The herald., 1896-01-05

and after my hard experience | have
concluded to let you stop the war In
your own way"
Mr.. Lincoln said he used this incl
dent of Corwin's o good purpose with
other distinguished gentlemen who
knew just how to stop the war.
took my leave of the president very
strongly impressed with the feeling
that we had man at the helm or the
nation who would steer it through its
trouble with prudence, hrmness and
sagacity.
When we reached the corridor we
met Colonel Hay, the presidents pri-
vate secretary. / found the colonel
commun cative, and naturally drifted
into remarks about the easy accessi-
billty of Mr.. Lincoln to class of peo-
pie who had not always had free entire
to the White House. Colonel Hay said
that the president WAS actuated by the
principle that the poor and trie Ldless
should have easy opportunity OF lay
ing their complaints or grievances be-
fore him; the rich and influential had
numerous ways of reaching the presl-
dental ear, whilst the plain people,
however meritoricus their cause, had
nobody but themselves to pl BAD 1t.
He then related most touching and
pathetic incident in point that had oc~
CURED the previous winter.
A thinly clad and bedrdggled little
girl, showing in her looks and dress
poverty anu distress, appeared for sew
eral days in succession in the corridor.
The coloners attention was attracted
to her by her wan face, her scared and
cIc Ii, nd he at, oP in
tense anxiety that we're apparent in all
her movements. She WAS among the
first corners in the morning and the
last to leave at the close of the execu-
tive bus ness hours. Seeing her in a
flood of tears one morning, the private
secretary asked her what the trouble
WAS. Sue said she wanted to see Mr..
Lincoln very much. At that momeut
the president WAS ascending the front
staircase, and Coiouei Hay, pointing
him out, told her that was Mr.. Llncoin
coming. As the president passed along
the little girl pulled his coat-tail in u
scared and half-hearted way. Mr.. Lin
coins tail orm bent, and he looked
beamingly down upon the little bundle
OF rags and humanity and kindly asked
what he could do for her
If WAS told" she said, that you we're
President Lincoln, and I have walked
ali the way from Philadelphia to ask
you to save my poor fathers life.'
The interest Of the chief magistrate
was at once aroused. aud taking the
little waif by the hand he led her into
his room, and asked her to tell hin all
about how he could save her fathers
life. She told the story i'll her own
artless way. Her father was in the
army, and tor some breach of military
law he had been court-martialed and
sentenced to death :. Her mother was
Frustrated when the awful news
reached her, and some of her friends
told her that if she could see the
president he might say. his life. For
want of means she had trud.ed Afoot
through the snow and sltet to the
capital, and now she begged good Mr.
Lincoln to p irdou her dear papa.
Mr. LincOln was sensibiy affected by
the child's earnest appeal, and ques-
toned her as to her fathers name and
the regiment he belonged to, taking
notes OF her answers. He found out
in the course of his examination of the
girl that her father had fallen asleep
while on picket duty at very impor-
t4nt outpost, aud the offeuse was
deemed grave enough at that critical
juucture to warrant a cOurt-martial to
make a striking example of the Of
fender.
After the president had got from the
little girl all she knew about her
fathers case, he beamed upon her with
that tender and compa siOnate face of
his, and mused aloud upon the touch
in[ scene:
Poor child," said he, "you have no
Influential friends to plead for you
no consreseman, DO senator, but have
bravely faced the inclemency OF the
ason in scant apparel, and trudged
all the way from PnilAdelphis to Wash
ington 10 intercede with me for your
fathers life. And yon had faith in me,
tnat if you could only see me and tell
your touching story, I would save his
! life. AND xill!'
He wrote a nore to Secretary Stant-
on aud sent it to the war office by Col
onel Hay, who had been a silent wit
ness of the whole pathetic scene. Ia
due time the offender was pardonsd
and returned to the ranks.
"You may rest assured" said Colonel
Hay, "that the little one went home in
very different shape from the way she
had come. We all took a lively inter-
est in the brave child and raised quite
purse for her before we sent her
warmly clad her way rejoicins."
"And this" pursued Colonel Hay,
with feeling, "is only one Of many in
cidents that are constantly occurring
here to show how kind and tender a
nature presides over the destinies Of
this country in the midst of nerci-
less war."-[Extract from MS. of forth
coming book on California by James