Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-07-24
STORIES OF LINCOLN.
THE TINY SOLDIER WHO ASSISTED
AT THE PUBLIC LEvEE.

BOY, securing leave of absence, accom-
panied sergeant to public levee that
odd Abe was holding at the White
House. They went early, and when
President Lincoln appeared and the
began they We're not long
n reaching him.
The tall man, almost a giant in phys
Ical proportions, looked down with an
amused smile at the tiny drummer boy,
who appeared hardly 10 years of age.
Grasping the little fellows right hand,
the president suddenly reached out his
left, swung the boy off his feet and
set him gently down on small table
beside him.
"Aha, my little soldier" he said,
you shall help Uncle Abe
review this line today, and if your SUI
perior officer objects, why, I'll prolong
your leave of absencew
Lincoln asked the boy his age, place
Of residence, regiment and where he
was on duty. Then, as some of the
more important officers of the army or
navy, members of congress or of the
executive departments CHANGED to pass
in the line, the president would gravely
introduce his young assistant, with
whom they were required to shake
hands rs well as with himself
When the reception was over, Presi-
dent Lincoln took the boy into his pri-
yate apartments and introduced him to
Mrs. Lincoln. After entertaining him
at luncheon he dismissed him with a
brief note to the commanding officer Of
the hospital where he was then sta
toned telling why the boys leave Of
absence had been extended.
Lincoln's geniality and willingness at
all times to hear OF to tell good story
were conspicuous traits, not always
agreeable to some of his able but wor-
ried and irritable advisers.
On one occasion sergeant had a
squad of men at work unloading sup
plies from an Ohio river steamboat
that in some mysterious manner had
made Its way from the interior to the
coast waters of Virginia. 1t was fiat
bottomed boat, drawing not more than
three feet of water when loaded and
hardly dampening its plank bottom
when light. 1t was propelled by a
horizontal stern wheel, driven by a
small upright engine. Boats of that
type were common on the Ohio, which
runs almost dry at some seasons. They
We're known as "Pittsburgers" and
were tabled to navigate freely in a
heavy dew.
The sergeant's men were hard at
work carrying rations ashore from this
craft when suddenly they stopped and
sent up lusty cheer. A little tuglfke
steamer had pulled up alongside, and
from it stepped tall, awkward man
dressed in rusty black and wearing a
napless silk hat. The sergeant recog-
nized the president and saluted.
"Your boat is well named, sergeant"
said the latter grayely.
The soldier was puzzled. He did not
know that the steamer had name and
said so.
The president took him by the arm
and led him back on the tug. There
the stern Of the Pittsburgh, loomed
above them, and on its dirty white sur
face in furnished gilt letters n yard
long appeared the single word, Mist.
YES" said Lincoln, tits very well
named indeed, sergeant. All those
boats need is mist, and they'll run
anywhere.
"Years ago." he continued, II was at
tending court in Cairo, Ills, when the
Ohio was so low that all the water
there was between its banks was what
had spilled over from the Mississippi
Those 'Pittsburgers' were passing ant
repassing all the time. One night there
came up little shower that raised the
level maybe half inch. One of zen
got out Of the channel, slid ashore
and grounded in the mud right beside
the courthouse.
at was there the next morning, ant
| remarked to a brother attorney thai
that boat was aground to stay. HI
was from Egypt and knew more
about 'Pittsburgers' than 1 did. a,
merely smiled and said, You wait ant
see.'
"There came on another shower tina
afternoon. I heard an engine putting
and looked out of the courthouse win
dow. Maybe you'll think I'm exagger
ating, but there was that boat steam
ing down the road toward the river
and In two minutes she was back il
the Ohio, just as the shower was over.
II expressed my surprise to thu
Judge, but he said that was nothing
If the shower hadn't come up in time
the captain would simply have hired {
boy with sprinkling pot to go ahead
They're great boats, sergeant. Likely
as not this one got here by coming
across country"
President Lincoln repeated this ex
travagant story without the ghost Of (
smile. During Its recital Secretary
Stanton and Generals Halleck an(
Sherman-the last named having ru1
up the day before from his marcel
through the Carolinas-who We're will
the party, had approached the presl
dent. General Sherman smiled broadly
| but Stanton looked annoyed. The pres
ident caught his glance and, with ,
wink at the others, said, "But mayb'
you've heard this before, Stanton"
Every likely / have" the secretar.
grlmly responded, "but would sug
gest, Mr.. President, that General Gran
is awaiting u.s."
The CLEAN of amusement left tn
kindly mans eyes. lie gravely turned
and shook hands with the sergeant ant
then strobe after his companions al
they made their way ashore.-Roe L
Hendrlck In Youths Companion.
STANDARD TIME.
Re Ascertain and PromuIgate 1t Ii ,
Costly Task.
1 "What time Is it7' Few question:
are more common than this, and We
each day the United States government
i To, IN, rr{,t =