Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-01-06
A STORY OF LINCOLN.

public interest in the deeds and
rds of Abraham Lincoln seems to
rease as the wears come and go.
Speed, of Kentucky, has been
ing McClure's Magazine some per-
bal "reminiscences which have never
fore appeared in print. This Sc
tion will be read with interest:
The last time 1 saw him was about
b weeks before his assassination.
sent me word by my brother
mes, then in his cabinet, that he
sired to see me before I went home.
rent into his office about eleven
flock. He looked jaded and weary.
|tayed in the room until his hour
callers was over. He ordered the
or closed, and looking over to
ere was sitting, asked me to draw
my chair. But instead of being
Pne, az he supposed, in the opposite
lection from where 1 sat, and
ross the fireplace from him, sat two
mble-looking women. Seeing them
ere seemed to provoke him, and he
Id: "Well, ladies, what can I do for
|u?" One was an old woman, the
her young. They both commenced
king at once. The President soon
them. 81 SUPPOSE"
id he, "that your son and your hus-
nd are in prison for resisting the
aft in Western Pennsylvania. Where
your petition?"
The old lady replied: "Mr. Lincoln,
have no petition. I went to law
r to get one drawn, and I had not
g money to pay him, and come here
D. So thought I would just come
d ask you to let me have my boy"
'And is it your husband you want?"
i'd he, turning to the young woman.
YES" said she.
He rang the bell and called his SER
mt, and babe him go and tell Gen.
ina to bring him the list of prison
) for resisting the draft in Western
The general soon came, bringing
ckage of papers. The President
ened it, and, counting the names,
id: General, there are twenty
ven of these men. Is there any diff
'ence in the degree of their guilt"
No." said the general: ''its bad
Sc and merciful finding"
WELL" said the President, looking
of the window, and seemingly
king to himself, "these poor fell
VS. have, L think, suffered enough.
ey have been in prison fifteen
,nths, have been thinking so for
ne time, and have said SO to Stan
i; and he always threatened to re-
n if they were released. But he
J said SO about other matters, and
yer did it. So now, while
We the paper in my hand, I will
n out the flock" So he wrote,
ct the prisoners named in the
thin page be discharged" and sign
it. The general made his bow and
t. Then, turning to the ladies, he
d: 'tNow, ladies, you can go. Your
Il, madam. and your husband, mad
/, is free"
The young woman ran across to
n, and began to kneel. He took
r by the elbow, and said inpatient
"Get up, get up, none of this!"
t the old woman walked to him,
ping with her apron the tears that
re coursing down her cheeks. She
We him her hand. and, looking into
face, said "Good- by, Mr.. Lincoln.
; will never meet again till we
ct in heaven"
L change came over his sad and
airy face. He clasped her hand in
tn of his, and followed her to the
or, saying as he went. ''With all
We to cross me here I am afraid 1
Il never get there, but your wish
1T you will meet me there has fully
id me for all have done for you"
We were then alone. He drew his
air to the fire, and said: "Speed, 1
a little alarmed about myself.
st feel my hand. 1t was cold and
mmy. He pulled off his boots, and
tting his feet to the fire, the heat
de them steam. I said overwork
s producing nervousness. NO."
d he, ''I am not tired" I said,
UGH a scene as 1 have just wit