The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-18
STORIES OF LINC0l-N
a Batch Of Anecdotes Illustrative Of
the War President.
DEATH Of HIS FIRST SWEETHEART.
Pathetic Ending OF Ills First Love
Hunter Giah to Sec :, sInn Who
ssad Nothing TO Sny-The Last
Pardon Granted

III the little town Of Fairfield, Iowa,
lives Mrs William Prewitt who is q
sister TO Nm Rutledge, the early love
or Abraham i.incoln In speaking re- 4
Gently OF the youth Of the great Presi-
dent, Mrs. Prewitt said: II was only
a little girl When Ann died, but I re-
member seeing her and Mr.. Lincoln to-
Sether much OF the time. She and Abe
had grammar in common and took
turns in studying it. After AIMS death
ne returned the book to our family and
we still have it. Her death was caused
ny brain fever and 1 remember the
last time Mr.. Lincoln saw her. She had
been deliriouS but toward the end be-
came retional and asked to sec her low
en-. talked with her for a long time
alone and when he came out Of the room
| remember that he looked broken
hearted. At that time we never thought
OF Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer, though
ne may have been studying in secret
He was O. great story teller even then
and was a universal favorite.
When at the Hampton Roads confer
ence, Feb. g 1865, Mr. Hunter, the Con-
federate Secretary OF State, referred to
the correspondence between Charles T.
and parliament as a precedent For a ne
EQUATION between constitutional rul-
er ana rebels, Lincol replied:
Upon matters Of history must refer
You TO MT. Seward for he is posted on
such things, and don't profess to be:
put my only distinct recollection Of the
matter Is that Charles lost his head"
A clergyman Of some prominence was
one day presented to Lincoln, who gave
the visitor chair and said with an air
OF patient waiting:
I am now ready to hear what you
have to say"
"Oh. bless you. sir" replied the clergy
ut,
merely called to pay my respects"
My dear, sir" said the President, ris-
ing promptly, his face showing instant
relief and with both hands grasping that
OF his visitor; II am very glad 10 see YOU
indeed It Is a relief to find n clergy
ter, who has nothing to say. I thought
you had come to preach to me-"
On one fierce winter night during the
war Mr.. Lincoln emerged from the front
door OF the White House, his lank figure
bent over as lie drew tightly over his
shoulders the shawl which he employed
Ior such protection, for he was OH his
way to the War Department at the
west corner Of the grounds where In
times OF battle he was wont to get the
midnight dispatches from the field As
the olast struck him he thought OF the
nunbness of the pacing sentry, and
turning to him, said:
Young man, you've got q cold iob
tonight; step inside and stand guard
here" $3.50 =
MY orders keep me out here" the
soldier replied.
Yes" said the President in his argu-
mentatlve tone, "but Your duty can BE
performed just as we'll inside rs out
mere and youll oblige me by going in"
u have been stationed outside" the
sodier answered, and resumed his beat
Hold on there!" said Mr.. Lincoln. as
! ne turned back again. ut occurs to ME
that am communicating chief Of the
army and I order You to so inside"
The last story told by Lincoln was
Drawn out by q circumstance which oc-
CURED just before the Interview with
Messrs ColfnN and Ashmum on the
evening OF his assassination. Marshal
Lamon of Washington had called on
him with On application for The pardon
or soldier After brief hearing tho
crescent took the application and when
aoout 10 write his name on the back
OF II looked up and said:
Lanon you have heard how The, Pat
asohians eat oysters? They open them
ana throw the shells out of the window
untll the pile gets higher than the houso
ana then they move" adding. IT feel
louaE ike commencing d new pile OF
right here" e'i ~