Humorous and pathetic stories of Abraham Lincoln. A collection of anecdotes and stories told by and of President Lincoln; many of them heretofore unpublished

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HUMOROUS AND PATHETIC
STORIES

OP

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

A Collection of Anecdotes and Stories Told by and of

PRESIDENT LINCOLN;

Many of them Heretofore Unpublished.

THE LINCOLN PUBLISHING COMPANY,
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

PREFACE.

In presenting to the readers Lincoln's stories,
there is a feeling- of satisfaction that they will be
well received. No man has lived, in the history
of this country, who holds a more sacred place in
the minds of the people than Honest Abe Lincoln,
as he was familiarly known. His steadfastness of
purpose, clear discernment, and equity of judgment
peculiarly fitted him for the high position of Chief
Executive of this Nation at a time when the seeds
of disunionism were being scattered broadcast
throughout the land.

Abraham Lincoln had a marked penchant for
story telling. There is hardly an instance in even
the most serious of his interviews, that the familiar
phrase "That reminds me of a story," was not
introduced . In collecting these memoirs of Lincoln
we are indebted to the press, to friends and to
Barretts McClure's "Anecdotes of Abraham
Lincoln."

CHARACTERISTICS OF MR. LINCOLN.

Secretary Usher, a member of Lincoln's Cabinet, and an
old friend of his, gives the following interesting information :

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

In person he was tall and rugged, with little semblance to
any historic portrait, unless he might seem, in one respect, to
justify the epithet which was given to an early English mon-
arch. His countenance had even more of a rugged strength
than his person. Perhaps the quality which struck the most,
at first sight, was his simplicity of manners and conversation
without form or ceremony of any kind, beyond that among
neighbors. His handwriting had the same simplicity. It was
as clear as that of Washington, but less florid. He was natu-
rally humane, inclined to pardon, and never remembering the
hard things said against him. He was always good to the
poor, and in his dealings with them was full of those "kind
little words which are of the same blood as good and holy
deeds." Such a character awakened instinctively the sym-
pathy of the people. They saw his fellow-feeling with them,
and felt the kinship. With him as President, the idea of re-
publican institutions, where no place is too high for the
humblest, was perpetually manifest, so that his simple pres-
ence was like a proclamation of the equality of all men.
While social in nature, and enjoying the flow of conversation
he was often singularly reticent. Modesty was natural to such
a character. As he was without affectation, so he was without

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pretence or jealousy. No person, civil or military, can com-
plain that he appropriated to himself any honors that be-
longed to another. To each and all he anxiously gave the
credit that was due. His humor has also become a proverb.
He insisted, sometimes, that he had no invention, but only a
memory. He did not forget the good things that he heard,
and was never without a familiar story to illustrate his mean-
ing. At times his illustrations had a homely felicity, argu-
ment, which he always enforced with a certain intensity of
manner and voice. He was original in mind as in character.
His style was his own, formed on no model and springing
directly from himself. While failing, often, in correctness,
it was sometimes unique in beauty and in sentiment. There are
passages which will live always. It is not exaggerating to
say that, in weight and pith, suffuse in a certain poetical color,
they call to mind Bacon's Essays. Such passages make an
epoch in state papers. No presidential message or a speech
from a throne ever had anything of such touching reality.
They are harbingers of the great era of humanity. While
uttered from the heights of power, they reveal a simple, unaf-
fected trust in Almighty God, and speak to the people as equal
to equal.

There was one thing in which latterly he was disposed to
conduct the public mind. It was in the treatment of the rebel
leaders. His policy was never announced, and, of course, it
would always have been subject to modification, in the light
of experience. But it is well known that, at the very moment
of his assassination, he was occupied by thoughts of lenity
and pardon. He was never harsh, even in speaking of Jeffer-
son Davis, and only a few days before his end, when one who
was privileged to speak to him in that way said: "Do not
allow him to escape the law — he must be hanged," the Presi-
dent replied calmly in the words which he adopted in his last
inaugural address, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." And

—8—

when pressed again and again by the remark that the sight of
Libby Prison made it impossible to pardon him, the President
repeated twice over these same words, revealing unmistakably
the generous sentiments of his heart.

A ROMANTIC INCIDENT OF LINCOLN'S EARLY LAW
PRACTICE.

Having chosen the law as his future calling, he devoted
himself assiduously to its mastery, contending at every step
with adverse fortune. During this period of study, he for
some time found a home under the hospitable roof of one Arm-
strong, a farmer who lived in a log house, some eight miles
from the village of Petersburg, in Menard county. Here young
Lincoln would master his lessons by the fire light of the cabin,
and then walk to town for the purpose of recitation. This man
Armstrong was himself poor, but he saw the genius struggling
in the young student, and opened to him his rough home and
bid him welcome to his coarse fare. How Lincoln graduated,
with promise — how he more than fulfilled that promise — how
honorably he acquitted himself, alike on the battlefield, in
defending our border settlements against the ravages of sav-
age foes, and in the halls of our national legislature, are
matters of history. But one little incident of a more private
nature, standing as it does as a sort of sequel to some things
already alluded to, I deem worthy of record. Some few years
since the oldest son of Mr. Lincoln's old friend Armstrong,
the chief support of his widowed mother — the good old man
having some time previously passed from earth — was arrested
on the charge of murder. A young man had been killed dur-
ing a riotous melee in the night time, at a camp meeting, and
one of his associates stated that the death wound was inflicted

—9—

by young Armstrong. A preliminary examinatian was gone
into, at which the accuser testified so positively that there
seemed no doubt of the guilt of the prisoner and, therefore, he
was held for trial. As is too often the case, the bloody act
caused an undue degree of excitement in the public mind.
Every improper incident in the life of the prisoner, each act
which bore the least semblance of rowdyism, each school boy
quarrel, was suddenly remembered and magnified, until they
pictured him a fiend of the most horrid hue. As these rumors
spread abroad, they were received as gospel, and a feverish
- desire for vengeance seized upon the infuriated populace, while
only prison bars prevented a horrible death at the hands of a
mob. The events were heralded in the newspapers, painted in
the highest colors, accompanied by rejoicing over the cer-~
tainty of punishment being meted out to the guilty party. The
prisoner, overwhelmed by the circumstances in which he found
himself placed, fell into a melancholy condition, bordering
upon despair; and the widowed mother, looking through her
tears, saw no cause for hope from earthly aid.

At this juncture, the widow received a letter from Mr.
Lincoln, volunteering his services in an effort to save the
youth from the impending stroke. Gladly was his aid ac-
cepted, although it seemed impossible for even his sagacity to
prevail in such a desperate case ; but the heart of the attorney
was in his work and he set about it with a will that knew no
such word as fail. Feeling that the poisoned condition of the
public mind was such as to preclude the possibility of im-
paneling an impartial jury in the court having jurisdiction,
he procured a chauge of venue and a postponement of the trial.
He then went studiously to work unraveling the history of
the case, and satisfied himself that his client was the victim of
malice, and that the statements of the accuser were a tissue of
falsehoods. When the trial was called the prisoner, pale and
emaciated, with hopelessness written on every feature, and

-10-

accompanied by his half-hoping, half-despairing- mother,
whose only hope was in a mother's belief of her son's inno-
cence, in the justice of the God she worshiped, and in the
noble counsel, who, without hope of fee, or reward upon earth,
had undertaken the cause, took his seat in the prisoner's box,
and with a "stony firmness," listened to the reading of the
indictment.

Lincoln sat quietly by, while the large auditory looked on
him as though wondering what he could say in defense of one
whose guilt they regarded as certain. The examination of
the witnesses for the state was begun, and a well arranged
mass of evidence, circumstantial and positive, was introduced,
which seemed to impale the prisoner beyond the possibility of
extrication. The counsel for the defense propounded but few
questions, and those of a character which excited no uneasi-
ness on the pert of the prosecution — merely, in most cases, re-
quiring the witness to be definite as to time and place. When
the evidence of the prosecution was ended, Lincoln introduced
a few witnesses to remove some erroneous impressions in re-
gard to the previous character of his client, who, though some-
what rowdyish, had never been known to commit a vicious act;
and to show that a greater ill feeling existed between the
accuser and the accused than the accused and the deceased.
The prosecutor felt that the case was a clear one, and his
opening speech was brief and formal. Lincoln arose, while a
deathly silence pervaded the vast audience, and in a clear but
moderate tone began his argument. Slowly and carefully he
reviewed the testimony, pointing out the hitherto unobserved
discrepancies in the statements of the principal witness. That
which seemed plain and plausible, he made to appear crooked
as a serpent's path. The witness had stated that the affair
took place at a certain hour in the evening, and that, by the
aid of the brightly shining moon, he saw the prisoner inflict
the death blow with a slung-shot.

—11-

Mr. Lincoln showed that at the hour referred to, the moon
had not yet appeared above the horizon, and consequently
the whole tale was a fabrication. An almost instantaneous
change seemed to have been wrought in the minds of his
auditors, and the verdict of "not guilty" was at the end of
every tongue. But the advocate was not content with this
intellectual achievement. His whole being had for months
been bound up in this work of gratitude and mercy, and, as
the lava of the overcharged crater bursts from its imprison-
ment, so great thoughts and burning words leaped from the
soul of the eloquent Lincoln. He drew a picture of the perjur-
er, so horrid and ghastly that the accuser could sit under it
no longer, but reeled and staggered from the court room,
while the audience fancied they could see the brand upon his
brow. Then in words of thrilling pathos, Lincoln appealed to
the jurors, as fathers of sons who might become fatherless,
and as husbands of wives who might be widowed, to yield to
no previous impressions, no ill-founded prejudice, but to do his
client justice; and as he alluded to he debt of gratitude he
owed to the boy's sire, tears were seen to fall from many eyes
unused to weep. It was near night when he concluded by say-
ing, that if justice was done, as he believed it would be, before
the sun should set, it would shine upon his client as a free
man.

