The National tribune., 1902-08-14

stepped quickly into the private part OF
the house. through what was later the Cab
met Room, but which was then used as
waiting room, and soon reappeared with
his Bible in his hand. He then sat down
and read to ME that identical passage he
had quoted to the philanthropist, and sure
enough it was found to be in tie Both
chapter of Proverbs, and at the 10th
verse.
He was not willing for me to be in
doubt as to his correct quotation Of BIZ
bic passage, but must needs take his
precious time to prove himself right in
my eyes. How smple-hearted, yet how
truly great a man he was.
On one dark Sunday, to the best of my
recollection, in the month of December.
Mr.. Lincoln started with me over to the
old War Department. He had lately
been very much worried about affairs of
state, and seemed this day to be lost i'll
thought. We went in the east door, and
then had to climb a stairway. The steps
were not exactly winding, but had cou-
pie of landings, and led to Secretary STAN
tons door. On the way from the White
House to the old War Department were
great many large, fine trees which were
boxed, and l had often thought how easy
it would be for man to secrete himself
behind one of them, wait for the Presi-
dent to pass that way, then jump out and
kill him before the guard could prevent,
though he might be ever so watchful.
When we reached Secretary StantOn's s
Office / stayed outside the door while Mr..
Lincoln went in to see him. He remained
long time. When he was ready to re-
turn and came out of the door, / was by
his side in q minute. We had walked
down to the first landing, about halfway
down the stairs, when We met man
coming up. He was thick-set and wore
a gray suit of clothes. The man scrnti-
nized Mr.. Lincoln very closely, and | had
my eye on him all the time. The Presi-
dent did something very unusual for him
he looked at the man very steadily, as
if trying to fix his features on his mem
DRY. Before the man reached the upper
landing he turned and took another look
at the President, and again Mr.. Lincoln
and | both looked at him. After we got
out Of the building, where there was no
one near us, the President said to me,
Last night l received letter from New
York stating that there would be man
here who would attempt to take my life.
In that letter was a description of the
man who was said to be anxious to
kill me. His size and the kind of clothes
he would wear when he would make the
attempt were carefully described. The
man we just passed agreed exactly with
| the description given me in that letter.
On one occasion when quite a number Of
people were shown into the President =
Office, there sas among them n young girl,
rather timid looking, as though she had
come from one Of the small towns or q
rural district. There was evidently some
thing weighing very heavily on her heart.
l supposed her brother, father, or one of
her kindred who was probably in the
army, had been ordered shot, or that she
had some other trouble which bore very
heavily upon her. When she got before
the President, poor thing, she was SO en-
| barrassed that she could not open her
mouth. The President saw the situation,
and, in mis- kind, fatherly way, said, Now
| take seat just over there, and after a
little while l will see you," and presently
| did so.
TAD LINCOLN.
On one occasion there was no one in
the room but little Tad Lincoln and my
self. An old-fashioned settee and some
| rickety chairs constituted the furniture.
Those were the days when we were lot
thinking about furniture. Little Tad
piled two or three chairs upon the set
tee and secreted himself behind it. Just
| as the President came in, Tad pitched
the chairs and settee over into the middle
OF the floor in front of his father. The
President rOared out laughing. Some
| times when we would come from the War
Department and pass through the same
little room, little Tad would be there, and
he would put his great arms around the
little fellow and tug him upstairs.
There was company OF 'Bucktails''
down in the White Lot, south OF the
Presidents mansion. 1t was a rough, rug.
sed looking place then. and these fellows
were encamped there. Little Tad was
! very fond OF them. He would 20 down
and mix among the camp fires when the
men were cooking their grub, and get his
face all black with SCOT and come home
dirty. His mother would scold him, and
have him washed and dressed, and he
would come down where was to talk.
| Tom Pen, would like to 60 to the the
ater tonight. Won't you go upstairs and
ask mamma il I can go" l would 20 to
her and say, Mrs. Lincoln, won't you let
| Tad go to the theatcr to-night?" And
she would say, mo-" Then would
plead with her and say, snow, Mrs. Lin
coin. let him CO." "Will you 60 with him,
II.