should think
not very said the master, Il promised
you ferruling, but if you will show
me a dirtier hand in this school, / will
let you of for this time There it is,
sir! exclaimed Daniel, quickly extend.
ing his left hand, which had not un-
dcrgOne the summary cleansing of the
right"
Mr.. Lincoln seldom laughed at his
own stores, but usually left his audi
tors, for whose benefit they were in
tended, to enjoy them. But the quick
ness with which the school-boy had
seized upon the weak point in the
offer, seemed to touch his
keen sense of humor, and at the con-
clusion of the story he laughed as
heartily as any one present. The
story was good one, but what there
had been in the procession just wit
messed to bring it to the Presidents
mind was difficult to discover.
He Wanted His Wife.