The jury retired, and the court adjourned for the day.
Half an hour had not elapsed, when an officer of the court
volunteered the announcement that the jury had returned to
their seats. All repaired immediately to the courtroom and
while the prisoner was being brought from the jail, the court
room was filled to overflowing with the citizens of the town.
When the prisoner and his mother entered, silence reigned as
completely as though the house was empty. The foreman of
the jury, in answer to the usual inquiry from the court, deliv-
ered the verdict of "Not Guilty." The widow dropped into

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the arms of her son, who lifted her up, and told her to look
upon him as before, free and innocent. Then, with the words,
"where is Mr. Lincoln?" he rushed across the the room and
grasped the hand of his deliverer, while his heart was too full
for utterance. Lincoln turned his eyes toward the west, where
the sun still lingered in view, and turning to the youth, said:
"It is not yet sundown, and you are free." I confess that my
cheeks were not wholly unwet by tears, and I turned from the
affecting scene. As I cast a glance behind, I saw Abraham
Linceln obeying the divine injunction of comforting the widow
and the fatherless.

AS A LAWYER.

Lincoln belonged to the reasoning class of men. He dealt
with his own mind and turned things over there, seeking the
truth until he established it and it became a conviction. As a
lawyer, he never claimed everything for his client. He stated
something of both sides of the case. I have known him to
say, "Now, I don't think my client is entitled to the whole of
what he claims. In this point or that point he may have been
in error. He must rebate something of his claim." He was
also very careful about giving personal offense, and if he had
something severe to say, he would turn to his opponent or to
the person about to be referred to and say: "I don't like to
use this language," or "i am sorry that I have to be hard on
that gentleman," and, therefore, what he did say was thrice as
effective, and very seldom wounded the person attacked.
Throughout Mr. Lincoln's life that kind of wisdom attended
him, and made him the great and skillful politician he was in
handling people. He had a smooth, manly, pleasing voice,
and when arguing in court that voice attracted the jury, and
did not tire them, so that they followed his argument through-
out. He was not a graceful man. H« would lean on th« back

—13—

of a chair, or put the chair behind him, or stand hipshotten,
or with arms akimbo, but yet there was a pleasure in listening
to him, because he seemed so unmercenary.

HIS AMBITION.

I do not think Lincoln was ambitious at all. It seems to
me that his object in life was no greater than to make a living
for his family. The dream of avarice never crossed him. He
took no initial steps to reach the presidency or the senate,
and was rather pushed forward than a volunteer. I can't
recall in those days when he attended court that he ever spoke
about himself or took any satisfaction in victory over an ad-
versary, or repeated any good thing he had done or said. As
a partisan he always reasoned for the good of the party, and
not concerning his own advancement. Consequently, when
the people had made up their minds that there was talent in
him of a remarkable kind, they came to his assistance with a
spontaneity and vehemence that was electrical. He reaped
the great reward of unselfishness as few men have ever done.

ABRAHAM AND THE LADIES.

He was almost wholly possessed with a sense of duty and
responsibility. He was not shy in the company of ladies, but
I don't think he thought anything about them until they came
before him as guests and callers. Some of the women gave
him a good deal of trouble. Some of his wife's people were
Southerners, and public attacks were made on them ; as, for
instance, it was said that one of them had gone through the
lines with a pass from Mr. Lincoln, and taken a quantity of
medicine, etc. I remember that an old partner in law of mine
brought his wife to Washington, and they wanted to see Mr.
Lincoln. There was a great crowd awaiting around his door,

—14—

but the door-keeper admitted us at once, and Mr. Lincoln
came forward with both hands extended and shook the lady's
hand, rather divining that she was the wife of my partner. He
told a little anecdote or two and said some quaint things, and
when the lady came out she said to me: "Why, I don't think
that he is an ugly man at all." He was almost a father to his
wife. He seemed to be possessed of the notion that she was
under his protection, and that he must look out for her like a
wilful child.

HIS NATURE.

I can recall a certain incident that illustrates Lincoln's
nature. Somewhere near the town of Paris there was a Whig
population with strong prejudices in favor of protecting slav-
ery. These people liked Lincoln and believed in him, and saw
with pain that he was becoming a Radical. They came to him
during court and said: "We want you to come up and talk
to us. We don't want to quarrel with you, and will hear all
you have to say; but something must be wrong when as fair a
man as you is drifting over to Abolitionism." "Very well."
said Mr. Lincoln, "I will come up such a day and give you
my views." Lincoln went on that day, and made a temperate,
sweet-toothed, cordial address on the issues of the day. He
said: "My friends, I perceive you will nob agree with me, but
that ought to make no difference in our relations with each
other. You hear me, as you always have, with kindness, and
I shall respect your views, as I hope you will mine." They
heard Lincoln through, and dismissed him with respect, but
did not agree with him. There was another person up there
by the name of Stephens, who was lame, and he undertook to
emphasize Lincoln's views, and put his foot in it. A certain
doctor, of Southern origin, interrupted Stephens, and said he
would thrash him. Stephens turned around and replied:

—15—

"Well, doctor, you can thrash me or do anything of a violent
sort to me, if you don't give me any of your pills." Lincoln
used to tell this with a great deal of delight. You see, in those
days the settlers in Illinois would live on the edges of the
timber, which grew in spots and patches, and left naked prairie
between the groves. It was at such a place that Lincoln made
that speech on the slavery question.

LINCOLN'S TEMPER.

"I remember one event showing Lincoln's temper. He had
issued a proclamation stating that when one-tenth of the voters
of a Congressional district, or a part of a state, resumed their
position in the Union, and elected a member of Congress, they
should be recognized as much as the whole constituency.
Chase remarked: 'Instead of saying voters, I suggest that
you put it citizens!' I saw in a minute what Chase was driv-
ing at. This question had arisen, as to who were citizens, and
Mr. Bates, the Attorney General, had pronounced negroes to
be citizens. The law of the administration, therefore, was,
that negroes were included in citizenship. As I walked away
from the Cabinet that day Chase was at my side, and he said:
'Mr. Usher, we must stick to it that citizens, and not voters,
be named in that proclamation.' I turned about when we had
got to the Treasury, and walked back on the plank which at
that time led to the White house, and I told Lincoln that
Chase was very pertinacious about the word citizen instead of
voters. 'Yes,' said Lincoln, 'Chase thinks that the negroes, as
citizens, will vote to make him President.'

HIS SADNESS.

Lincoln was, in his fixed quality, a man of sadness. If he
were looking out of a window when alone, and you happened

—16—

to be passing by and caught his eye, you would generally see
in it an expression of distress.

He was one of the greatest men who ever lived. It has
now been many years since I was in his Cabinet and, some of
the things which happened there have been forgotten, and the
whole of it is rather dreamy. But Lincoln's extraordinary
personality is still one of the most distinct things in my mem-
ory. He was as wise as a serpent. He had the skill of the
greatest statesman in the world. Everything he handled
came to success. Nobody took up his work and brought it to
the same perfection.

HIS KINDNESS.

Lincoln had more patience than anybody around him.
Sometimes, when he was considering a thing of importance in
the Cabinet, his little son would push open the door and come
in with a drum and beat it up and down the room, giving us
all a certain amount of misery. Mr. Lincoln, however, never
ordered the boy to be taken out, but would say: "My son,
don't you think you can make a little less noise P" That
Thaddeus was a stubborn little chap. We could not make
up with him when he got off ended. Robert was as well be-
haved a young man as I have ever seen. He went to Hartford
and graduated, and we entertained high respect for him.

HE KEPT HIS VOW.

In 1831 Lincoln saw in New Orleans a colored girl sold at
auction. The scene filled his soul with indignation and hor-
ror. Turning to his companions he said: "Boys, if I ever
get a chance to hit slavery, I'll hit it hard." Thirty-one
years afterwards the chance came, the oath was kept and
4,000,000 slaves, men, women and children, were restored to
liberty.

—17—

LINCOLN'S LAUGH.

Lincoln had a great laugh — a high musical tenor — and
when he had listened to or told a story which particularly
pleased him, he would walk up and down the room, with one
hand on the small of his back and the other rubbing his hair
in all directions, and make things ring with laughter.

LINCOLN AND SEWARD.

I think that Lincoln had a real fondness and admiration
for Seward. There was no suspicion of rivalry whatever be-
tween them. Seward supported Lincoln in every position or
scruple that he had. My impression is, that those two men
were as cordial and intimate as any two persons of such
prominence could be. v

After Caleb Smith, of Indiana, was made a member of the
Cabinet, he desired me to be his Assistant Secretary. Mr.
Smith was nominated District Judge of the United States, in
course of time, and then Mr. Lincoln promoted me at Smith's
request. I was in the Cabinet somewhat more than two
years, and a part of the time was under Mr. Johnson. That
Cabinet was very ill assorted. My predecessor, Judge Smith,
was a kind man, but without much discrimination as to his
followers. There hardly was ever such a thing as a regular
Cabinet meeting in the sense of form. Under Johnson and
under Grant, I have seen a table with chairs placed in regular
order around it, as if for Cabinet council. Nothing of that
kind ever occurred in Mr. Lincoln's cabinet. Seward would
come in and lie down on a settee. Stanton hardly ever staid
more than five or ten minutes. Sometimes Seward would tell
the President the outline of some paper he was writing on a
State matter. Lincoln generally stood up and walked about.
In fact, every member of that Cabinet ran his own department

-lg—

1n his own way. I don't suppose that such a historic period
was ever so simply operated from the center of powers. Lin-
coln trusted all his subordinates and they worked out their
own performances. I regard Seward as, on the whole, the
strong man of the Cabinet, the counsel of the President.

