The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1896-04-02

1 c-or- ~ TIT---r
III --c;oe-. II cc--e--,c- With ire
Western Pe-rsv.-ania Draft.

words # Abraham Lincoln seems tom
crease a. the years come and e. NJ
Speed of Kentucky. has been giving
| HcClure's Maga-iae some personal
remiol<cences which kava never be
fore appeared IN print. Tls selection
viii be read with interest.
The last time saw him was abon;
two weeks before his assassination He
sent me word 10y ny brother james.
then in his cabinet, that he desired Is
see me before | went home. ! Went
into his office about eleven clock He
looked jaded and weary | stayed in
The room until his hour Tor callers was
over He ordered the dior closed and
| looking oyer to where / was sitting,
asked me to draw up ny chair But
instead OF being alone, il he supposed
in the opposite direction from where |
sat. and across the firepitce from him,
sat two humble looking women Seeing
them there seemed to provoke him
and he SAID, We'll. ladit-, what can I
10 for YOU ~ One vas an old woman.
| the other young. They both commen-
ced talking at once. The President
soon comprehended item Il sup
pose,' said be, that yorr son and Your
husband are in prison fr resisting the
draft IN Western Pennsylvania Where
| is your petition 2"
The old lady replied Mr Lincoln.
| | haze no petition. | vent to Law
yer to get one drawn and | had not
the money to pay him and come here,
too SO | thought | would Just come
and ask you to let me have my boy2'
And it IS your husb:nd you want"
said be turning to the young woman.
|Yes," sad she.
lie rang the bell aud called his ser
want, and babe him to 70 aud tel Gen
Dana to bring him the ,ist Of prisoners
for resisting the draft m Western Penn
-ylvanla
The general soon came, bringing a
| package OF papers. The President
opened it, and counting the names,
sad
General there are twenty-seven Of
these men. Is there any difference in
the degree Of their guilt"
NO" said the general @lt'- a bad
case and a merciful hnding"
We'll" said the President looking
out of the window, and seemingly talk
ing to himself, these poor fellows have.
think, suffered enough. They have
been in prison fifteen months, ! have
been thinking so for some time, and
have said 50 TO Stanton and he alway ;
threatened to resign if they were re-
| leased. But he has said SO about other
matters, and never did It. SO now.
while l have the paper in my hand, |
VII turn out the flock" So he wrote !:
: Let the prisoners named in the with
| in page be discharged, and signed IT,
| The general made his bow, and left
| Then, turning to the ladies, he SAID
Now, ladies, YOU can 90. Your son,
madam, and your husband, madam, is
| free"
Tho y0rrr woman rap ocrocS ~ y "a
and began to knee. He took Ter By
the elbow, and SAID, impatiently, "Ge,
up, get up, none OF THIS Y But The
old woman walked to him, wlping with
her apron the tears that we're coursing
down her cheeks. She gave him her
hand, md looking into his face, said !:
Good by, Mr.. Lincoln We viii
| never meet again till we meet III heay-
en-
A change came over his sad ana
weary face. He clasped her hand in
both of his, and followed her TO the
door, saying as he went
with all have to cross me here. l
am afraid | viii never get there, but
your wish that you will meet me there
has fully paid me for all have done
for you
We we're then alone He drew hI-
chair to the fire, and said speed.
am little alarmed about myself, Just
teel my hand. It was cold and clam
my He pulled of his boots, and put
ting his feet to the fire. the heat MADE
them steam. | said overworK vas pro-
ducing nervousness. NO" said he.
Il am not tired / said. such q
scene as l have just witnessed i enough
to make you nervous" How much
you are mistaken :" said he I have
given mother her son and a wife her
| husband"
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