The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-03-07
LINCOLN AND CHILDREN.
Instances of the Kindness of the War
President to Little Men.
New York Trihune1

New York TTibunel
Thomas W. Lloyd of Montoursville.
Pa, relates the following interesting rem
iniscences of Abraham Lincoln:
L saw Abraham Lincoln for the first
time in the winter of 1863. at one of his
public receptions. ! was only child but
had heard S.. much of Abraham Lincoln
that l had a sort of vague idea that he
was not mere man. but some kind of
DIVINITY to be worshiped from afar, and
naturally L was anxious to see him. l
was therefore permitted to accompany
my father who was then serving as chief
clerk of the house of representatives.. to
one of the presidential receptions l
knew nothing of public functions at that
tIlne, ana had some sort of notion that
we would only be permitted to gaze upon
the great man from a distance When we
came to him in the line, however and he
mad greeted my father with a few pleas
the president said: Wait one moment,
l haven't shaken hands with the little
man. He took me by the hand, patted
me on the head said a few kind words
10 me and We passed on.
Later in the same winter l met him
again at my own home in Pennsylvania.
At the beginning of the war. as a mere
child. l was fired with patriotic spirit and
went about the streets of my native viii
lage making speeches, urging every man
to enlist. [ did not then know what the
right, simply because it was our side
and my appearance on the street was Il
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 to the White house. This was
granted and one morning we drove there
and were received by the president alone.
AS he rose from his chair to greet me |
remember thinking he was the longest,
ugliest and most ungainly man [ had ever
seen. When | was presented to him he
leaned down, and, taking me by the hand,
said: SO this is the little patriot All,
Mr.. Lloyd, in these times the boy is in
deed father to the man. wish all the
men in the north had his spirit
LAS he took me on his knee and talked
to me of the war, all the ugliness was
forgotten, and as looked into his face
and saw the deep set. kindly eyes the
firm mouth, about which smile lowered.
and listened to his gentle voice I began
to think he was positively 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 a few kind words to a
little child.
kindness of heart is the following Incl
dent which have heard my father relate:
A Dung boy who Lad served with dtstinc-
ton in naval engagement on board the
gunboat Ottawa. and in another as cap
tains messenger, was recommended to
cadetship at the naval academy at An
napolis. This appointment President Lin
coin 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 not reached the
REQUIRED age of IA, his birthday occurring
in the following September. The boy was
greatly disappointed and wept bitterly in
the fear that he would not be able to go
at all. He was told. however. that he
would be taken to see the president. who
would make it all right. Some time aft
erward he was taken to the White House
and presented to the president. to whom
he made a graceful bow. The difficulty
was explained, and the president said:
Why. bless me- is that the boy who did
so CALAMITY in those two battles? Why,
| feel as though / should take off my hat
to him and not he to me. The presi-
dent took the papers, and as soon as he
learned that a postponement until Sep
TENDER would suffice made the order that
the lad should report in that month. Then.
putting his hand on the lads shoulder he
said: Now. my boy. go home and have
good fun during the two months, for they
are about the last holidays you will get.
The little fellow bowed himself out. feel
ing that the president, though d great
man. was at the same time kindly one.
ct was these simple characteristics of
this large and many-sided man that en-
deared him to all with whom he came in
contact. and while we admire the intel
lect and ability of the statesman we love
he