Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-30
TWO LINCOLN STORIES,

t.
"A Lincoln story is never unwelcome."
That is the response to the query: DO
you want Il story about President LIN
colnI'
This one is fresh from the lips of DR..
Walter Kempster, the nations commits
Siouer to Russia some years ago. lie
told il at reunion.
"When the Twelfth New York left the
state for Washington | was with it,
slim. pale and weakly boy who ought to
have been spanked and sent to bed IN
stead of being allowed to enter the army
but they couldn't keep me from gong.
Our regiment reached Washington IN
May, 1861. and was encamped at the
Ge0rget own side of the white house, and
close to it. That was before the white
house was 50 carefully fortified by walls
and iron fences.
zone forenoon. soon after going into
camp, while | was standing on the steps
of the white house, and | think | was
looking more homesicb than usual, tall
man / had seen on several occasions
came up to me and placing his large
hand on my head, in a way | shall never
forget, and which seems but Yesterday
instead of more than a third of cen
tury ago, began to talk.
My boy. where did you come FROM
New York, sir
"'What are You doing here|
Il am Il soldier Ii the Twelfth regi-
nLent, sir
1--WE don't want little boys like you
in the army; we want strong, large men:
you 80 into the house and play with the
children
u feel; indignant. at first. but Quick!y
forgot il and and did 90 into the white
house and play with Mir. Lincoln's chill
dreu Robert, Willie and Tad--wcnt ev-
ery day the command remained in that
cump--apd the Lincoln children always
welcomed me.
some years ago. when Robert Lin
colu was our minister to England. |
called upon him After the customary
introduction, Mr.. Lincoln, we have met
before Think back, away back, a thou
sand years. measured by American prog
TeSs. and see if you recall me-.
~ am obliged TO confess that | do
not remember to have met you before
this visit said the dignihcd American
minister.
'Do you remember, soon after you
went to the white house, that New
York regiment camped at its west sidcI'
VERY we'll ! caused my father ami
the officers good deal of trouble 10y
miuglinc with the troops at all hours OF
the day and evening. asking questions
and interfering with discipline. We're
you one of the men of that regiment
4 was the hoy of the regiment.
The little fellow who used To come
iuto the house and play with the chill
dren;'
The same
Then we two men shook hands again
pad spent some time in talking over the
days whose events were so full of ill.,
tereSt, SO startling, and meant 50 much
for the nation
II have just come from shaking hands
with President Mckinley" said a gray
haired man 10 a friend as they met ON
Pennsylvania avenue.
How did he impress you?"
"AU right | think. but really | cant
tell just how | was impressed. lie
looked and spoke kindly, but, important
as the event was to me. my thought,
went back Ia the only other time IA Pres
ident took my hand and looked ana
spoke asantly-went back 50 ohsti
nately that | forgot TO say Ia Mr.. Me
kjnley what | intended to say-u,t
abou, an office, mind. Did Won ev,
have memory and feelings take posses
siou-such firm possession that Won wore
their prisourv-0t Il time when Won graof
~ desired to he freef | hope not. Tbgr
was my condition all the time I WIS
looking at President Mckinley"
VINO was the other President You had
in miud| - ~"
Abraham Lincoln. Our regimcnt hol
been called 10 Washington the wool, ofr'
er the first Bull Run battle. auJ W.,y
IA camp az kalorama heights, than q,
.-ne ways from Washington. hut vrii,G
Is now beautiful part of thp canit9f
Myself and brother were given y ms 49,
spend the day in the city The attr,r
u"ns then were not as many ais now
aud we We're ready to return TO caul
by the middle of the afternoon
IN IIlR We StBFl 81, tb., -t,.,.,.