The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-05-10
BIT JAMES MOl GAN

ming away with him. A pigeon
hole in his desk was stuffed with
these leg cases." as he labeled
them.
A soldier, whom he had spared a
dishonorable death before the firing
squad, was found dead on a battle
field, and in his pocket was photo
graph of his deliverer, inscribed
God bless President Lincoln"
Like this is the oft-told story of the
sleeping sentinel. Lincoln went
personally to see and to pardon that
Vermont boy, who repaid him in his
first battle by swimming river
under fire again and again to carry
the wounded to safety until he had
given his life for his comrades.
This native democrat never put
on presidential manners. He did
not need them. His Unborn dignity
protected him. Good morning. he
surprised a passerby at the White
house gate at 6 o'clock 81 am
looking for newsboy. When you
get to the corner l wish you would
send one up this way"
The hard muscles and steel
nerves of the railsplitter enabled
this president to bear responsible
| tiles, labors and annoyances such
as would have broken perhaps any
other man in the presidential line.
He still could grip an ak by the end
of the handle and hold it out even
with his shoulders.
His sense of humor was his safety
! valve. IF l couldn't tell these
stories l should die" he explained
to a solemn congressman who I'M
patiently protested that he had not
come to the White house to hear
! jokes.
The man who kept all great deci-
sions to himself could not enjoy
little joke alone. See him stalking
the White house corridor in night
shirt and bare legs to read to young
/ Nickolay and Hay, his secretaries,
a punning conceit from Theodore
Hook, unconscious that he
was infinitely funnier," said John
Hay. Here's another snap shot
from Hay: HE read Shakespeare
to me, the end of Henry VIII and
the beginning of Richard H. till
my heavy eyelids caught his con-
siderate notice and he sent me to
bed"
Lincoln's Office was almost his
prison cell through four terrible
years. The shouts of his two little
boys at play always were welcome
notes of joy to their care-weighted
father. He never objected to their
noisily bursting in upon him, and
often he Joined the children in their
boisterous games in the White
house grounds.
! IN the dark days when the nation
itself was at deaths door, one OF
the boys died. For weeks the grlev-
ing father stroye in vain TO win
spirit of resignation, dropping
his work for a day at a time and
surrendering to his sorrow. Doubt
less the fortitude he gained at last
in that wrestle with himself became
part of the heroic faith which lifted
: him above the general despair when
, the fortunes Of the union sank low
: est.
, After Willie's death, the other boy
, received a double share of paternal
, affection. Tad was in the habit OF
/ going to his father in the evening
, and making reDOrt of all that had
, happened since morning, usually
, falling asleep in the midst of his
prattle. Laying the little fellow Oh
: the floor by the side OF his DESK
Lincoln returned to his heavy tasks
/ until his own long lay was done,
: when he took his sleeping boy on
{ his shoulder and carried him on
: to bed.
published by special arrangement
newspaper Syndicate.