The National tribune., 1902-08-14

prison." The two Irish women, without
further words, turned away and left IN
double-quick time.
TIE PRESIDENTS KINDNESS OF HEART.
recall an incident that serves to show
the gentle nature of the great President
and what manner Of man he was. There
came to the White House one day an
Irish woman, well advanced in years. She
was accompanied by her little daughter,
who could read and write, and who was
a very bright child.
She waited for the President until he
had finished with the other visitors. She
then came forward with her little daugh-
ter. She was tidy and neat in her per-
son and very modest in manner She
said, Mr. President, my husband is down
sick at the hospital in Fredericksburg.
and L would like to have him discharged,
for yers have my husband and two soEs.
all three, in the army, and l need the
sens or my husband" The President said,
You make an affidavit to that effect and
bring it back to me."s @nr
In the course of a day or SO she return
ed, and the President so arranged it that
she could go down and take the order
for the husbands or sons discharge. She
had been gone probably three weeks. and
the matter had passed out Of my mind,
when one day she returned to the White
House. When she came to speak to the
President her voice was full Of sorrow,
and she was nearly crying. "Mr. Presi-
dent" she said, when l got down there
he was dead. Now yers have two sons
yet. / want to see IL yer won't discharge
one to help me get along, and yers can
have the other one" The President said
to her, as he had done before, You make
an affidavit to that effect, and bring it to
me-" She did SO. After he had arranged
it SO that she was to get one of her sons
back, she stepped up to him and said,
Mr.. President. may God bless you, and
may you live many long years."
After she had left the room and there
was nobody in the office but the Presi-
dent and myself, he said to me, looking
up into my face, Il believe that the old
woman is honest"
One day an artist brought painting of
| the President. which he wanted him to
! see. / went in and said, 'Mr. President,
there is a man out there who has a
piled, Fetch him in" The artist came
| tugging the picture in large, heavy
frame. He put it down and waited for
the President to speak. 1t was consid-
| cred quite big thing for an artist to get
the Presidents opinion of his painting.
| Mr.. Lincoln looked at the picture for
some time without saying anything. Then,
with considerable humor in his eye. he
said to the artist, why, yes, that is a
very good picture of me; and do you
| know whyT' The artist was all worked
| up at the Presidents attitude, and was
so confused he could not reply. We'll,
continued Mr.. Lincoln, ''i'll tell you why
| it is the best picture Of me; it is the ug-
liest." The artist was rather taken back
| for a few moments, but went away per-
fectly satisfied.
Along about o'clock one afternoon
| tn -e were number Of people waiting
o, side to see the President. He looked
NJ. ut me from his desk and said, "Pen.
die, how many people are out there"
replied, 'Mr. President, there are quite
number" ] shall never forget his next
remark. He got up. came over to the
window, looked at the crowd of people
waiting, and then said. Turn them in;
turn them in," just like an old farmer
used to say to me. TON, pull down the
bars and turn in the cows"
AN ISTEMPERATE ARMY OFFICER.
anxious to get into Gen. Hancock's Corps,
then being organized. He told the Presi.
dent he would like to get in this corps,
and left his papers with him. In the
course of a few days he returned and re.
minded Mr.. Lincoln Of the fact Of having
left his application and requested re-
ply. Mr.. Lincoln said to him, "Yes,
have read your papers, but do not find
anything very strong in them"
WHY" said the Major. don't you sec
what Gen. Hancock saidY'
Yes" replied the President, che says
you are a gallant officer"
"What more could you want him to
say?" asked the Major, in surprise.
"Why," replied Mr.. Lincoln; "he does
not say that you are n sober officer"
The man carried signs of dissipation
on his face. He marched out of the Of
fee with his papers under his arm, and
that was the last time l ever saw the
pompous Major.
MIR. LrScoLN's KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE
One day a man with a very swarthy
complexion came in wearing a silk hal
and Prince Albert coat. You would
have taken him at first glance for n min.
lister OF the gospel. He commenced find.
! ing fault with Mr.. Stanton, the great