Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-07-02
TOLD A STORY.
HOW LINCOLN DISPOSED OF A CLAIM
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT.

During the war very Intimate friend
and adviser Of President Lincoln called
at the White House to confer with him
upon some Of the many perplexing ques-
lions which were continually pouring
into the executive mansion for solution.
Ii was after the seven days battle
from Mechanicsville to Malvern Hills,
when disappointment ut the North was
almost as great as that produced at the
conflict at Bull Run, and the President
was considering the advisability Of call
ing for levy Of 300, 900 troops. Topics
for discussion we're 30 numerous and
pressing that It was 10 80 o'clock before
the visitor, rising, said: swell, Lincoln,
! mustrbe going now"
"No, +, don't 60 yet" Lincoln re-
piled, "sit down; another matter yet !!
There Is man from Boston here with
claim against the government for $780,
600. Yesterday he submitted portion
Of his papers relative to 1t, with the re-
quest that | examine them while he was
preparing the remainder. told him to
come here tonight again ut III o'clock
with the rest Of the papers, and you
know he'll come, so want you to wait"
"very WE'LL" the visitor replied, and
they resumed their topics OF state, Lin
coin sitting with his chair tilted back
ward, his hands clasped over the top OF
his head and his feet upon the table, the
visitor near by In similar position.
BY and by, at the appointed time foot
steps were heard, and the expected visit
or was ushered into the executive cham
Der through door ut the back of the
President.
"Thcre, Mr.. President" said the man
from Boston, "are the remainder Of those
papers regarding my claim. wish you
would examine and report on them as
soon as possible.
"very WE'LL" said Lincoln, turning
his head somewhat toward the visitor !;
'.just lay them on that table there and
will examine them as soon as possible !:
1t may be day or two, IL may be
week; but I'D report on them as soon as
can and he turned his head To his
friend again as II to continue their con-
versation regarding the exigencies OF
the war. Before going out the man
from Boston suffered his curiosity 10 get
the better Of him, and he ventured TO
interrogate the President rs to what he
thought OF the validity OF the claim
from the papers he had already exsmir-
ed.
"Your claim, Mr.. -" Lincoln re-
piled. turning toward him, reminds me
OF Jim Prices rat hole. You never
knew jim, did your Well, he had all his
life been roaming about from one place
to another and had tried every way
imaginable 10 make living, but with
out success. AT the time speak OF he
was trying to practice law IL n little
town near Springfield; but soon firing
of this he thought to enter the dry goods
business and accordingly wrote TO an
Eastern house to know II they would
furnish him with a stock OF goods on
credit, at the same time forwarding
references as TO his integrity. The
Eastern firm addressed an inquiry to
one Of these references desiring To know
IL II could safely trust Jim with GER
tain amount OF goods, and the reply was
something like this: Jim Prices assets
would fix at 1900, consisting OF the
following items: One wife valued at
81, 900, at least IL had such wife |
wouldn't take less than that for her !;
two children, valued at POS, at least
II had two such children wouldn't
take less than that for them; one office
table valued at sl25; one ink stand,
valued conservatiyely ut 10 cents; one
pen holder valued at ) cents, and rat
hole In the corner OF his Office that Is
worth looking into"
Aud the man from Boston went his
way.-Chicago Tribune.