Year: 1870

M. Wentworth contributes to the No
vember number of Putnam's Monthly
very interesting article, of which we have
given the title above. We quote


Many times the President started to
go to his private room but sad faces
pressing up the stairway stopped him as
he was crossing the hall, and he went
back again.


"Do, kind President grant my re
quest -


The woman's voice was very plaintive,
and large tears were falling, but she
made no sound of crying.


"No, no, can not l can not, good
woman-I can not l might grant such
requests a thousand a day l can't turn
the Government inside out and upside
over. l can't please everybody. l must
do my duty-stern duty as see it. No
body wants their friends drafted-no-
body wants them taken as deserters. He
should not have been absent so long he
should not have taken upon himself the
appearance of a deserter. How do know
how does anY6ody know-how does
the War Department lnow-that he did
not intend to stay upon the boat where
the soldiers found him How does any
body know that he didn't think about





That was his business to think ] am
sorry. Everybody ought to be sorry for
those who do wrong When he lzI-ew
the laws, why did he break them When
he knew the penalty, why did he bring
it upon himself?


"You plead for him, and tell me how
upright he is. That's all very well. 1t is
easy for US to overestimate the goodness
of those we love. You are his neighbor.
1t is very kind in you to come so far and
plead so strongly, but cant, 1 can't
do anything for you -
please, President Lincoln -


mo, no no, no CAN'T won't
l won't r and he sprang to his feet, but
in an instant resumed his former position
in his chair, and leaned forward to snap
the little bell.


"Oh oh -


It was a sound of intense grief, dis
appointment and surprise, all mingled
together; coming up so from the heart as
this peculiar sound did, it arrested the
hand upon the bell, lifted the eyes that
were growing cold and stern to the
pleading face of the woman before him.
She had left her chair, and stood so
near that her clothes brushed against
him. Heavy were the lines upon her
face-lines of care and sorrow earnest
were the tear dimmed eyes.


"Do, kind sir, consider my case a
moment more-oh, President Lincoln
Remember you were poor once-and-
and


Had no friends. do you mean ?" he
interrupted, almost scornfully.
"No-oh, no-had a few friends
tried and true friends, who would never
| forsake you Only one of them l know
one, who is alike friend to you and
to me. For His sake-for our dear Lord S
sake-grant my petition -


There was a striking selemnity in her
whole attitude and the President turn
ed very pale, his eyes misty, sad, and
then sadder, as he repeated, and reverent-
ly:


'For our dear Lords sake -


Here are three hundard dollars it
was made up by his neighbors. Couldn't
you save him from an ignominious
death, which he does not deserve 2-no,
he does not deserve r


"Take back your money !" cried the
President, throwing away from him her
extended had. Take it back do not
want it p


Only an instant his hand and voice
were raised, and then he resumed, kind
| ly:


II shall not have your money, good
woman the War Department will not
have it. Take it back where it came
from, and you shall take back his re-
lease. Your petition shall be wholly
granted.


"Oh, President Lincoln I believe Yop
are Christian. / thank God for it.
viii pray for YOU every day with my
whole heart.


~ have need of your prayers | have
need of all the prayers that can be OF
fered for me.


ooh. MIR. Lincoln, that is the Christian
spirit-that is faith in Jesus Oh, let me