The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-09-20

1
the little woman. her eyes hlling with
tears and expressing q grateful aoknowl-
edgment her tongue could not utter.
passed out
Neas Friends Testimony.
It will. interest the reader and no
doubt aid him greatly in drawing the
portrait OF Lincoln to call up for the
purpose u friend Of his, whose testimony
is not only vivid and minute. but for
certain reasons unusually appropriate
and essential The friend referred to is
Joshua r. Speed. Under date of Dec. 8.
1866, he says: "Mr. Lincoln was 30 un-
like all the men had ever known be-
fore or seen or known since that there
is no one to whom can compare him.
1.-The beauty Of his character was its
entire simplicity. He had no affectation
in anything True to nature, true to
himself, he was true to every body and
everything around him. When he was
ignorant ON any subject. no matter how
simple it might make him appear. he
was always willing to acknowledge it,
His whole aim in life was to be- true to
himself. and being true to himself he
could be false to no one.
HE had no vices even az q young
man. Intense thought with him was
the rule and not, as with most of us, the
exception. He often said that he could
think better after breakfast, and better
walking than sitting, lying or standing
His worldwide reputation for telling
anecdotes and telling them 80 we'll was,
in my Judgment, necessary to his very
existence. Most men who have been
great students, such as he was, in their
hours Of idleness have taken to the bot
tle to cards or dice. He had no fond
ness for any of these. Hence he sought
relaxation in anecdotes So far as / now
remember of his study for composition,
it was to make short sentences and
compact style
"Unlike all other men, there was en-
tire harmony between his public and
private life. He must believe he was
right. and that he had truth and justice
with him, or he was a weak man, but
no man could be stronger if he thought
he was right
His Kindness Of Heart.
"The last interview but one / had
with him was about ten days prior to
his last Inauguration. Congress was
drawing to close. It had been an i'm
portant session. Much attention had to
be given to the important bills he was
signing. A great war was upon him
and the country Visitors were COM
ing and going to the president with
their varying complaints and griev-
ances from morning till night with
almost as much regularity as the ebb
and flow of the tide, and he was worn
down in health and spirits.
ION this occasion was sent for to
come and zee him. Instructions were
given that when / came l should be ad.
mitted When l entered his Office, it was
quite full and many more. among them
not few senators and members of con-
gress, still waiting. As soon as l was
fairly inside the president remarked that
he desired to see me as soon as he was
through giving audiences, and that if l
had nothing TO do l could take the pa
pers and amuse myself in that or any
other way l saw fit till he was ready
"In the room, when entered, OBJ
served sitting near the fireplace, dressed
in humble attire, two ladies, modestly
waiting their turn. One after another
of the visitors came and went, each bent
on his own particular errand, some sat
isfied and others evidently displeased at
the result of their mission. The hour
had arrived to close the door against all
further callers. No one was left in the
room now except the president, the two
ladies and me. With a rather peevish
and fretful air he turned to them and
said, Well, ladies' what can l do for
your They both commenced to speak
at once. From what they said he soon
learned that one was the wife and the
other the mother of two men imprisoned
for resisting the draft in western Penn
sylvania. Stop said he. Don't say
any more. Give me your petition. The
old lady responded: Mr.. Lincoln, we've
got no petition. We couldn't write one
and had no money TO pay for writing
one, and thought best to come and see
you. oh, said he, / understand your
casesp He rang his bell and ordered
one of the messengers to tell General
Dana to bring him the names of all the
men in prison for resisting the draft in
western Pennsylvania. The general soon
came with the list. He inquired il there
was any difference in the charges or de-
grees of guilt. The general replied that
he knew of none. Well. then, said he.
these fellows have suffered long enough,
and have thought so for some time,
and now that my mind is on the subject
/ believe will turn out the whole flock
So draw up the order, general. and l
will sign it. 1t was done, and the gen.
eral left the room. Turning to the wom-
en-. he said. Now, ladies, you can go.
The younger Of the two ran forward and
was in the act of kneeling in thankful
ness. Get up, he said. Don't kneel to
me. but thank God and CO.
1--WE were now alone. l said to him,
Lincoln, with my knowledge Of your
nervous sensibility, it is a wonder that
such scenes as this don't kill you. He
thought for a moment and then an