Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-01-03
Two Stories of Lincoln.

How he Could not Get "A Hearing at the
Pension Office, and How He Saved the
Life OF an Aged Minister Whom He
Had known In Former Years.
Stories of Lincoln's gentle, generous
deeds are countless, but the following in
cidents, related by persons who were par
ties to them, especially merit preservation.
The first is told by Gen. Schuyler Hamil-
ton.
1t was blistering day in the hot mid
summer Of 1861, fortnight before the first
shock of arms at Bull Run. The Wash
ington streets, ankle deep in dust, re-
sounded with the tramp of arriving regi-
ments and batteries hurried forward by the
loyal governors for the coming conflict,
and over all hung palpable, ominous fore
boding, felt nowhere more keenly than at
the headquarters of the army, where then
held the position of military secretary to
Gen. Scott with the rank of lieutenant
colonel. About o'clock in the afternoon
of the day in question the doorway was
darkened by the shadow Of a tall, gaunt
form, and President Lincoln entered the
office of the general-n-chief. He wore a
long linen buster soiled by dust and stain
ed with sweat, his vest was unbuttoned,
his pantaloons hung limp about his long,
angular legs, and thick coating of dust
covered his shoes. All in all he looked
the very picture of WEAKNESS and disgust
Without waiting for Gen. Scott TO rise TO
welcome him, he sank YEARLY into the first
chair to which he came, and, taking of his
battered SLOUGH hat, began wiping his face
with huge bandanna handkerchief. Gen.
Scott meanwhile had gained his feet and
bowed courteously to the chief magistrate,
but his fine old face showed plainly his
surprise if not dismay at the president
unexpected appearance.
''Sit down, general, sit down." said
President Lincoln kindly, as he wiped the
dust and moisture from his face. at is
too hot TO stand on ceremony, l have only
dropped in to tell you that have learned
something new today"
"What is that, Mr.. President?n asked
Gen. Scott, his composuTe gradually re-
turning.
That it is great thing to be an office
HOLDER President Lincoln went on. "Since
8 o'clock this morning have been trying
my best to get an audience with some clerk
in the pension Office, but without success.
have been up stairs and down stairs, from
the ground floor to the attic half dozen
times, and l am tagged out"
Pardon me, Mr.. President" Gen. Scott
broke in, with gentle wave OF the hand,
"but it is rather an uncommon thing for
the president of the United States TO be-
come solicitor of pensions. When you
have any business of that kind demanding
attention send it TO me, and Col. Hamilton
will attend to it without delay"
81 am sure that the claim is Just one,"
the president continued, without noticing
the generals interruption, "for l have
gone over the papers In the case with care
Here he drew bulky package of papers
from one of his pockets and, adjusting his
steel-rimmed spectacles, went over them
one by one. "You see, general, the ap.
plicant is the widow of corporal of infan.
try who wasl killed by the Indians some %
years ago. She would have had her money
long ago, but nobody seems to have taken
any interest in the case. She has been
haunting the White House almost daily
for weeks, until, between you and me, | am
afraid that Mrs. Lincoln is getting a trihe
jealous. l am resolved to wind the matter
up one way or another today, and have
promised the poor woman an answer at 4
O'Clock. She is waiting over at the White
House now. Between the two of them.
am afraid to 60 home without having fin,
lshed the job" and the presidents eve.
twinkled merrily.
had been an interested listener to thi.
conversation, and when Gen. Scott called
Colonel Hamilton" was instantly at hi,
elbow.
How long do you think it would take
you, colonel, to get this case through tho
pension office" asked the president.
III should be done in half an hour. Mr.
President" l replied, as l glanced over tn,
papers to see if they were in proper form
wait here" l added, "and / will return
IN twenty minutes, or, if you wish it,
VIII take the certificate to you at the Whit,
House and save you that much time.i
mo, no, my son." Mr. Lincoln brok,
In. bring them back here and I will
wait for you" wa
AT That time the pension Office was 10
Gated IN seventeenth street, a little way from
the war department, and five minutes afte
leaving the president was in the office q
the commissioner l had not arrived ,
moment too soon, for the officials am
clerks were cleaning their desks and pre
pairing TO quit work for the day. Tn,
commissioner politely asked what he conI,
do for me. '''''
pa you see tall, dark complexione,
gentleman here today?" l asked. an,
wore linen buster and SLOUGH hat an,
was interested in the pension of a wona,
who lost her husband in the Seminol
war" "iii'oi
"Oh, yes, remember the man, Tn,
commissioner replied carelessly. WHe sal,
he was lawyer from the West and ha'
been bothefing us all day,''
"Well'" said dryly, ''you have 90