The National tribune., 1900-07-12
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
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to kill me, he will do it. If / wore shirt
of mail and kept myself surrounded by
| body guard, it would be all the same.
| There are q thousand ways of getting at a
| man if it is desirable that he should be
killed. Besides, in this case, il seems to
me, the man who would succeed me would
be just as Objectionable to my enemies-if
7 have any" One dark night, as he was
going out with a friend, he took along
heavy cane, rcmarking good-humorcdly
that mother" (Alrs. Lincoln) had got
| notion into her dead that shall be assassi-
! mated, and to please her takea a cane when
| go over to the War Department az nights
| when / don't forget it"
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
1t is probable that the attempts upon
| the life of President Lincoln were more
numerous than even yet is generally
known An incident of very thrilling
character, which might easily have in
volved Il shocking tragedy, is related by
Mr.. John W. Nichols, who, from the Sum
mer OF 1862 until 1865, was one of the Presi-
dents body-guard. "One night, about the
middle of August 1854" says Mr.. Nichols,
| 81 was doing sentinel duty at the large
gate through which entrance was had to
the grounds of the Soldiers Home, near
| Washington, where Mr.. Lincoln spent
1 L
| heard rifie-shot in the direction OF the
city, and shortly afterwards | heard ap-
preaching hoof- beats. In two or three
minutes horse came dashing up, and
recognized the belated President. The
horse he rode was a very spirited one, and
was Mr.. Lincoln's favorite saddle-horse
AS horse and rider approached The gate,
| | noticed that the President was bare
headed. AS soon as had assisted him in
checking his steed. the President said to
me: He came pretty near getting away
with me- didn't he? He got the bit in his
teeth before could draw the rein | then
asked him where his hat was; and he replied
! that somebody had fired gun off down at
the foot of the HILL and that his horse had
| become scared and had jerked his hat off.
| led the animal to the Executive Cottage,
and the President dismounted and entered
Thinking the affair rather strange, Cor
poral and myself started off 10 investigate.
| When we reached the place whence the
sound Of the shot had come-a point where
the driveway intersects with the main
road-we found the Presidents hat. it was
| a plain silk hat. and upon examination we
discovered bullet-hole through the crown.
We searched the locality thoroughly, but
without avail. Next day | gave MIR. Lin
coin his hat, and called his attention to the
builet-hole. He made some humorous
remark, to the effect that it was made by
some foolish marksman, and was not
intended for him; but added that he wished
nothing said about the matter. We all
felt confident it was an attempt TO kill the
President, and after that he never rode
| alone"
| LNCOLN'S FORCED SERENITY.
Amidst his terrible trials, Mr.. Lincoln
often exhibited a forced and sorrowfuI
serenity, which many IniStooiI for apathy
Even his oldest and best friends were some
times deceived in this way Hon. Leonard
SWEET relates touching instance: ''ln the
Summer ot 1864, when Grant was pounding
his way toward Richmond in those terrible
battles of the Wilderness, myself and wife
were in Washington trying to do what
little two persons could do toward alleyiat-
ing the suiferiHgs Of the manned and dying
in the vast hospitals of that city. We
tried to he thorough and systematic. We
took the first man we came to, brought
him delicacieS, wrote letters to his friends
or did for him whatever else he most needed !;
then the next man. and so on. Day after
day cars and ambuanceS were coming in,
laden with untold sorrows for thousands
of homes. After weeks of this kind of
experience my feelings became so wrought
up that j said to myself: The country
cannot long endure this sacrifice. In
mercy, both to North and South, every
man capable of bearing arms must be
hurried forward to Grant to end this fearful
slaughter at the earliest possible moment.
went TO President Lincoln at the White
House and poured myself out 10 him. He
was sitting by an open window; and as
paused, 4 bird lit upon a branch Just out
! side and was twlttering and singing most
Ioyously. Mr.. Lincoln, initiating the
, bird, said: 'Fwcct, tweat, tweet; isn't he
singing sweety?' ] felt as if my legs had
been cut from under me. | rose, took my
hat, and said: Il see the country is safer
than ! thought AS ! moved toward
, the door, Mr.. Lincoln called out, in his
hearty, familiar way: Here, SWEET, come
back and sit down. Then he went on:
1T is impossible for "A man in my position
, not to have thought Of all those things.
! Weeks ago every man capable of bearing
! arms was ordered TO the 'front.' and every
! thing you have suggested has been done.''
BURDENS TOO GREAT TO BE ENDURED.
A WELL-NIGH BROKEN HEART.
, The burdens borne by Mr.. Lincoln seem
ed never to tell SO seriously on his strength
and vitality as in this terrible battle-sum-
I, mer Of 1864. For him there had been nc
respite, no holiday. Others left the heat
and dust of Washington, for rest and
: recuperation; but he remained at his post
The demands upon him were incessant;
J one anxiety and excitement followed
another, and under the relentless strain
even his sturdy strength began to give
, way. Il sometimes fancy" said he, with
pathetic good-humor, that every one of
J the numerous grist ground through here
: daily, from Senator seeking a war with
FRANCE down TO poor woman after place
IN the Treasury Department, darted at me
with thumb and finger, picked out their
especial piece OF my vitality, and carried
II on. When l get through with such a