Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-07-15
lIaooIss Klndasss 10 children.

1 L. u -
was only a child, but had heard
80 much of Abraham Lincoln that
had sort Of vague idea that he wai
not a mere man, but some kind of /
divinity, and naturally, i wal
anxious to see him. j was iherefors
permitted to accompany my father
who was then serving as chief clerk ol
the House of Representatives, to one
of the Presidential receptions.
kuew nothing of public functions al
that tune, and had some sort of no
tion that we would only be permitted
Ito gaze upon the great man from 8
| distance. When we came to him in
the line, however, and he had greeted
l.my father with a few pleasan.
words and we were about to pass
on, the President said ) sWai,
one moment i haven't shaken hands
with the little man. He took me
by the hand, patted me on the head
said few kind words to me and we
passed on. f
"Later in the same winter / me,
him again at my own home in Penn
sylvania. AT the beginning of tn,
war, as a mere child, | was fired viii
patriotic spirit and went about the
streets of my native village making
speeches. / did not then know wha,
the war meant, but / knew sour side
was right, simply because it was sou,
side and my appearance on the stree,
was signal to get me up on store
goods box to make a speech. MY
father had related this to lincoln
and asked permission to bring me tt
the White House. This was granted
and one morning we drove there and
were received by the President alone
AS he arose from his chair to greet
us, | remember thinking he was th,
longest and most ungainly man had
ever seen. When l was presented
to him he leaned down, and, taking
me by the hand, said $50 this is the
little patriot. Ah, Mr.. Lloyd, in
these times the boy is indeed father
to the man. wish all the men in
the North had his spirit
Gas he took me on his knee and
talked to me of the war, and as
looked into his face and saw the
deep set, kindly looking eyes, the
firm mouth, about which a smile
lowered, and listened to his gentle
voice, | began to think he was posi-
lively handsome. AS | look back
upon the scene it brings many tender
memories of the man, who amid all
the cares and burdens of his position,
and with the fate of mighty nation
weighing upon his heart, could find
time enough to say few kind words
to small boy like myself.
"The following incident is another
illustration of his kindness of heart,
Father tells the story as follows: GA
young boy who had served with dis.
tinction in a naval engagement on
board the gunboat Ottawa, and in
another as captains messenger, was
recommended to cadetship in the
Naval Academy at Annapolis. This
appointment President Lincoln was
glad to make, and the lad was directed
to report for examination in July.
Just as he was about to start from
home it was discovered that he could
not be admitted, because he had n OF
reached the required age of Ia, his
birthday occurring the following Sep.
tember. The boy was greatly disap-
pointed, and wept bitterly, fearing
that he would not be able to 90 at all.
lie was told, however, that he would
be taken to see the President, who
would make it all right Some time
afterward he was taken to the White
House and presented to the President,
10 whom he made graceful bow.
The difficulty was explained and the
President said: 'Why, bless me, is
that the boy who did SO gallantly in
those two battlesp Why, 1 feel as
though ! should take off my hat to
him and not he to me- The President
took the papers, and as soon as he
learned that postponement until
September would suffice, made the
order that the lad should report in
that month. Then putting bis hand
on the lads shoulder, he said (: Nov,
my boy, go home and enjoy yourself
for the next three months, for it's
about the last holiday you will get.
The little fellow bowed himself out, 4,
feeling that the Prsident, though a
great man, was at the same time a
most kindly one.
"These simple characteristics Of
this large and many-sided man were
what endeared him TO all with whom
he came in contact and while we ad-
mired the intellect and ability of the
statesman, we loved the man."
N. - T @ REA,
Bears the ~ The Kind You Have Always Bought