Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-07

lac could kill him almost any hour o.
the day or night. The doors are oper
at all hours, very late at night.
his secretaries as late as 9 O'Clock
without being challenged by soul"
What must I call him? Must say
Your Excellency'?"
by ne means-he hates titles anc
forms. You should say Mr.. President
In addressing him. But you will please
him best II, in your sweet, homelike
way, you will just call him by his
name. You can rely on his sympathy
Read this letter Of his to widow.
brought 1t to show you"
She handed Mrs. Cameron newspa-
per clipping on which was printed Mr.
Lincbln's letter to Mrs. Bixby, Of Bos.
ton, who had lost five sons In the war
over and over she read its sentence:
until they echoed as solemn music ir
her soul:
81 feel how weak and fruitless must
be any words Of mine which should at.
tempt to beguile you from the grief OF
loss so overwhelming. But I cannot
refrain from rendering you the conso-
of the republic they died to save.
pray that our Heavenly Father may
assuage the anguish Of your bereave-
ment, and leave you only the cherished
memory Of the loved and lost, and the
solemn pride that must be yours tC
have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the
altar of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respect
fully, ABRAHAM LINCOLN"
"And the president paused amid a
thousand cares to write that letter to
q broken-hearted woman?" the mother
asked.
Yes"
"Then he is good down to the last
secret depths of great heart! Only a
Christian father could have written
that letter. shall not be afraid to
speak to him. And they told me he was
an infidel!"
Elsie led her by a private way past
the crowd and into the office Of Major
Hay, the presidents private secretary
A word from the Great Commoner's
daughter admitted them at once to the
presidents room.
Just take a seat on one side, Miss
Elsie" said Major Hay; watch your
first opportunity and introduce your
friend"
On entering the room, Mrs. Cameron
could not see the president, who was
seated at his desk surrounded by three
men in deep consultation over mass
Of official documents.
She looked about the room nervously
and felt reassured by It's plain aspect
It was a medium sized, 'office-like
place with no signs Of elegance or GER
emony. Mr. Lincoln was seated In an
chair beside high writing-desk
and table combined. She noticed that
hi 10 nd =
ed on a piece of simple straw mating.
Around the room were sofas and chairs
covered with green worsted.
When the group about the chair
parted a moment, she caught the first
glimpse Of the man who held her life In
the hollow Of his hand. She studied
him with breathless interest. His back
was still turned. Even while seated,
she saw that he was a man Of enor-
nous stature. fully six feet four inches
tall legs and arms abnormally long,
and huge broad shoulders slightly
stopped. His head was powerful and
crowned with a mass Of heavy brown
hair, tinged with silver.
He turned his head slightly and She
saw his profile set in its short dark
half covered by unmanageable hair
his face marked with deep-cut lines OF
life and death, with great hollows In
the cheeks and under the eyes. In the
lines which marked the corners OF his
mouth she could see firmness, and his
beetling brows and unusually heavy
eyelids looked stern and formidable
Her heart sank. She looked again and
saw goodness, tenderness, sorrow, can
ny shrewdness, and a strange lurking
smiIe all haunting his mouth and eye.
Suddenly he threw himself forward
in his chair, wheeled and faced one OF
his tormentors with a curious ano
comical expression. With one nano
patting the other, and a funny look
overspreading his face. he said:
MY friend, let me tell you some
thing"
The man again stepped before him
and she could hear nothing. When the
story finished, the man tried TO laugh
It died in a feeble effort. But the
president laughed heartily, laughed all
over, and laughed his visitors out OF
the room.
Mrs. Cameron turned toward Elsie
with a mute look Of appeal to give her
this moment of good humor In which
to plead her cause, but before she
could move a man Of military bearing
suddenly stepped before the president
He began to speak, but seeing the
look of sternsdecision In MIR. Lincolns
face, turned abruptly and said:
Mr. President, I see you are FULLY
determined not to do me justice"
Mr.. Lincoln slightly compressed MS
lips. rose quietly. seized the INTRUDER
by the arm, and led him toward the
door.
This Is the third time you have
=
ing that reverse the just sentence OF
a court-mar;ial, dismissing you from
the service. l told you my decision
was carefully made and was final
Now l give your fair warning never
to show yourself in this room again
1 can bear censure. but I will not en-
dure INSULT"
In whining tones, the man begged for
his papers he had dropped.
"Begone, sir" said the president, as
he thrust him through the door. your
papers will be sent to you
The poor mother trembled at this
startling act and sank back limp IN
her seat.
With quick, swinging stride the pres
ident walked back to his desk, accom-
panied by Major Hay and a young
German girl, whose simple dress told
lndl SIle WAS IIolii VIC "SSSS''. -
He handed the secretary an omclaI
paper.
"Give this pardon to the boys moth
er when she comes this morning. ne
said kindly to the secretary, his eyes
suddenly full of gentleness.
How could l consent to shoot q
boy raised on a farm, in the habit OF
going to bed at dark, for falling asleep
at his post when required to watch all
night I'll never go into eternity WIN
the blood of such boy on my shirt
Again the mothers heart rose.
You remember the young man
pardoned for a similar offence In 6Z
about which Stanton made such a
fuss?' he went on In softl ly reminiscent
tones. Well. here Is that pardon.
He drew from the lining OF his SILK
hat a photograph, around which was
wrapped an executive pardon. Through
the lower end Of 1t was bullet-hole
stained with blood.
81 got this in Richmond. They
found him dead on the field. He fell
in the front ranks with my photograph
In his pocket next to his heart, this
pardon wrapped around 1t, and on the
back Of 1t in his boys scrawl. GOD
bless Abraham Lincoln / love to In
vest in bonds like that
The secretary returned to his room
the girl who was waiting stepped for-
ward, and the president rose TO re-
ceive her.
The mothers quick eye noted. with
surprise, the simple dignity and chiV.
~ tnl, hn