The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10

trowel did not recognize the distinguished In
truder. but Mr.. Lincoln kept right on and didn't
seem to hear what he said. When the Presi-
dent got to the top Of the stairs on the second
floor he smiled as he said, half humorOusly,
turning to me:
90 guess that man was little angry with
me for disturbing his work. wasn't he, Sam?
" replied that | was Of that opinion, and tho
President laughed heartily. A half hour later
l went down and saw the fellow.
DO you know who that man was who
kicked your liner said /.
go Naw.' said he; but whoever he was, no
was mighty loose and careless with them big
feet Of his'n'
"Mr. Lincoln certainly had enormous feet,
and tho man had some ground for his com
plaint.
80 Well said !, that man who got tangled
in your line is the President Of the United
States
"'The devil you say . he gasped, and then
he turned pale with surprise. Well, sir. that
fellow was so scared at what he had said that
he couldn't do any work for half an hour.
" The way | FIRST became acquainted with Mr.
Lincoln was through my mother. who once
cooked for Jefferson Davis in Washington.
When Mr.. Davis broke mp his Washington es-
tabishment and went South my mother was
recommended 10 President Lincoln as a good
cook. and he secured her for the White House.
II was in this way that began TO shave the
President.
:" / remember little till that occurred be-
tween Mrs. Lincoln aud my mother. The fact
is that the Presidents wife was a very hard
woman to get along with. The little difficulty
arose at the Presidents Soldiers' Home resi-
dence. and Mrs. Lincoln bad used some very
hard words TO my mother; the result was that
NV mother threw up her situation and left the
house. She was walking down Fourteenth
street with the tears from her recent quarrel
still ia her eyes. when the Presidents carriage.
with Mr. Lincoln inside, drove up and tho
President, recognizing my mother, told Burke,
the driver. 10 stop.
Hello, Aunt Maria" asked Mr.. Lincoln
kindly; what's the matter2"
" Ay mother reeited her grievances, and then
Mr.. Lincoln took her into his carriage and she
was driven back to Soldiers Home. Somehow,
with bis good nature. he patched up truce.
and my mother remained with the family for
long time afterward.
" Bot the greatest service which President
Lincoln ever rendered me-" continued Mr.
Williams, " was at the time the last draft but
one was made at Washington. | then had a
comfortable situation in the Treasury De-
partment and was very we'll satisfied but when
the draft WAS made | WAS called up for exam
NATION. The Surgeons pronounced me sound
and qualified for service In the course Of a
night before ! was to leave town, and | felt
pretty blue at leaving an easy job with good
salary to enter upon the hard life Of a soldier,
but there was nothing to be done. / concluded,
however. To 90 10 the White House and pay my
respects to President Lincoln before leaving z
town
. / came to this conclusion rather late in the
evening, and when | arrived at the White
House it was already 10 o'clock. asked if
could see Dir. Lincoln, if be had not retired.
The attendant, whom / know. replied that he
would do the best he could for me. He went
up stairs and moment later returned saying
that although Mr. Lincoln was in bed he would
| see me a moment / went up and Mr.. Lincoln
| came 10 the door in his night gown.
"' What can do for you, Sam said he.
told him that had been drafted by the
! recruiting officer and was compelled to leave
| town on the following morning.
- Well. SAM said the President I'm sorry.
but don't see that can help you. 1t would
be entirely wrong for me to order your release.
as you've been examined and pronounced
sound. and / can see no excuse for doing So
"Whils the President was talking he was
| standing near the 1OOr Of his bed chamber, his
tall frame covered by long white gown, and
he cut a most grotesque figure. From whore
was standing eOuld see the entire contents 0t
/ the room. Not far from the door was the bed
] which the President occupied and which he
had just left. In the bed. sitting bolt upright.
was Mrs. Lincoln in her night dress. As the
/ President left mo and went back To the bed
knew she had heard all that had passed. When
| hTs. Lincoln began to talk to him | saw she
was in favor Of my release. and she did her
| best To get him tO consent 20 my release. AZ
last the President yielded on condition that
/ she should make no more similar requests oil
/ him. She agreed, and he went 20 his bureau,
/ picked up card aud wrote on 1t these words
| Release Samuel Miliams.-A Lincoln
Now, SAM, said he, take this to Maj
/ OBeirne the Provost Marshal, and he will
/ give yoH your discharge
81 thanked him aud then took my leave.
/ got my release the next day but never shall
| forget how Mrs. LineaIn stood up for me that
/ night and saved me many months OF hardship
! in the army.