LINCOLN AND MRS. FREMONT.

Well, there was the case of John Fremont. He had made
up his mind to run a little enterprise of his own. When he
got into Missouri he soon quarreled with Frank Blair, and
Montgomery Blair started on to St. Louis. Meantime Mrs.
Fremont came East, passing Blair on the road, and the same
night she arrived went up to the President. She demanded to
know what Montgomery Blair had gone to Missouri for. Mr.
Lincoln said he didn't know. "Has he gone out to remove
my husband?" said Mrs. Fremont. "You cannot remove
Gen. Fremont. He would not be removed." Mr. Lincoln
instantly began to talk about the difficulties of making a jour-
ney from St. Louis to Washington alone. Three or four
times during the conversation she repeated, "Gen. Fremont
can not be removed." Lincoln evaded that part of the talk
every time, and she left unsatisfied."

HOW HE BECAME PRESIDENT.

Mr. Lincoln became President mainly on account of his
debate with Douglas. He had never been in any great promi-
nence as an office holder. His thorough-going devotion to
his party brought him universal good-will, however, and he
grew so harmoniously into the advocacy of Republican prin-
ciples and opposition to Douglas' notion of squatter sover-
eignty, that there was a general desire to see him come for-
ward and debate with Douglas. I can tell you something in-

— 1&-

teresting about the debate. Lincoln had no money. He was
in no position to match a man of Doug-las' financial resources.
The people in Lincoln's following-, however, put their hands
in their pockets and subscribed for a band of music to appear
with him, and that band was procured in Indiana. They put
the band on a wagon to send it by the roads from point to
point of meeting. Douglas meantime came on to New York
and borrowed $100,000. I think he got some of it from Ben.
Wood and Fernando Wood. He then took a special train of
cars and made a sort of triumphal tour of the State, design-
ing to carry the senatorship by storm. Lincoln said after the
contest was over, with a certain serious grimness, "I reckon
that the campaign has cost me fully $250." It was generally
understood in the West that the same campaign cost Douglas
$100,000. Lincoln's speeches against Douglas were extempo-
raneous, and he never revised them. My impression is that
young McCullagh, now an editor in St. Louis, was the steno-
grapher of Lincoln's speeches. Douglas did revise his
remarks. They met seven times, if I remember. Lincoln rea-
soned so closely and carefully on Douglas' false statements
that he came out of the campaign covered with respect, and
instantly the movement started to make Lincoln President. I
think it is due to Mr. Seward's memory to say that his ex-
treme views on the slavery question helped to beat him.

LINCOLN'S FIRST TALK.

With friends after receiving telegram of his nomination
for the first time.

(This telegram was received at the Journal office in Spring-
field. Immediately everybody wanted to shake his hand, and
so long as he was willing they congratulated )

Gentlemen: (with a twinkle in his eye) You had
better come up and shake my hand while you can: honors
—20—

elevate some men, you know. Well, gentlemen, there is a
little short woman at our house, who is probably more
interested in this dispatch than I am, and if you will ex-
cuse me, I will take it up and let her see it."

VERY CARELESS.

Lincoln was too careless. He would go out of his house
at night and walk over to the War Department, where Stan-
ton was receiving dispatches, unattended. I said to him :
"Lincoln, you have no business to expose yourself in this
way. It is known that you go out at midnight and return
here sometimes at two o'clock in the morning from the War
Department. It would be very easy to kill you. " The Presi-
dent replied that if anybody desired to assassinate him he did
not suppose any amount of care would save him.

HIS PLAN OF RECONSTRUCTION.

"Lincoln would have made, says Mr. Usher, "a powerful
white Republican party in every Southern State. He had
that in him which would have made the Southern people sup-
port him in preference to the radical Northern politicians.
Lincoln would have said in private to their leaders, 'You will
have to stand in with me and help me out; otherwise Sumner
and Stevens and those fellows will beat us both.' He would
have said, 'You go back home and start some schools your-
selves for the negroes, and put them on the route to citizenship.
Let it be your own work. Make some arrangements to give
them some land ultimately out of the public domain in your
States. In that way you will have them your friends politic-
ally, and your prosperity will not be embarrassed.' Only
Mr. Lincoln could have carried out this platform. His tem-
perament, eminence and quality all adapted him for such a
great part."

MR. LINCOLN'S IMPORTANT LETTER.

"Old time politicians," says a writer, "will recall the
heated political campaign of 1843 in the neighboring State of
Illinois. The chief interest in the campaign lay in the race
for Congress in the capitol district, which was between Har-
din— fiery, eloquent and impetuous Democrat, — and Lincoln —
plain, practical and ennobled Whig. The world knows the
result: Lincoln was elected.

"It is net so much with his election as with the manner in
which he secured the nomination with which we have to deal.
Before that ever memorable spring Lincoln vascillated be-
tween the courts of Springfield, rated as a plain, honest, logi-
cal Whig, with no ambition higher, politically, than to
occupy some good home office. Late in the fall of 1842 his
name began to be mentioned in connection with congressional
aspirations, which fact greatly annoyed the leaders of his po-
litical party, who had already selected as the Whig candidate
one Baker, afterward the gallant Colonel, who fell so bravely
and died such an honorable death on the battle-field at Ball's
Bluff, in 1862. Despite all efforts of his opponents within
his party the name of the 'gaunt rail-splitter' was hailed with
acclaim by the masses, to whom he had endeared himself by
his witticisms, honest tongue and quaint philosophy when on
the stump or mingling with them in their homes.

The convention which met in early spring in the city of
Springfield, was to be composed of the usual number of dele-
gates. The contest for the nomination was spirited and ex-
citing. A few weeks before the meeting of the convention the
fact was found by the leaders that the advantage lay with
Lincoln, and that, unless they pulled some very fine wires,
nothing could save Baker. They attempted to play the game
that has so often won, by 'convincing' delegates under in-
structions for Lincoln to violate them and vote for Baker.

-*22—

They apparently succeeded. 'The best laid plans of men and
mice aft gang aglee;' so it was in this case. Two days before
the convention Lincoln received an intimation of this, and late
at night indited the following letter. The letter was addressed
to Martin Morris, who resides at Petersburg, an intimate
Mend of his, and by him circulated among those who were
instructed for him at the county convention. It had the
desired effect. The convention met, the scheme of the con-
spirators miscarried, Lincoln was triumphantly elected, thus
paving the way for his more extended and brilliant conquests
This letter, Lincoln has often told his friends, gave him ulti-
mately the Chief Magistracy of the Nation. He has also said
that, had he been beaten before the convention, he would have
been forever obscured. The following is a verbatim copy of
the epistle:

April 14, 1843.
"'Friend Morris: — I have heard it intimated that
Baker has been attempting to get you or Miles, or both of
you, to violate the instructions of the meeting that ap-
pointed you, and to go for him. I have insisted, and still
insist, that this cannot be true. Surely Baker would not
do the like. As well might Hardin ask me to vote for him
in the convention. Again, it is said there will be an at-
tempt to get up instructions in your county requiring you
to go for Baker. This is all wrong. Upon the same rule,
why might not I fly from the decision against me in San-
gamon, and get up instructions to their delegates to go for
me? There are at least 1,200 Whigs in the county that
took no part, and yet I would as soon stick my head into
the fire as to attempt it. Besides, if any one should get
the nomination by such extraordinary means, all harmony
in the district would inevitably be lost. Honest Whigs
(and very nearly all of them are honest) would not quietly
abide such enormities. I repeat, such an attempt on
-23-

Baker's part can not be true. Write me at Springfield
how the matter is. Don't show or speak of this letter.'

"Mr. Morris did show the letter, and Mr. Lincoln always
thanked his stars that he did.' "

MR. LINCOLN'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS.

(Delivered March 4, 1865, at Washington.)
Mr. Lincoln was inaugurated into the Presidential office
on the 4th of March, 1865. An immense crowd was in attend-
ance— a crowd of affectionate friends, not doubtful of the
President, and not doubtful of one another and the future, as
at the first inauguration. Chief Justice Chase administered
the oath of office, and then Mr. Lincoln read his inaugural
address, concerning which it has been well said that it was a
paper whose Christian sentiments and whose reverent and
pious spirit has not a parallel among the State papers of the
American presidents. It showed the President still untouched
by resentment, still brotherly in his feelings toward the ene-
mies of the government, and still profoundly conscious of the
overruling power of Providence in national affairs. The
address is as follows:

"Fellow Countrymen: At this second appearing
to take the oath of the Presidential office, there is less
occasion for an extended address than there was at first.
Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be
pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the
expiration of four years, during which public declarations
have been constantly called forth from every point and
phase of the great contest, which still absorbs the atten-
tion and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is
now could be presented.

"The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly
depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and

it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to
all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in re-
gard to it is ventured.

"On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago
all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil
war. All dreaded it ; all sought to avoid it. While the
inaugural address was being delivered from this place,
devoted altogether to saving the Union without war,
insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it
without war — seeking to dissolve the Union and divide the
effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war ; but
one of them would make war rather than let the nation
survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it
perish ; and the war came. One-eighth of the whole popu-
lation were colored slaves, not distributed generally over
the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These
slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All
knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war.
To strengthen, perpetuate and extend this interest was the
object for which the insurgents would rend the Union,
even by war, while the government claimed no right to do
more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it.

"Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or
duration which it has already attained. Neither antici-
pated that the cause of conflict might cease with, or even
before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for
an easier triumph and a result less fundamental and
astounding.

"Both read the same Bible and pray to the same
God, and each invokes his aid against the other. It may
seem strange that men should ask a just God's assistance
in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's
faces ; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The
prayers of both could not be answered fully. The Al-

mighty has His own purposes. 'Woe unto the world
because of offense, for it must needs be that offenses come:
but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we
shall suppose that American slavery is one of these
offenses, which in the providence of God must needs come,
but which, having continued through his appointed time,
he now wills to remove, and that he gives to both North
and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by
whom the offense came, shall we discern there in any de-
parture from those divine attributes which the believers in
a living God always ascribe to him?

"Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this
mighty scourge of war may soon pass away. Yet, if God
wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the
bondsmen's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil
shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with
the lash shall be paid with another drawn by the sword,
as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be
said, 'The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether. '

" With malice toward none, with charity for all, with
firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let
us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the
nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the
battle, and for his widow and orphans, to do all which
may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among
purselves and with all nations."

IN AT THE FINISH.

Crossing a field one day, President Lincoln, it is said, was
pursued by an angry bull. "He made for the fence," says
"Life's Calendar," "but soon discovered that the bull was
overtaking him. He then began to run around a hay-stack in

—26—

the field and the bull pursued him, but in making the short
circles around the stack Lincoln was the faster, and instead of
the bull catching him, he caught the bull and grabbed him by
the tail. It was a firm grip and a controlling one. He began
to kick the bull, and the bull bellowed with agony and dashed
across the field, Lincoln hanging to his tail and kicking him
at every jump, and as they flew along Lincoln yelled at the
bull: "Darn you, who began this fight I"

THE UGLIEST MAN HE EVER MET.

It is said that Mr. Lincoln was always ready to join in a
laugh at his own expense, concerning which he was indiffer-
ent. Many of his friends will recognize the following story —
the incident having actually occurred — which Lincoln always
told with great glee :

"In the days when I used to be on the circuit court," said
Lincoln, "I was accosted in the cars by a stranger, who said :

11 'Excuse me, sir, but I have an article in my possession
which belongs to you.'

"'How is that?" I asked, considerably astonished.

"The stranger took a jack-knife from his pocket. 'This
knife,' said he, 'was placed in my hands some years ago, with
the injunction that I was to keep it until I found a man uglier
than myself. I have carried it from that time to this. Allow
me to say, sir, that I think you are fairly entitled to the
property . " '

MR. LINCOLN'S KINDNESS AND CONSIDERATION.

"President Lincoln," says the Hon. W. D. Kell, "was a
large and many-sided man, and yet so simple that no one,
not even a child, could approach him without feeling that he
had found in him a sympathizing friend. I remember that I
apprised Mr. Lincoln of the fact that a lad, the son of one of

—27—

my townsmen, had served a year on board the gunboat
Ottawa, and had been in two important engagements ; in the
first as a powder monkey, when he conducted himself with
such coolness that he had been chosen as captain's messenger
in the second ; and I suggested to the President that it was in
his power to send to the Naval School, annually, three boys
who had served at least a year in the navy.

"He at once wrote on the back of a letter from the com-
mander of the Ottawa, which I had handed to him, to the
Secretary of the Navy: "If the appointments for this year
have not yet been made, let this boy be appointed.'

"The appointment had not been made, and I brought it
home with me. It directed the lad to report for examination
in July. Just as he was ready to start, his father, looking
over the law, discovered that he could not report until he was
fourteen years of age, which he would not be until September
following. The poor child sat down and wept. He feared
that he was not to go to the Naval School. He was, however,
soon consoled when told that 'the President could make it
right.' It was my fortune to meet him the next morning at
the door of the Executive Chamber with his father.

"Taking by the hand the little fellow— short for his age,
dressed in the sailor's blue pants and shirt — I advanced with
him to the President, who sat in his usual seat, and said:

" 'Mr. President, my young friend, Willie Bladen, finds a
difficulty about his appointment. You have directed him to
appear at the school in July; but he is not fourteen years of
age.' But before I half finished, Mr. Lincoln, laying down
his spectacles, rose and said:

" 'Bless me, is that the boy that did so gallantly in those
two battles? Why, I feel that I should bow to him, and not
he to me.' The little fellow had made his graceful bow.

"The President took the papers at once, and as soon as
he learned that a postponement until September would suffice,

—28—

made the order that the iad should report in that month.
Then putting his hand on Willie's head, he said:

"Now, my boy, go home and have good fun during the
two months, for they are about the last holiday you will get.'
The little fellow bowed himself out, feeling that the President
of the United States, though a very great man, was one that
he would nevertheless like to have a game of romps with."

GAVE A RIGHTFUL DECISION.

Attorney -General Bates was once remonstrating with the
President against the appointment of a western man of indif-
ferent reputation as a lawyer to a judicial position of con-
siderable importance.

"Well, now, Judge," returned Mr. Lincoln, "I think you

are rather too hard on . Besides that, I must tell you

he did me a good turn long ago. When I took to the law, I
was walking to court one morning, with some ten or twelve

miles of bad road before me, when overtook me in his

wagon.

"'Hello, Lincoln,' said he, 'going to the court house?
Come in and I will give you a seat. '

"Well, I got in and went on reading his papers.

Presently the wagon struck a stump on one side of the road ;
then it hopped off to the other. I looked out and saw the driver
was jerking from side to side in his seat; so said I, 'Judge, I
think -your coachman has been taking a drop too much this
morning.'

" 'Well, I declare, Lincoln,' said he, 'I should not much
wonder if you are right, for he has nearly upset me half a
dozen times since starting." So putting his head out of the
window, he shouted, 'Why, you infernal scoundrel, you are
drunk ! '

-29—

"Upon which, pulling up his horses and turning round
with great gravity, the coachman said, 'Be dad! but that's the
first rightful decision your honor has given for the last
twelve months!' " *

GOD WANTED THE CHURCH FOR SOLDIERS.

Among the numerous applicants who visited the White
House one day was a well-dressed lady. She came forward
without apparent embarrassment in her air or manner, and
addressed the President. Giving her a very close and scruti-
nizing look, he said :

"Well, madam, what can I do for you?"

She told him that she lived in Alexandria; that the church
where she worshipped had been taken for a hospital.

'"What church, madam?" Mr. Lincoln asked, in a quick,
nervous manner.

"The Church," she replied; "and as there are only

two or three wounded soldiers in it, I came to see if you would
not let us have it, as we want it very much to worship God in."

"Madam, have you been to seethe Surgeon at Alexandria
about this matter?"

* ' Well, we put him there to attend to just such business , and
it is reasonable to suppose that he knows better what should
be done under the circumstances than I do. See here! You
say you live in Alexandria; probably you own property there.
How much will you give to assist in building a hospital ?"

"You know, Mr. Lincoln, our property is very much em-
barrassed by the war:— so, really, I could hardly afford to
give much for such a purpose."

"Well, madam, I expect we shall have another fight soon,
and my candid opinion is, God wants that church for poor,
wounded Union soldiers as much as he does for secesh people to
worship in." Turningto his table, he said, quite abruptly, "You
will excuse me; I can do nothing for you. Good day, madam."

—30—

SIGNING THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.

The Emancipation Proclamation was taken to Mr. Lin-
coln at noon on the first day of January, 1863, by Secretary
Seward and Frederick, his son. *As it lay unrolled before
him, Mr. Lincoln took a pen, dipped it in ink, moved his hand
to the place for the signature, held for a moment, and then re-
moved his hand and dropped the pen. After a little hesitation
he again took up the pen and went through the same movement
as before. Mr. Lincoln then turned to Mr. Seward and said :

"I have been shaking hands since nine o'clock this morn-
ing and my right arm is almost paralyzed. If my name ever
goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is
in it. If my hand trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all
who examine the document hereafter will say, 'He hesitated.'

He then turned to the table, took up the pen again, slowly
and firmly wrote "Abraham Lincoln," with which the whole
world is now familiar. He then looked up, smiled and said:
4 'That will do. ' '

COULDN'T MAKE A MINISTER.

Mr. Lincoln is credited with the following anecdote :
"Once, in Springfield, I was going off on a short journey,
and reached the depot a little ahead of time. Leaning against
the fence, just outside the depot, was a little darkey boy whom
I knew, named Dick, busily digging with his toe in a mud
puddle. As I came up I said, 'Dick, what are you about?' -
" 'Making a church,' said he.
" 'A church?' said I; 'what do you mean?'
" ' Why, yes,' said Dick, pointing with his toe, 'don't you
see; there is the shape of it; there's the steps and front door
— here the pews where the folks set — and there's the pulpit?'
" 'Yes, I see,' said I, 'but why don't you make a minister ?'
14 'Laws,' answered Dick witti^a grin, 'I hain't got mud
enough !"'

—31-

A SOMEWHAT DOUBTFUL ABUTMENT.

In Abbott's " History of the Civil War," the following
story is told as one of Lincoln's "hardest hits.'' "I once
knew," said Lincoln, "a sound churchman by the name of
Brown, who was a member of a very sober and pious commit-
tee having in charge the erection of a bridge over a danger-
ous and rapid river. Several architects failed, and at last
Brown said he had a friend named Jones, who had built sev-
eral bridges and undoubtedly could build that one. So Mr.
Jones was called in. *

11 'Can you build this bridge?' inquired the committee.

