The morning times., 1896-07-12

Col. Turner and Hancock entered He
greeted them in q very off-hand manner.
motioned them to seats and then. turning
to Col. Turner. he said: why, tbs must
be the woman you told me about" At
this the very gallant, elegant-i looking
man immedia teiy stood up and in a most
gracious manner said: ''Yes, Mr.. Lincoln,
this is the daughter Of an old friend OF
mine, and beg that YOU may hear what
she has to say, and grant her request
for my sake" IAN right, colonel; all
right. Sit down"
Our min gied conv versa tion lasted about half
an hour. As we were rising to leave Mr.
Lincoln. addressing all three, said: Now,
you folks have come with your favors to
bestow and petitions to be granted. / have
promised TO do all that has been asked OF
me, and said the finest things could 10
what has been bestowed. SO / think 1
ought TO have my way next, and what 1
have to ask is that you all three come and
eat dinner with me tomorrow. Will you do
it?' or course we accC.. ted, with profuSe
thanks, and as we said goodbye he rennc-
ed Us: No TOrmalIty al dinner tomOrrOw-
not u Bit" AT this moment remembered
and said: Now. Mr.. Lincoln, you have re-
quested me to be here at & IN the morning.
Pray tell me how / am to get in?'' ''Oh.
the usher ~ only slender little lrshInan.
If he refuses to let you pass, slap him
down the steps and walk In. as you did Just.
now." At this the gentlemen all laughed
heartily, and as the President turned to me
he held out his hand-uear old hand-and.
smiling like summer, said: You come wien
l tell you. my child, and yOuIl get in as
sure az you're alive"
l walked briskiy to the White House the
next morning Ind sto,'d at the head of the
stairs, waitin & for my watch to say the mo
ment. not in the least guessing how / was
to get permission to enter. Standing at the
end OF the corridor nearest the door had
passed through the day before. / Heard
some say. This way, Mrs. Bycrs." Lock
ing up. saw, to my great astonishment, at
the farther end of the corridor, the Presi-
dent motiOninS for me to come. / walked
up TO W here he stO,Id as quickly as possible.
He grasped my hand warmly. led me 10
and introduced me To William II. Seward
and Mr.. Nicolay. He sat down by his desk.
reached out for the petition. wrote across
the back: Release this man on order
No. - A. Lincoln As he handed il
straight back TO me he remarked. with lock-
fuIlofinexpressibles syrnpathy and goodness:
Mrs. Byers. that Will get your man out
And tell his poor old mother l wish to
heaven was IN my power 10 give her back
her eyes ght. So she might see her son when
be gets home to her.
1nat AFTERNOON we went together ffoin
Willard's Hotel to dine with Presiden mt
Lincoln. and Of all informal affairs have
ever attended, ii certainly took the lead.
/ was seated at the right of the Presi-
dent Col. Turner on his left; Mrs. Lincoln.
the two boys and Col. Hancock occupied
the rest of the table. When a dish of ny
thing was brought he reached out for it,
handled the spoon like an ordinary farmer,
saying TO all In his reach: viii you have
some Of ths?' disiling it into our plates
libcrailv. And so il was throughout the
whole tnnuer, as he had said, truly informal.
Mrs. Lincoln was very sweet and gra Cous.
The contrast between them was SO striking
that have them plainly before me this mo
ment as they appeared then.
l have always Considered the Presidents
actions through this whole affair of my
own very extraordinary in more ways
than one. Mr.. Lincoln was at this time
President of the United States and cOmm2n-
der-in-chief of her armies-no foreign IA
tions to contend with, but his own Ee
loved land and country. So many, many
wonderfully weighty matters upon his heart.
mind and hands, and yet to remember that
l. an ordinary woman on an ordinary mis-
sion, had been promised admission at
O'Clock on the morning of the Sth of Octo-
ber, and that this small matter had not
been forgot On. Stranger than all, that ne
had not forgotten the roor, blind mother.
The more / contemplate the character of
Abraham Lincoln, the more / find to ad-
mire and the more arm convinced that it
is beyond the power OF mortals to portray
the many God-like chara cteristics OF this
the chief of all created men. i. X. B. j.