Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-02-11
Il|NCOlN ORDER.
BYE. "A. michel.


BY E. "A. MITCHELL. s. .::fs
copyright, 1910. by American Press Assoc
%aa..r. 5g III ciation.l So T. = . >@t
During the summer Of 1862 while
serving in the Army Of the Potomac
was sent to Washington by my captain
to purchase some supplies for his mess.
Walking on Pennsylvania avenue, in
uniform, was stopped by an old lady,
who said to me: q. +, ..-,.
II see that you are one of the noble
boys who are fghtin' for your -coun-
try. I have son down there across
the Potomac. He was wounded in the
fight the other day. I'm tryin' to get
down there to take care Of him.
tried this mornin' to cross Long bridge.
but man with gun stopped me-"
While I sympathized with the old
lady, 1 was very much amused at her
simplicity. I was but twenty years
old and more full Of Old Nick than
common sense. so l concluded to chaff
her bit.
If you wish that man with gun
to let you 60 down to see your boy
you'll have to get a pass" said to
her.
'Who gives out passes?" she asked.
1.-THE president"
'Where can find himT' asked the
old lady.
"At the White House. You follow
this avenue along till you pass jog
in the street, turn to your right, then
to your left, and you can't miss it.
Tell him sent you"
"What's your name?"
"Thedore Farnsworth, til Pennsyl-
vania.''
Of course gave her an assumed
name.
''What kind Of a lookin' man is thet
PRESIDENT" she asked. "There's SIGH
a crowd O. people pushin' their way in
everywhere here that I'd like to know
somepin about the man I'm lookin' for
before go to see him."
"Mr Lincoln is little bit of fel-
low"
Il though that was Senator Doug
las
mo; it's Mr.. Lincoln. He's the
smallest man in the United States"
"Oh, l got it the other way. I'm
much obliged to you for givin' me
all this information. l 'spect your
mothers worritin' about you. If I
knew her address I'd write her and
tell her how kind you've been to me-"
This gave me twinge Of conscience.
certainly didn't propose that she
should write my mother what I had
told her and didn't furnish her with
the address. The old lady went to-
ward the White House, and I went
about my business.
The same afternoon while on the
street heard a voice behind me:
"Cencrli Farnsworth!'
I;;! not suspect that the voice
called ne. but it was so close to me
t,!at turned. There was the old lady
who had stopped me in the morning.
General" she said. Being a high
private, wilted at being called "gen-
eral." Il want to thank you over and
over again for the favor you done me
| this mornin'."
did you see the president?''
| asked.
"No; didn't see Mr.. Lincoln, but I
saw some one that done all wanted"
"How was that?'
"Well l went to the White House,
| as you told me to do, but the man at the
door said Mr. Lincoln was busy just
then. But he must "a told me an I'M
| truth, for a couple o. men came down
| stairs Just then, and l heard one OF
'em say to the other. The president
has just gone over to the war depart
ment.' So thinks I I'll just step over
| to the war department and see him
| there. I inquired the way, and as
| went in I met a tall, thin man with
stovepipe hat and an umbrella comm
out. I said to him: -: -.
| "I heard the president is in here
I want to see him. Kin you tell ma
where to find him?'
"'What do you want to see him
about? asked the man, bendin' down
to hear my answer. >. r.
II told him that my son had beer
wounded down in Virginia and I had
started across the bridge to 60 down
and take care Of him, but the man
! with the gun was tellin' you about
had stopped me. said I wanted Mr.
Lincoln to tell that man with the gun
to let me 60 by. 49, .-
"'Come with me- he said.
$50 trots along, the tall man TAX
in one step to my three-he has the
longest legs ever scotland he asked
me all about my son and what regi.
ment he was in and all about hind.
When we got to the White House be
just walked right by the man at the
door and took me with him upstairs,
just as If he had as good right there
as the president himself. He opened
a door and said somepin to young
man writin' at desk, but l didn't
hear what it was. Then he set me
down in a room, and that's the last
seen Of him. But pretty soon the