11 'Yes,' replied Jones, 'or any other. I could build a
bridge to the infernal regions, if necessary!'

"The committee were shocked, and Brown felt called upon
to defend his friend. 'I know Jones so well,' said he, 'and he
is so honest a man and so good an architect, that if he states
soberly and positively that he can build a bridge to — to — why,
1 believe it; but I feel bound to say that I have my doubts
about the abutment on the infernal side." c

"So," said Mr. Lincoln, "when politicians told me that
the northern and southern wings of the Democracy could be
harmonized, why, I believed them, of course; but I always had
my doubts about the 'abutment' on the other side."

MR. LINCOLN'S POWER OF ENDURANCE.

On Monday before the assassination, when the President
was on his return from Richmond, he stopped at City Point.
Calling upon the head surgeon at that place, Mr. Lincoln told
him that he wished to visit all the hospitals under his charge,
and shake hands with every soldier. The surgeon asked if he
knew what he was undertaking, there being five or six thous-
and soldiers at that place, and it would be quite a tax upon
his strength to visit all the wards and shake hands with every

—32—

soldier. Mr. Lincoln answered, with a smile, he ''guessed he
was equal to the task; at any rate he would try, and go as
far as he could; he should never probably, seethe boys again,
and he wanted them to know that he appreciated what they had
done for their country."

Finding it useless to try to dissuade him, the surgeon be-
gan his rounds with the President, who walked from bed to
bed, extending his hand to all, saying a few words of sympa-
thy to some, making kind inquiries of others, and welcomed
by all with the heartiest cordiality.

As they passed along, they came to a ward in which lay a
rebel who had been wounded and was then a prisoner. As
the tall figure of the kindly visitor appeared in sight, he was
recognized by the rebel soldier who, raising himself on his
elbow in bed, watched Mr. Lincoln as he approached and, ex-
tending his hand, exclaimed while tears ran down his cheeks:

"Mr. Lincoln, I have long wanted to see you, to ask your
forgiveness for ever raising my hand against the old flag."

Mr. Lincoln was moved to tears. He heartily shook the
hand of the repentant rebel, and assured him of his good will,
and with a few words of kind advice, passed on. After some
hours the tour of the various hospitals was made, and Mr.
Lincoln returned with the soldier to his office. They had
scarcely entered, however, when a messenger boy came, saying
that one ward had been omitted, and "the boys" wanted to see
the President. The surgeon, who was thoroughly tired, and
knew Mr. Lincoln must be, tried to dissuade him from going;
but the good man said he must go back; he would not know-
ingly omit one; "the boys" would be so disappointed. So he
went with the messenger, accompanied by the surgeon, and
shook hands with the gratified soldiers, and then returned
again to the office.

The surgeon expressed the fear that the President's arm
would be lame with so much hand-shaking, saying that it

-33-^

certainly must ache. Mr. Lincoln smiled, and saying some-
thing about his "strong muscles," stepped out at the open
door, took up a very large, heavy axe which lay there by a
log of wood, and chopped vigorously for a few moments,
sending the chips flying in all directions; and then pausing,
he extended his right arm to its full length, holding the axe
out horizontally, without its even quivering as he held it.
Strong men looked on — men accustomed to manual labor —
could not hold that axe in that position for a moment. Re-
turning to the office, he took a glass of lemonade, for he would
take no stronger beverage; and while he was within, the chips
he had chopped were gathered up and safely cared for by the
hospital steward, because they were "the chips that Father
Abraham chopped."

LINCOLN ADOPTS STANTON'S SUGGESTION.

One night the Secretary of War, with others of the Cabi-
net, were in the company of the President, at the Capitol,
awaiting the passage of the final bills of Congress. In the
intervals of reading and signing these documents, the military
situation was considered — the lively conversation tinged by
the confident and glowing account of General Grant of his
mastery of the position and of his belief that a few days more
would see Richmond in their possession, and the army of Lee
either dispersed utterly or captured bodily — when the telegram
from Grant was received, saying that Lee had asked aninter-
terview with reference to peace. Mr. Lincoln was elated, and
the kindness of his heart was manifest in intimations of favor-
able terms to be granted to the conquered rebels.

Stanton listened in silence, restraining his emotion, but
at length the tide burst forth. "Mr. President," said he,
' 'to-morrow is inauguration day. If you are not to be the
President of an obedient and united people, you had better
not be inaugurated Your work is already done, if any other

^34—

authority than yours is for one moment to be recognized, or
any terms made that do not signify you are the supreme head
of the nation. If generals in the field are to negotiate peace,
or any other chief magistrate is to be acknowledged on this
continent, then you are not needed, and you had better not
take the oath of office."

' "Stanton, you are right!" said the President, his whole
tone changing. "Let me have a pen."

Mr. Lincoln sat down at the table, and wrote as follows :

"The President directs me to say to you that he wishes
you to have no conference with General Lee, unless it be for
the capitulation of Lee's army, or on some minor or military
matter. He instructs me to say that you are not to decide,
discuss , or confer upon any political question. Such questions
the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them
to no military conferences or convention. In the meantime
you are to press to the utmost your military advantages.'

The President read over what he had written, and then
said:

"Now, Stanton, date and sign this paper, and send it to
Grant. We'll see about this peace business."

The duty was discharged only too gladly by the ener-
getic Secretary.

GETTING RID OF A BORE.

President Lincoln was quite ill one winter at Washington
and was not inclined to listen to all the bores who called at
the White House. One day just as one of these pests had
seated himself for a long interview, the President's physician
happened to enter the room, and Mr. Lincoln said, holding
out his hands: "Doctor, what are those blotches?" "That's
variloid, or mild smallpox," said the Doctor. "They're all
over me. It is contagious, I believe?" said Mr. Lincoln. "I just

-35-

jailed to see how you were," said the visitor. "Oh ! don't be
in a hurry, sir," placidly remarked the executive. "Thank
you, sir; I'll call again," said the visitor, making towards
the door. "Do, sir," said the President. "Some people said
they could not take very well to my proclamation, but now I
have something that everybody can take." By this time the
visitor was quite out of sight.

HE DID NOT GET THE PASS.

Judge Baldwin, of California, being in Washington,
called one day on General Halleck, and, presuming upon a
familiar acquaintance in California a few years before,
solicited a pass outside of our lines to see a brother in
Virginia, not thinking that he would meet with a refusal, as
both his brother and himself were good Union men.

1 'We have been deceived too often," said General Halleck,
"and I regret I can't grant it."

Judge B. then went to Stanton, and was very briefly dis-
posed of, with the same result. Finally, he obtained an inter-
view with Mr. Lincoln, and stated his case.

"Have you applied to General Halleck?" inquired the
President.

"Yes, and met with a flat refusal," said Judge B.

"Then you must see Stanton," continued the President.

"I have, and with same result," was the reply.

"Well, then," said Mr. Lincoln, with a smile, "I can do
nothing; for you must know that I have very little influence
with this administration."

THE SWEARING WAS NECESSARY THEN.

General Fisk, attending the reception at the White House,
on one occasion saw, waiting in the ante-room, a poor old
man from Tennessee. Sitting down beside him, he inquired

-36—

his errand, and iearned that he had been waiting three or four
days to get an audience, and said that on seeing Mr. Lincoln
probably depended the life of his son, who was under sentence
of death for some military offense.

General Fisk wrote his case in outline on a card, and sent
it in, with a special request that the President would see the
man. In a moment the order came; and past senators,
governors and generals, waiting impatiently, the old man
went into the President's presence.

He showed Mr. Lincoln his papers, and he, on taking
ttiem, said he would look into the case and give him the result
on the following day.

"To-morrow may be too latel My son is under sentence
of death! The decision ought to be made now!" and the
streaming tears told how much he was moved.

"Come," said Mr. Lincoln, "wait a bit, and I'll tell you
a story," and then he told the old man General Pisk's story
about the swearing driver, as follows:

"The General had begun his military life as a Colonel,
and, when he raised his regiment in Missouri, he proposed to
his men that he should do all the swearing of the regiment.
They assented ; and for months no instance was known of the
violation of his promise. The Colonel had a teamster named
John Todd, who, as roads were not always the best, had some
difficulty in commanding his temper and his tongue. John
happened to be driving a mule team through a series of mud-
holes a little worse than usual, when unable to restrain himself
any longer, he burst forth into a volley of energetic oaths. The
Colonel took notice of the offense, and brought John to account.

"John," said he, "didn't you promise to let me do all the
swearing of the regiment?"

> "Yes, I did, Colonel," he replied, "but the fact is, the
swearing had to be done then or not at all, and you were not
there to do it. "

—37—

As he told the story, the old man forgot his boy, and both
the President and his listener had a hearty laugh together at
its conclusion. Then he wrote a few words which the old man
read, and in which he found new occasion for tears; but these
tears were tears of joy, for the words saved the life of his son.

MR. LINCOLN AS A HORSE TRADER.

When Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer in Illinois, he and
a certain Judge once got to bantering one another about trad-
ing horses; and it was agreed that the next morning at 9
o'clock they should make a trade, the horse to be unseen up
to that hour, and no backing out, under a forfeiture of $25.00.

At the appointed hour the judge came up, leading the sor-
riest looking specimen of a horse ever seen in those parts. In
a few minutes Mr. Lincoln was seen approaching with a wooden
saw-horse upon his shoulders. Great were the shouts and the
laughter of the crowd, and both were greatly increased when
Mr. Lincoln, on surveying the Judge's animal, set down his
saw horse and exclaimed: "Well, Judge, this is the first time
I ever got the worst of it in a horse trade."

