The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-08-31

pA ~ terestlnB STORIES
22SA going the rounds
f)lnB1A shows how Lin
A$fKHN coin, by a single
VNNXsA question, decided
WTMSSS20 case for his
$9 client. II was
- EyfVW139 long before he
IN S was known to the
I'VE WNgJ country and while
~HSTy ~ NJ he was practising
EtM EINIi lat the bar in Ili-
INV. (tklNlS& nois. 1t appears
KjA 'Ss@SS$that some kind of
a. LR ~ u religious meet
= ing had been held
-" one of the
- SssSs> neighboring viii
lagos, and somebody outside threw
live duck through the open window
into the church, to the CONSERVATION
of the more sedate and the merriment
of the more trifling of the congrega-
tion. 1t was a fragrant breach of the
law protecting religious meetings, end
suspicion fell on two young men who
happened to be waiting on the same
girl. One of these saw an opportunity
in the incident and swore out war
rant against tho other. Mr.. Lincoln
had satisfied himself of the situation
and of the innocence of his client.
When the case was called for trial
Lincoln was present at the lawyers
table, but apparently paying little at
tention to it. When the jury was be-
ing impaneled he seemed obvious Of
his relation to the case, but was hard
at work writing out papers in another
case. The opening speech was made
to the jury and the cnormity of the
offence duly exhibited, but Lincoln
was silent. One witness after another
was called, but still he went quietly
on with his writing and asked no
questions. Finally the prosecuting
witness was called and even this did
not disturb Lincoln. The witness
told his story cody, camly and with
an assumption of candor, sometimes q
little reticent when his evidence was
against the defendant. At last his di-
rect examination was concluded, and
the prosecutor said, with an air of
triumph MIR. Lincoln, take the wit
ness"
Mr.. Lincoln stopped at once, threw
his feet on the table, and, looking
steadfastly at the witness, who had
braced himself for a long cross-exam-
ination, said solemnly.
young man, is it customary in your
village to get upon the witness stand
and swear to liel"
Instantly there was hubbub about
L. 80
and flushed in the face. The district
attorney objected. When quiet was
restored the question was repeated;
the witness choked and gasped, and
when the Judge calmly insisted that
he should answer it, he tainted.
He afterwards confessed that he had
thrown the duck. and had trdmped up
the charge against his rival. He lost
his case; also his girl.
The above shows the clear insight
| of Lincoln into human character. He
had before him a young man unfa
miliar with the surroundings of the
! courtroom, evidently a man with con-
/ science, and yet with guilt in his soul.
Taken off his guard by a sudden ques.
tion calculated to reach the very cen
/ tire of his emotions. he was thrown into
utter confusion.
Another story of Lincoln, somewhat
! different in character. In the second
days fight at Gettysburg, General
Sickles lost his leg and was taken to
| Washington. Lincoln called to see
/ him. and asked whether he had not
been greatly worried about the result
of the fight, the President responded:
"Oh, no, | thought it would be all
right" ..i''1'
but what made you feel so conf.
ent, Mr.. President" said General
| Slckles
"Oh, | had my reasons, but I don't
care to mention them, for they would
perhaps be laughed at"
He was pressed for an answer as to
his reasons, and replied. a'''
"Well, will tell you why / felt con-
fdent we should win at Gettysburg
Before the battle retired alone to my
room in the White House and got
down on my knees and prayed to AL
mighty God to give US victory, / said
to him that this was His war, and that
if he would stand by the Nation now
I would stand by him the rest OF my
life. He gave us victory and | pro
pose to keep my pledge. arose from
my knees with feeling of deep and
serene confidence, and had no doubt
of the result from that hour,
And it is not amiss to say that there
were many who shared this confidence
solely because they had faith that
Providence which had permitted this
Republic to become a beacon-light to
the oppressed all over the world
would not desert it when its future was
to b. determined upon a field like that
of Gettysburg. While millions had
watched the course of the war and
noted the varying fortunes of the
Union Army, the three days trial at
Gettysburg were marked by sense OF
. H.. L l.