Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-10
131O1312 Farnam Straw9t Omaha. +

having finished the job" and the presidents
eyes twinkled merrily.
l had been an interested listener to this
conversation, and when General Scott called
Colonel Hamilton l was instantly at his
elbow.
'How long do you think it would take you,
colonel. to get the case through the pension
Office" asked the president.
1T should be done in half an hour, Mr..
President" l replied, as l glanced over the
papers to see IL they were in the proper form.
wait here | added, and l will return in
twenty minutes, or, II you wish it, 1 will
take the certificate to you at the white
house, and save you that much time
mo, no, my son." Mr.. Lincoln broke in.
Bring them back here, and l will wait for
you."
At that time the pension office was located
in Seventeenth street, a little way from the
War department, and five minutes after
leaving the president | was in the office OF the
commissioner. l had not arrived a moment
too soon, for the officials and clerks were
cleaning up their desks and preparing to
quit work for the day. The commissioner
politely asked what he could do for me.
did you see a tall, dark compleXioned
gentleman here today?" l answered. He
wore a linen buster and SLOUGH hat, and was
interested in the pension of a woman VINO
lost her husband in the Seminole war
"Oh, yes, | remember the man. the COM
missioner replied carelessly. "He said he was
a lawyer from the west and has been bother
ing us all day"
well" said I dryly, "you have got your
self in a pretty fix. That man is President
Lincoln and ! have just promised him that l
would bring him an answer from you inside
of half an hour. He is waiting for II now in
General ScOtts Office
The change worked in the pension office
by this brief announcement was nothing less
| than marvellous. Bells were rung, heads Of
divisions sent for and desks hastily unlocked,
while clerks and messengers ran here and
there at the peril of life and limb. a dozen
times, while giving orders TO his subordinates,
the commissioner passed to apologize Tor the
shabby treatment the president had received
and to beg me to explain to him that it was
all a mistake. Within twenty minutes all
the statements and afidavits had been veri-
fed and the case certified for payment. Be
fore the promised half hour had expired
everything had been properly signed and eX-
ecuted and l had placed the final papers in
the hands of the president. He looked them
over carefully to make sure that they were
right and then, while a q%uizzical smile spread
over his face, asked: Can you tell me,
Colonel Hamilton, how it is that l was so long
and failed, and you were so short and sue
Ceeded?'
ITO speak frankly, Mr.. President, A." I said,
| very promptly informed the commissioner
OF pensions that 1t was the president who had
made himself the champion of this poor
woman's case. You could not do that, of
course, and they did not know you there, sir, -
The president laughed heartily, put the
papers in his pocket and turning to General
Scott said:
Il am told, general, that is one OF your
standing rules, that when the president or a
member OF the cabinet comes to see you a
member of your stan shall keep him company
on his return home. | should be glad to have
Colonel Hamilton go back with me today"
Accordingly, | walked with the president
to the white house, and on the portico we
found an old Irish woman waiting for Mr.
Lincoln. He went up to her and, handing
her the papers, said:
Here you are, my good woman. Your
pension is all right, and all you need to dC
Is to go tomorrow morning at 3 o'clock anC
get the money. But from my own experience
today | would advise you not to go before
10 o'clock. II you do you won't find The
officers there"
The poor creature caught the PRESIDENT
hand and covered il with kisses, at the SAINT
time showering a thousand blessings OF
her benefactor's head.
Don't thank me-" he answered, kindly
as he gently freed himself from her grasp
This young man deserves all the thanks"
And he stepped aside and seemed to keenl.
enjoy the f~eryency with which the old wO
man poured her store OF benedictions upol
me. Then remarking that he must go aut
tell Mrs, Lincoln that II was all right. h
babe me good day and hurried away.
SAVES THE LIFE OF AN OLD FRIEND
The second story is told by Senator DAME
w. Voorhees,:
One gloomy afternoon in the winter o