Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-02-24

The SIieHc0 Uy say ing lHey nave
been faithful 20 the government; they
have been faithful to YOU. they will
still be loyal to the government, do
what you will with them. But, if you
viii grant my petition, you will be
glad as long as you live The pray
ers of grateful hearts will give you
| strength in the hour of trial. and
strong and willing arms will return
to fight your battles
The president bowed his head; ana,
with a look of sadness which it is i'm
possible for language to describe,
said: Il shall never be glad any
more All severity had passed away
+! from his face, and he seemed looking
| inward and backward, and appeared
| unconscious of the fact that he was
not alone. The great burdens he had
borne, the terrible anxieties and per-
plexities that had poisoned his life at
the fountain, and the peaceful scenes
he had forever left behind, swept
across his memory and then the
thought that it was possible that he
had erred in judgment and done in
justice to the noble men who had
fought the nations battles, brought
back all his childlike tenderness.
The lady heard his mournful utter
ances, and said: "Oh! do not say so,
Mr.. Lincoln, for who will have so
much reason to rejoice as yourself,
when the government shall be re-
stored-as it will be?"
Il know know" he said. pressing
hand on either side; "but the
springs of life are wearing away, and
| shall not last" She asked him ii
he felt that his great cares were in
juring his health. No. he replied;
mot directly, perhaps" She asked
him if he slept we'll. He never was a
good sleeper, he replied, and OF
course slept now less than ever De-
fore. Then, with earnestness, he said:
The people do not yet comprehend
the magnitude of this rebellion, and 1t
will be long time before the end"
The lady, feeling that she had occu-
pied too much of his time. rose to
take her leave; and, as she did so,
said: Have you decided upon your
answer to me-" No. he replied,
come tomorrow morning: stop, it is
cab!net-meeting tomorrow" Then he
bade his visitor cordial good morn
ing, and she retired.
The next morning, the lady founa
that her interview had FRUSTRATED
her; but at twelve o'clock she was at
the whitehouse. The president sent
her word that the cabinet would adj
Journ soon, and that she must walt.
For three long hours she waited. re-
ceiving occasional messages from Mr..
Lincoln, to the effect that the cabinet
would soon adjourn, and he would
then see her. She was in distress,
expecting defeat. She walked the
room, and gazed at the maps, and, at
last, she heard the sound of feet
the cabinet had adjourned. Mr.. Lin
coin did not send for her, but came
shutting into the room, rubbing his
hands, and saying: my dear madam,
am sorry / have kept you waiting
so long, but we have this moment ad-
journed." My waiting is no mat
ter, she replied, but you must be
very tired. and we will not talk to.
night" Bidding her to seat, she
having risen as he entered. he sat
down at her side, and quietly re-
marked: II only wish to say to you
that an order which is equivalent to
the granting of hospital in your
state, has been isseud from the war
department, nearly twenty-four hours"
The lady could make no reply, ex,
cept through the tears that sprang at
once. Mr.. Lincoln looked on. and en-
joyed it. When, at last, she could
command her voice, she said: God
bless you!" Then, as doubts came,
touching the nature of the order, she
said earnestly: "Do you mean. really
and truly, that we are going to have
a hospital now?" With look full or
benevolence and tenderness a
look as rarely Eliminates any face
he said: II do most certainly hope
so;" and then he told her to come on
the following morning, and he would
give her a copy of the order. But his