The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-06-23

was Sitting near a window intently
reading his Bible. Approaching him
1 said, am glad to see you so profit
| ably engaged
| YES said he, I am profitably en-
gagged
Well said 1, if you have recov-
cred from your skerticism 1 am sorry
/ to say that I have not
Looking me earnestly in the face,
and placing his hand on my shoulder,
he said, You are wrong, Speed. Take
all of this book upon reason that you
can, and the balance on faith, and
you will live and die a happier man.
One of LincOIn's Deeds of Mercy.
1.-The last time I saw him was about
two weeks before his assassination.
He sent me word by my brother
James, then in his cabinet, that he de-
sired to see me before l went home
! went into his Office about IL o'clock.
He looked jaded and weary. 1 stayed
in the room until the hour for his
callers was over; he ordered the door
closed, and looking over to where l
was sitting, asked me to draw UP my
chair But instead of being alone, as
he supposed, in the opposite direction
from where l sat. and across the fire
place from him, sat two humble-loolx
ing women. Seeing them there seemed
TO provoke him, and he said, We'll,
ladies, what can l do for you? One
was an old woman, the other young.
They both commenced talking at
once. The president soon compre-
hended them. I .3uppose,' said he,
that your son and your husband is
in prison for resisting the draft in
western Pennsylvania. Where is
your petition?'
The old lady replied: Mr.. Lincoln,
I have no petition; l went to lawyer
to get one drawn. and I had not the
money to pay him and come here, too;
so l thought l would just come and
ask you to let me have my boy
And it is your husband you
want? said he, turning to the young
woman.
yes said she.
he. rang his bell and called MS SER
want, and babe him go and tell Gen
erai Dana to bring him the list Of
prisoners for resisting the draft in
western PENNSYLVANIA.
The general soon came, trinEinF
package of papers. The president
opened it, and, counting the names,
said, General, there are twenty-seVen
of these men. Is there any difference
in the degree Of their guile
No. said the general; it is bad
case and a merciful finding
q Well said the president, looking
out of the window and seemingly
talking to himself, these poor fellows
have, l think, suffered enough; they
have been in prison fifteen months 1
have been thinking so for some time
and have said so 10 Stanton, and ne
always threatened to resign If they
were released. But he has said SO
about other matters and never did,
so now while I have the paper in my
hand I will turn out the flock So he
wrote Let the prisoners named in the
within page be discharged, and
signed it. The general made his bow
and left. Then turning to the ladies
he said, Now, ladies. you can go.
Your son, madam, and your husband,
madam, is free
The young woman ran across to
him and began to kneel. He took
her by the elbow and said impatiently,
Get up, get up: none of this But
the old woman walked to him, wiping
with her apron the tears that were
coursing down her cheeks. She gave
him her hand and looking into his
face, said, "Good-by, Mr. Lincoln.
We will never meet again till we meet
in heaven.
weary face. He Chased her hand in
weary face. He clasper her hand in
both of his and followed her to the
door, saying as he went, With all |
have to cross me here, l am afraid l
will never get there, but your wish
that you will meet me there has fully
paid me for all have done for you.
I'VE were then alone. He drew his
chair to the fire and said, Speed, L
am little alarmed about myself; just
feel my hand 1t was cold and
clammy. He pulled off his boots and
putting his feet to the fire the heat
made them steam. l said overwork
was producing nervousness. No,
said he, I am not tired. said, 'Such
a. scene as 1 have just witnessed is
enough to make you nervous. How
much you are mistaken said he;
have made two people happy today,
I have given a mother her son and
wife her husband. That young
woman is a counterfeit. but the old
woman is a true mother.