ADVICE TO A BACHELOR AMBASSADOR.

Upon the betrothal of the Prince of Wales to the Princess
Alexandria, Queen Victoria sent a letter to each of the Euro-
pean sovereigns, and also to President Lincoln, announcing
the fact. Lord Lyons, her ambassador at Washington, — a
"bachelor," by the way — requested an audience with Mr. Lin-
coln, that he might present this important document in person.
At the time appointed he was received at the White House, in
company with Mr. Seward.

"May it please your Excellence," said Lord Lyons, "I
hold in my hand an autograph letter from my royal mistress,
Queen Victoria, which 1 have been commanded to present to

—38—

your Excellency. In it she informs your Excellency that her
son, his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, is about to
contract a matrimonial alliance with her Royal Highness, the
Princess Alexandria of Denmark."

After continuing in this strain for a few minutes, Lord
Lyons tendered the letter to the President and awaited his
reply. It was short, simple and expressive, and consisted
simply of the words:

"Lord Lyons, go thou and do likewise."

It is doubtful if an English ambassador was ever ad-
dressed in this manner before, and it would be interesting to
learn what success he met with in putting the reply in diplo-
matic language when he reported it to Her Majesty.

HIS FIRST SPEECH.

The following first speech of Abraham Lincoln was deliv-
ered at Poppsville, 111., just after the close of a public sale, at
which time and in those early days speaking was in order.
Mr. Lincoln was then but twenty-three years of age, but being
called for, mounted a stump and gave a concise statement of
his policy:

"Gentlemen, Fellow-Citizens:— I presume you know
who I am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been so-
licited by my many friends to become a candidate for the leg-
islature. My politics can be briefly stated. I am in favor of
the internal improvement system, and a high protective tariff-
These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected,
I shall be thankful. If not, it will be all the same."

MR. LINCOLN'S SHORTEST AND BEST SPEECH.

The following speech is pronounced by Mr. Lincoln him-
self as the best one ever made by him.

A short time before Lincoln was assassinated, two ladies
—39—

from Tennessee went before the President, asking the release
of their husbands, who were held prisoners of war at John-
son's Islands. They were put off until the following Friday,
when they came again, and were again put off until Saturday-
At each of the interviews one of the ladies urged that her hus"
band was a religious man, and on Saturday when the Presi-
dent ordered the release of the prisoners, he said to the lady:
"You say your husband is a religious man; tell him when
you meet him that I say I am not much of a judge of religion,
but that, in my opinion, the religion that sets men to rebel
and fight against their government, because, as they think,
that government does not sufficiently help some men to eat
their bread in the sweat of other men's faces, is not of the sort
of religion upon which people can get to heaven."

LINCOLN'S FIRST SPEECH IN THE SUPREME COURT.

The case being called, Mr. Lincoln appeared for appel-
lant, and, according to Judge Treat, spoke as follows:

''Your honor:— This is the first case I have ever had in
this Court, and I have examined it with great care. As the
Court will perceive by looking at the abstract of the record,
the only question in the case is one of authority. I have not
been able to find any authority sustaining my side of the case,
but I have found several cases directly in point on the other
Side. I will now give the citations and then submit the case."

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S FIRST DOLLAR.

During an evening in the executive chamber there were
present a number of gentlemen, among them Mr. Seward. A
point in the conversation suggesting the thought, Mr. Lincoln
said. "Seward, you never heard, did you, how I earned my
first dollar?" "No," said Mr. Seward. "Well," replied
Mr. Lincoln, "I was about eighteen years of age. I belonged,

—40—

you know, to what they called down south the ' scrubs ' —
people who do not own land and slaves are nobody there. But
we had succeeded in raising, chiefly by my labor, sufficient
produce, as I thought, to justify me in taking it down the
river to sell. After much persuasion I got the consent of my
mother to go, and constructed a flatboat, large enough to take
the barrel or two of things we had gathered, with myself and
a little bundle, down to New Orleans. A steamboat was
coming down the river. We have, you know, no wharves on
the western streams, and the custom was, if passengers were
at any of the landings, for them to get out in a boat, the
steamer stopping and taking them on board. I was con-
templating my new flatboat and wondering whether I could
improve it in any particular, when two men came down to the
shore in carriages, with trunks, and looking at the different
boats, singled out mine, and asked 'Who owns this?' I
answered, somewhat modestly, 'I do.' 'Will you, said one of
them, 'take us and our trunks out to the steamer?' 'Certainly,'
said I. I was very glad to have the opportunity of earning
something. I supposed that each would give me two or three
bits. The trunks were put on the flatboat, the passengers
seated themselves on the trunks and I sculled them out to the
steamboat. They got on board, and I lifted up their trunks
and put them on deck. The steamer was about to put on
steam again, when I called out that they had forgotten to pay
me. Each of them took from his pocket a silver half-dollar
and threw it on the floor of my boat. I could scarcely be-
lieve my eyes as I picked up the money. Gentlemen, you may
think it a very little thing, and in these days it seems to me
like a trifle; but it was a most important incident in my life.
I could scarcely credit that I, a poor boy, had earned a dollar
in less than a day— that by honest work I had earned a
dollar. The world seemed wider and fairer before me. I was
a more hopeful and confident being from that time."

-41—

HIS FIRST FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

Soon after Mr. Lincoln entered upon his profession at
Springfield, he was engaged in a criminal case, in which it
was thought there was little chance of success. Throwing all
his powers into it, he came off victorious, and promptly
received for his services five hundred dollars. A legal friend,
calling upon him the next morning, found him sitting before a
table, upon which his money was spread out, counting it over
and over.

"Look here, Judge," said Lincoln; "see what a heap of
money I've got from the case. Did you ever see any-
thing like it? Why, I never had so much money in my life
before, put it all together," Then crossing his arms upon the
"table, his manner sobering down, he added, "I have got just
five hundred dollars; if it were only seven hundred and fifty,
1 would go directly and purchase a quarter section of land,
and settle it upon my old step-mother. ' '

His friend said that "if the deficiency was all he needed he
would loan him the amount, taking his note," to which Mr.
Lincoln instantly acceded.

His friend then said: "Lincoln, I would not do just what
you have indicated. Your step-mother is getting old, and will
not probably live many years. I would settle the property
upon her for her use during her lifetime, to revert to you upon
her death."

With much feeling, Mr. Lincoln replied: "I shall do no such
thing. It is a poor return, at the best, for all the good
woman's devotion and fidelity to me, and there is not going
to be any halfway business about it;" and so saying, he
gathered up his money and proceeded forthwith to carry his
long cherished purpose into execution.

—42—

HOW HONEST ABE DIVIDED MONEY.

A little fact in Lincoln's work will illustrate his ever
present desire to deal honestly and justly with men. He had
always a partner in his professional life, and, when he went
out upon the circuit, this partner was usually at home. While
out, he frequently took up and disposed of cases that were
never entered at the office. In these cases, after receiving" his
fees, he divided the money in his pocket-book, labeling each
sum (wrapped in a piece of paper,) that belonged to his part-
ner, stating his name and the case on which it was received.
He could not be content to keep an account. He divided the
money, so that if he, by any casually, should fail of an op-
portunity to pay it over, there could be no dispute as to the
exact amount that was his partner's due. This may seem
trivial, nay, boyish, but it was like Mr. Lincoln.

MR. LINCOLN'S CHARITABLE NATURE.

It was not possible for Mr. Lincoln to regard his clients
simply in the light of business. An unfortunate man was the
subject of his sympathy. A Mr. Cogdal, who related this in-
stance to Mr. Holland, met with a financial wreck in 1843. He
employed Mr. Lincoln as his lawyer, and at the close of the
business gave him a note to cover the regular lawyer's fees.
He was soon after blown up by an accidental discharge of
powder, and lost his hand. Meeting Mr. Lincoln some time
after the accident, on the steps of the State House, the kind
lawyer asked him how he was getting along.

"Badly enough," replied Mr. Cogdal, "I am both broken
up in business and crippled." Then he added, "I have been
thinking about that note of ours."

Mr. Lincoln, who had probably known all about Mr. Cog-
dal's troubles and had prepared himself for the meeting, took

-43—

out his pocket-book, and saying, with a laugh, "Well, you
needn't think anything more about it," handed him the note.

Mr. Cogdal protesting, Mr. Lincoln said, "If you had the
money I wouldn't take it," and hurried away.

At the same date he was frankly writing about his poverty
to his friends, as a reason for not making them a visit, and
probably found it no easy task to take care of his family, even
when board at the Globe Tavern was only four dollars a week.

MR. LINCOLN AMONG THE CHILDREN.

It was during a visit to New York that the following inci-
dent occurred, as related by a teacher in the Five Points House
of Industry in that city. Our Sunday School in Five Points
had assembled, one Sabbath morning, a few months since,
when I noticed a tall and remarkable looking man enter the
room and take a seat among us. He listened with fixed atten-
tion to our exercises, and his countenance manifested such
genuine interest that I approached him and suggested that he
might be willing to say something to the children. He accepted
the invitation with evident pleasure and coming forward began
a simple address, which at once fascinated every little hearer
and hushed the room into silence. His language was strkingly
beautiful, and his tones musical with intense feeling. The
little faces around him would droop into sad, conviction as he
uttered sentences of warning and would brighten into sunshine
as he spoke cheerful words of promise. Once or twice he at-
tempted to close his remarks, but the imperative shout of "Go
on," "Oh, do go on," would compel him to resume. As I
looked upon the gaunt and sinewy frame of the stranger, and
marked his powerful head and determined features, now
touched into softness by the impressions of the moment, I felt
an irrepressible curiosity to learn something more about him,
and when he was leaving the room, I begged to know his name.
He courteously replied, "It is Abraham Lincoln, from Illinois."

