The San Francisco call., 1897-08-28
JOkED WHILE HE GRIEVED.
The Late Gov. Curtin's Reminis cence es of
Lincoln in War Times.

The Late Gov. Curtin's Rem mnis cences of
Lincoln in War Times.
The Independent.
We had been talking of the war, and the
Governor broke out suddenly and said:
at was just after the battle of Fredericks-
burg. l had been down there and came up TO
Washington by the night boat l arrived at
the foot of Seventh street little after mid
night. Just as landed a messenger met me,
saying that the President wanted to see me at
once at the White House. ! took a carriage
and went oirt city there. sent in my card,
and word came back that the President had
retired, but that he requested me to come up
TO his bedroom. found him in bed, and as
entered the room he reached out his hand,
shook hands, and said:
"'Well. Governor; so you have been down to
the battlefield?
Battlefield? S'aughter-pen! 1t was ter
rib.e slaughter, Mr.. Lincoln l was sorry in a
began to wiring his hands, and took on with
terrible agony OF spirit. He sat up on the
edge OF the bed and moaned and groaned in
anguish. He walked the floor of the room
and uttered exclamaiions OF grief, one after
another, and remember his saying over and
over again: what has God put me in this
place for? l tried to comfort him, and could
hardly forgive myself for not being more care
fui and considerate OF his feelings.
"By and by got i'm into bed again, and
alter long while succeeded in quieting him
then thought il would do to leave him. This
was the story he told:
" Governor, Pll tell you just how l feel
There was farmer in Illinois who had fine
apple orchard; and there was one yonng tree
that was bearing its first fruit, and he was
anxious to know what sort of fruit it was.
Well, he had two boys, little imps, up to all
sorts of mischief and one day they were in
the orchard sampling th is fruit for themselves.
The man had also, wild boar, i'm ported, and
this boar was in the orchard Seeing the boys
ha ~ % Sa w m
ing, and climbed up into an apple tree; but
the boar was too quick for the other shaver,
and was after him as he lodged around one of
the apple trees. First the boar would snap at
the boys retreating legs, and then the boy.
spurred on, would grab the boar's TAIL and SO
help himself TO keep out of the reach of the
boar's head. By and by he sang out to his
brother:
''.''Bill, Bill. come down here-come
down.
What for?" says Bill.
"' ITO help me let this boar go,'' says Jim.
"'Now, Governor, I am in the position of
Jim, and wish somebody would help me let
this boar co.
Speaking of the dedication of the National
Cemetery at Gettysburg and Mr.. Lincoln's
famous address delivered on that occasion,
November 10, 1868, Governor Curtin began by
saying that there had been much discussion
as to how and when that address was written,
and he continued:
II can tell you all about that. OF course,
was there, and the President and his Cabinet
had arrived aEd were at the motel. soon after
his arrival, as we were sitting around in the
parlor, Mr.. Lincoln looked thoughtful for
moment or Two, and then said: L believe,
gentlemen the commi ttee are expecting me
TO say something here to-day. Ii you will eX-
cuse me will go into this room here and pre-
pare it, After time he re turned, hold ing in
his hand large yellow Government envelope,
on which he had written his address.
"'Here, gentlemen he said, Il want to read
this to you to see If it Will do; and, sitting
down, he read 1t to us, and then said: Now
for your criticisms Will it do? What do you
say?.
Several spoke in favor of ii, and one or two
commended it in strong terms. WELL says
the President, haven't you any criticisms? :?
What do you say, Seward?
'Mr. Seward made one or two suggestions
bearing on some slight verbal changes,
which, believe, Mr.. Lincoln incorporated
"'Now, if you will allow me. gentlemen,
continued the President, 4 will copy this
off and again withdrew and made copy OF
the address"