The National tribune., 1900-05-31

| pSSSlOil, lIillCOll sad. L nat reminds me
OF two boys in Illinois who took a short
| cut across an orchard, and did not become
aware OF the presence of a vicious dog until
1t was too late to reach either fence. One
was spry enough to escape the attack by
climbing a tree; but the other started around
the tree, with the dog in hot pursuit. until
by making smaller circles than it was
possible for his pursuer 10 make. he gained
sufficiently to grasp the dog s tail, and held
| with desperate grip until nearly exhausted.
when he hailed his companion and called
to him to come down. What for? said the
boy. Il want you to help me let this dog
GO If | could only let them GO" said the
President, in conclusion; "but that is the
trouble. am compelled to hold on to them
and make them stay"
A BREAKING HEART BENEATH THE
SMILES.
1t is related that on the morning after the
battle at Fredericksburg. Hon. |. n. Arnold
then member of Congress from Illinois
called on the President, and to his amaze
Inent found him engaged in reading
"Artemus Ward" Making no reference
to that which occupied the universal
thought, he asked Mr.. Arnold to sit down
while he read to him Artemus,' description
of his visit to the Shakers. Shocked al
this proposition, Mr.. Arnold said: Mr.
President, is it possible that with the whole
land bowed in sorrow and covered with a
pail in the presence of yesterdays fearful
reverse. you can indulge in such levity?'
Throwing down the book, with the tears
streaming down his cheeks, and his huge
frame quivering with emotion, Mr.. Lincoln
answered: "Mr. Arnold, if | could not
get momentary respite from the crushing
burden am constantly carrying, my heart
would breakw
Hon. j. NJ. Ashley called on Mr.. Lincoln
Just after news of fresh disaster to our
armies. The President commenced some
trifiing story, to which the Congressman
was in no mood to listen. Rising to his
feet, he said: "Mr. President, / did not
come here this morning to hear stories;
it is too serious time" The smile instant
ly faded from Lincoln's face, as he said:
ASHLEY, sit down. l respect you as an
honest, sincere man. You cannot be more
anxious than | have been constantly since
the beginning of the war; and / say to you
now, that were it not for this occasional
vent, | should die"
LINCoLN'S DEEPLY RELIGIOUS NATURE.
A lady who was a member of the Presi-
dents household, says that once, while
great battle was in progress, he came
into the room where she was, looking very
worn and haggard, and saying that he
was so anxious that he could not eat The
posi- bility-o OF defeat depressed him greatly;
but the lady told him he must trust, and
LHdt nc CCulu dI ledSt pray. IS, SdlQ lie,
and taking up Bible, he started for his
room. Could all the people OF. the Nation
have overheard the earnest petition that
went up from that inner chamber, says the
lady by whom the incident is related, they
would have fallen upon their knees with
fearful and reverential sympathy
Abiding to this phase of Mr.. Lincoln's
character, and to his trials and sufferings,
Mrs. III. B. Stowe says: Among the
many accusations which in hours Of ILL
luck have been thrown upon Mr.. Lincoln,
it is remarkable that he has never been
called self-seeking or selfish. When we
were troubled and sat in darkness, and
looked doubtfully towards the Presidential
chair, it was never that we doubted the good
will of our pilot-only the clearness of his
eyesight. But Almighty God has granted
to him that clearneSS of vision which he
gives to the true-hearted, and enabled him
to set his honest foot in that promised land
OF freedom which is to be the patrimony
OF all men, black and white; and from
henceforth nations shall rise up to call him
blessed. We believe he has never made
any religious profession, but we see evil
dence that IN passing through this dreadful
national crisis he has been forced by the
very anguish of the struggle to look up
ward, where any rational creature must
look for support. No man in this agony
has suffered more and deeper, albeit with
a dry, weary, patient pain, that seemed
to some like insensibility. Whichever
way it ends he said to the writer, 4 have
the impression that sha'n't last long after
it's over After the dreadful repulse of
Fredericksburg, his heavy eyes and worn
and weary air told how our reverses wore
upon him; and yet there was never-failing
fund of patience at bottom that sometimes
rose to the surface in some droll, quaint |
saying, or story, that forced laugh even
from himself. There have been times,
with many, of impetuous impatience, when |
our nationial ship seemed to lie water |
logged, and we have called aloud for |
deliverer of another fashion,-a brilliant |
General, a dashing, fearless salesman, a |
man who could dare and do, who would |
stake all on die, and win or lose by a |
brilliant coup de main. 1t may comfort |
our minds that since He who ruleth in the
work, that perhaps He saw in the man
whom He did send some peculiar fitness
and aptitude therefor"
THE CHANGES WROUGHT BY GRIEF.
Th' care and sorrow which Mr.. Lincoln
was called upon to endure in his high
position wrote their melancholy marks
on each feature Of his face. He was a
changed man. A pathetic picture of his
appearance at this time is given by his old
riend, Noah Brooks, whose description of
lin as he appeared in 1855, on the stump
n Ogle County, has already been given
place In these pages. Il did not see
Lincoln again." says Mr.. Brooks, until
1862, when 1 went to Washington as a
newspaper correspondent from California.
When Lincoln was on the stump, in 1856,
lis face, though naturally sallow, had a
osy flush. His eyes were full and bright,
md he was in the fullness of health and
igor. Ishall never forget the shock which
ny first sight Of him gave me in 1862. L
ook it for granted that he had forgotten the
voung man whom he had met five or six
INES during the Fremont and Dayton
ampaign. He was now President, and
vas, like Brutus, 'vexed with many cares
The change which a few years had made
vas simply appalling. His whiskers had
,rown, and had given additional cadaver-
llsness to his face, as it appeared to me-
The light seemed to have gone out Of his
yes, which were sunken far under his
normous brows. But there was over his
yhole face an expression Of sadness, and
far-away look in the eyes, which were
tterly unlike the Lincoln Of other days.
was intensely disappointed. l confess
hat was so pained that could almost
ave shed tears"
Go be oontinued.)
A. D. Stout, Co. F, 9th W. Va, Richland
av,kN- L