_^4_

MR. LINCOLN'S LEGAL ACUMEN.

Senator McDonald states that he saw a jury trial in Illi-
nois, at which Lincoln defended an old man charged with as-
sault and battery. No blood had been spilled, but there was
malice in the prosecution and the chief witness was eager to
make the most out of it. On cross-examination Lincoln gave
him rope and drew him out, asking him how long the fight
lasted and how much ground it covered. The witness thought
the fight must have lasted an hour, and covered an acre of
ground. Lincoln called his attention to the fact that nobody
was hurt, and then, with an inimitable air, asked him if he
didn't think it was "a mighty small crop for an acre of
ground. ' ' The jury rejected the case with contempt, as beneath
the dignity of twelve grave, good men and true.

LINCOLN'S FIRST PROCLAMATION OF FREEDOM.

J. H. Wickizer, a lawyer, gives the following as Lincoln's
first proclamation of freedom. It wa& given one day when the
two lawyers were riding in a buggy from Woodford County
Court to Bloomington, 111. When passing through a grove,
they suddenly heard the terrific squealing of a little pig near
by, occasioned by an old hog that was about to eat up one of
her young ones. Quick as thought Lincoln leaped out of the
buggy, seized a club, bounced upon and beat the hog, and
saved the pig, remarking as he jumped back in the buggy: "By
jing! The unnatural old brute shall not devour her own pro-

THE SHIELDS-LINCOLN DUEL.

The late Gen. Shields was Auditor of the State of Illinois
in 1830. While he occupied this important office he was in-
volved in an "affair of honor"' with a Springfield lawyer — no
less a personage than Abraham Lincoln. At this time, James

Shields, Auditor, was the pride of the young Democracy, and
was considered a dashing fellow by all, the ladies included.
In the summer of 1842 the Springfield Journal contained some
letters from the "Lost Township," by a contributor whose nom
de plume was "Aunt Becca," which held up the gallant young
Auditor as "a ball-room dandy, floatin' about on the earth
without heft or substance, just like a lot of cat-fur where the
cats had been fightin'."

These letters caused intense excitement in the town. No-
body knew or guessed their authorship. Shields swore it
would be coffee and pistols for two if he found out who had
been lampooning him so unmercifully. Thereupon "Aunt
Becca" wrote another letter, which made the furnace of his
wrath seven times hotter than before, in which she made a very
humble apology, and offered to let him squeeze her hand for
satisfaction, adding:

1 'If this should not answer, there is one thing more I would
rather do than get a lickin'. I have all along expected to die a
widow; but as Mr. Shields is rather good looking than other-
wise, I must say I don't care if we compromise the matter by
— really, Mr. Printer, I can't help blushin' — but I — must come
out— I — but widowed modesty— well, if I must, I must, —
wouldn't he — maybe sorter let the grudge drop if I was to
consent to be — be — his wife? I know he is a fightin' man, and
would rather fight than eat; but isn't marryin' better than
fightin', though it does sometimes run into it? And I don't
think upon the whole, I'd be sich a bad match, neither; I'm not
over sixty, and am just four feet three in my bare feet, and
not much more around the girth; and for color, I wouldn't
turn my back on nary girl in the Lost Township. But, after
all, maybe I'm countin' my chickens before they're hatched,
and dreamin' of matrimonial bliss when the only alternative
reserved for me may be a lickin'. Jeff tells me the way these
fire-eaters do is to give the challenged party the choice of

weapons, which being the case, I tell you in confidence, never
fight with anything but broomstick or hot water, or a shovel-
ful of coals or some such thing; the former of which being
somewhat like a shillalah, may not be so objectionable to him.
I will give him a choice, however, in one thing, and that is
whether, when we fight, I shall wear breeches or he petticoats,
for I presume this change is sufficient to place us on an equality.
Of course someone had to shoulder the responsibility of
these letters after such a shot. The real author was none
other than Miss Mary Todd, afterward the wife of Abraham
Lincoln, to whom she was eDgaged, and who was in honor
bound to assume, for belligerent purposes, the responsibility
of her sharp pen-thrusts. Mr. Lincoln accepted the situation.
Not long after the two men, with their seconds, were on their
way to the field of honor. But the affair was fixed up without
any fighting, and thus ended in a fizzle the Lincoln- Shields
duel of the Lost Townships.

THE AGE IS NOT DEAD.

[Delivered in the Court House at Springfield, 111., in 1855,
to only three persons. Mr. Herndon got a huge poster out,
announcing the event, employed a band to drum up the crowd,
and bells were rung, but only three persons were present.
Mr. Lincoln was to have spoken on the slavery question.]

Gentlemen : This meeting is larger than I knew it would
be, as I knew Herndon (Lincoln's partner) and myself would
be here, but I did not know anyone else would be here ; and
yet another has come — you, John Pain (the janitor).

These are bad times, and seem out of joint. All seems
dead, dead, dead ; but the age is not yet dead ; it liveth as sure
as our Maker liveth. Under all this seeming want of life and
motion, the world does move nevertheless. Be hopeful. And
now let us adjourn and appeal to the people.

—47—

HIS NOISE DIDN'T HURT ANYBODY.

When General Phelps took possession of Ship Island,
near New Orleans, early in the war, it will be remembered
that he issued a proclamation, somewhat bombastic in tone,
freeing the slaves. To the surprise of many people, on both
sides, the President took no official notice of this movement.
Sometime had elapsed, when one day a friend took him to
task for his seeming indifference on so important a matter.

"Well," said Mr. Lincoln, "I feel about that a good deal
as a man whom I will call 'Jones,' whom I once knew, did
about his wife. He was one of your meek men, and had the
reputation of being badly henpecked. At last, one day his
wife was seen switching him out of the house. A day or two
afterward a friend met him on the street, and said : 'Jones, I
have always stood up for you, as you know; but I am not going
to do it any longer. Any man who will stand quietly and take
a switching from his wife, deserves to be horsewhipped. ' Jones
looked up with a wink, patting his friend on the back. 'Now,
don't,' said he; 'why, it didn't hurt me any; and you've no
idea what a power of good it did Sarah Ann.' "

MR. LINCOLN TELLS A SECRET.

When the Sherman expedition which captured Port Royal
went out, there was a general curiosity to know where it had
gone. A person visiting President Lincoln at his official resi-
dence importuned him to disclose the destination.

"Will you keep it entirely secret?" asked the President.

"Oh, yes, upon my honor."

"Well," said the President, "I'll tell you." Assuming an
air of great mystery, and drawing the man close to him, he kept
him a moment awaiting the revelation with an open mouth and
in great anxiety, and then said in a loud whisper, which was
heard all over the room, "The expedition has gone to — sea."

-48-

LINCOLN'S TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN WOMEN.

[Extract from a Short Speech.]

"Ladies and Gentlemen: I appear to say but a word.
This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily
upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the sol-
dier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give
for his life ; and while all contribute of their substance, the
soldier puts his life at stake and often yields it up in his
country's cause. The highest merit, then, is due to the
soldier.

In this extraordinary war extraordinary developments
have manifested themselves, such as have not been seen in
former wars, and among these manifestations nothing has
been more remarkable than these fairs for the relief of suffer-
ing soldiers and their families. And the chief agents of these
fairs are the women of America."

AN APPROPRIATE ILLUSTRATION.

At the White House one day some gentlemen were present
from the West, excited and troubled about the commissions
or omissions of the Administration. The President heard
them patiently, and then replied. "Gentlemen, suppose all
the property you were worth was in gold, and you had put it
in the hands of Blondin to carry across the Niagara River on
a rope, would you shake the cable, or keep shouting out to
him, 'Blondin, stand up a little straighter — Blondin, stoop a
little more — go a little faster — lean a little more to the north
— lean a little more to the south?' No ! you would hold your
breath as well as your tongue, and keep your hands off until
he was safely over. The Government is carrying an immense
weight. Untold treasures are in its hands. It is doing the
very best it can. Don't badger them. Keep silence, and it
will get you safely across."

HE PREFERRED GRANTS WHISKY.

Just previous to the fall of Vicksburg, a self-constituted
committee, solicitous for the morals of our armies, took it
upon themselves to visit the President and urge the removal
of Gen. Grant.

In some surprise Mr. Lincoln inquired, "For what rea-
son?"

"Why," replied the spokesman, "he drinks too much
whiskey."

"Ah I" replied Mr. Lincoln, dropping his lower lip. "By
the way, gentlemen, can either of you tell me where General
Grant procures his whiskey ? Because, if I can find out, I will
send every General in the field a barrel of it !"

THE GLOVES KNOCKED HIM OUT.

Mr. Lincoln's habits at the White House were as simple
as they were at his old home in Illinois. He never alluded to
himself as "President," or as occupying "the Presidency."
His office he always designated as "this place." "Call me
Lincoln," said he to a friend— "Mr. President" had become
so very tiresome to him. "If you see a newsboy down the
street send him up this way," said he to a passenger, as he
stood waiting for the morning news at his gate. Friends cau-
tioned him against exposing himself so openly in the midst of
enemies ; but he never heeded them. He frequently walked the
streets at night entirely unprotected ; and he felt any check on
his free movements as a great annoyance. He delighted to
see his familiar Western friends, and he gave them always a
cordial welcome. He met them on the old footing, and fell at
once into the accustomed habits of talk and story-telling.

An old acquaintance, with his wife, visited Washington.
Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln proposed to these friends to ride in the
Presidential carriage. It should be stated in advance that

-50—

the two men had probably never seen each other with gloves
on in their lives, unless they were used as protection from the
cold.

The question of each — Mr. Lincoln at the White House
and his friend at the hotel — was, whether he should wear
gloves. Of course, the ladies urged gloves ; but Mr. Lincoln
only put his in his pocket, to be used or not, "according to
circumstances."

When the Presidential party arrived at the hotel, to take
in their friends, they found the gentleman, overcome by his
wife's persuasions, very handsomely gloved. The moment he
took his seat he began to draw off the clinging kids, while Mr.
Lincoln began to draw his on.

"No! no! no!" protested his friend, tugging at his gloves.
"It is none of my doings; put up your gloves, Mr. Lincoln."

So the two old friends were on even and easy terms, and
had their ride after the old fashion.

HE SWORE LIKE MR. SEWARD.

Secretary Seward was an Episcopalian. On one of the
occasions when President Lincoln's patience was tried by a
self-appointed adviser who got warm and used strong lan-
guage, Mr. Lincoln interrupted him by saying: "You are
an Episcopalian, aren't you?" And when asked why he
thought so, said : "You swear just like Mr. Seward, and he
is." This was Mr. Lincoln's way of getting rid of such
advisers.

A PERVERTED PASSWORD.

An amusing story is attributed to President Lincoln about
the Iowa First, and the changes which a certain password
underwent about the time of the battle of Springfield.

One of the Dubuque officers, whose duty it was to furnish
the guards with a password for the night, gave the word

-Ol-

'Potomac." A German on guard, not comprehending dis-
tinctly the difference between B's and P's, understood it to be
"Bottomic," and this, on being transferred to another, was
corrupted into "Buttermilk." Soon afterward the officer who
had given the word wished to return through the lines, and on
approaching a sentinel was ordered to halt and the word de-
manded. He gave the word "Potomac."

"Nicht right; you don't pass mit me dis way."

"But this is the word, and I will pass."

"No, you stan'," at the same time placing a bayonet at
his breast, in a manner that told the officer that "Potomac"
didn't pass in Missouri.

"What is the word, then?"

"Buttermilk."

"Dat is right; you pass mit yourself all about your
piziness." ^

There was then a general overhauling of the password,
and, the difference between Potomac and Buttermilk being
understood, the joke became one of the laughable incidents of
the campaign.

LETTER TO A WIDOW WHO HAD LOST FIVE SONS IN

THE WAR.

Executive Mansion. )
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864. S

Dear Madam : I have been shown in the files of the War
Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massa-
chusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died
gloriously on the field of battle. I feel kow weak and fruit-
less must be any words of mine, which should attempt to be-
guile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I
cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may
be found in the thanks of a republic they died to save. I pray

—52—

that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your
bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the
loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to
have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
"Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln."

TRIPLETS NAMED BY MR. LINCOLN.

In South Starksboro, Addison County, Vt., according to
the Burlington Free Press, there are residing triplets, sons of
Leonard Haskins, born May 24, 1864, and named by President
Lincoln. They have in their possession a letter from the
hand of the martyred President, and the names given were
Abraham Lincoln, Gideon Welles and Simon Cameron.
They are the children of American parents (who are still
living ) of limited circumstances, and have led a very retired
life; are robust, intelligent and moral, and have always been
abstainers from liquor and profanity. There is an almost
perfect resemblance between two, who are light-complexioned,
while the other is a striking contrast, having dark hair and
eyes.

LINCOLN'S VALUE OF A BRIGADIER.

In the early part of the war a lady devoted to the cause of
the confederate states and who resided just outside of the
Union lines in Virginia, managed to fascinate Gen. Staugh-
ton, a young West Point cavalry officer, and one evening,
while he was enjoying her society, during a serenade by a
regimental band, he, with his band and orderlies, was sur-
prised and captured, and they were sent as prisoners of war
to Richmond. "I do not mind losing the Brigadier," said
Lincoln, in talking of the capture, "for -they are easily made,
but there were some twenty horses taken, and they cost one
hundred and twenty-five dollars apiece."

—53—

HOW ALEXANDER H. STEVENS IMPRESSED MR.
LINCOLN.

In January, 1865, a committee of peace commissioners
from the confederate states, of which Mr. Stevens was a mem-
ber, arrived at City Point, Va., and requested General Grant
to telegraph President Lincoln that they desired to meet him.
A few days later Mr. Lincoln met them at Hampton Roads.
At the time Mr. Stevens, who was a very small man, weighing-
less than one hundred pounds, was wearing a heavy woolen
overcoat which reached nearly to his feet, giving him the ap-
pearance of an average-sized man. He took off his overcoat,
after meeting the President, who seemed struck with Mr.
Stevens' apparent change of size, in the coat and out of it.
On meeting General Grant, Lincoln asked him if he had seen
that overcoat of Stevens. Grant replied that he had. "Well,"
said the President, "did you see him take it off?" Grant
replied that he did. "Well," said he, "didn't you think it was
the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that you ever did see?"

HIS TITLE AT A DISCOUNT.

Concerning a drollery of President Lincoln, this story is
told:

^During the Rebellion an Austrian Count applied to Presi-
dent Lincoln for a position in the army. Being introduced
by the Austrian minister, he needed, of course, no further
recommendation ; but, as if fearing that his importance might
not be appreciated, he proceeded to explain that he was a
Count ; that his family were ancient and highly respectable ;
when Lincoln, with a merry twinkle in his eye, tapping the
aristocratic lover of titles on the shoulder, in a fatherly way,
as if the man had confessed to some wrong, interrupted in a
soothing tone, "Never mind ; you shall be treated with just as
much consideration for all that."

—54—

NO SPECIAL TRAIN FOR HIM.

One of the last stories heard from Mr. Lincoln was con-
cerning John Tyler, for whom it was to be expected, as an old
Henry Clay Whig, he would entertain no great respect. "A
year or two after Tyler's accession to the Presidency," said
he, "contemplating an excursion in some direction, his son
went to order a special train of cars. It so happened that the
railroad superintendent was a strong Whig. On Bob's making
known his errand, that official bluntly informed him that his
road did not run any special trains for the President.

" 'What!' said Bob, 'did you not furnish a special train
for the funeral of General Harrison?'

"'Yes,' said the superintendent, stroking his whiskers,
'and if you will only bring your father here in that shape,
you shall have the best train on the road.' "

MR. LINCOLN'S APT REPLY.

Lincoln's opponent for the Legislature in 1836 was the
Hon. Geo. Forquer, of Springfield, 111., who was celebrated
for having introduced the first and only lightning rod in
Springfield at this time. He said in a speech, in Lincoln's
presence: "This young man (Lincoln) would have to be taken
down, and I am sorry the task devolves upon me:" and then
proceeded to try and "take him down." Mr. Lincoln made a
reply, and in closing, turned to the crowd and made these
remarks :

"Fellow Citizens: It is for you, not for me, to say
whether I am up or down. The gentleman has alluded to my
being a young man ; I am older in years than I am in the
tricks and trades of politicians. I desire to live, and desire
place and distinction as a politician ; but I would rather die
now than, like the gentleman, live to see the day that I would
have to erect a lightning rod to protect a guilty conscience
from an offended God."

^55—

STANTON ADVISED TO PREPARE FOR DEATH.

The imperious Stanton, when Secretary of War, took a
fancy one day to a house in Washington that Lamon had
bargained for. He ordered the latter to vacate instanter.
Lamon not only did not vacate, but went to Stanton and said
he would kill him if he interfered with the house. Stanton
was furious at the threat, and made it known at once to Lin-
coln. The latter said to the astonished War Secretary:

"Well, Stanton, if Lamon has said he will kill you, he
certainly will, and I'd advise you to prepare for death without
further delay."

The President promised, however, to do what he could to
appease the murderous Marshal, and this was the end of
Stanton's attempt on the house.

MR. LINCOLN'S DEDICATION SPEECH AT GETTYSBURG.

[ Delirered at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery,
on the Gettysburg battle-neld, Nov. 19, 1863.]

"Ladies and gentlemen: — Four score and seven
years ago, our fathers brought forth upon this continent
a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are
engaged in a civil war, testing whether that nation, or
any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long
endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final
resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that
nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that
we should do this.

"But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can
not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave
men, living and dead, who struggled here, have conse-
crated it far above our power to add or detract. The
—56—

world will little note, nor long remember, what we say
here.

"It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here
to the unfinished work which they who fought here have
thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here
dedicated to the great task remaining before, that from
those honored dead we take increased devotion to the
cause for which they gave the last full measure of de-
votion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall
not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall
have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of
the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not
perish from the earth."

MORE LIGHT AND LESS NOISE.

An editorial, in a New York journal, opposing Lincoln's
renomination, is said to have called out from him the follow-
ing story: "A traveler on the frontier found himself out of
his reckoning one night in a most inhospitable region. A
terrific thunder-storm came up to add to his troubles. He
floundered along until at length his horse gave out. The
lightning afforded him the only clue to his way, but the peals
of thunder were frightful. One bolt, which seemed to crash
the earth beneath him, brought him to his knees. By no
means a praying man, his petition was short and to the point
— 'O, Lord, if it is all the same to you, give us a little more
light and a little less noise.!' "

DRANK NOTHING BUT ADAM'S ALE

Immediately after Mr. Lincoln's nomination for President
at the Chicago Convention, a committee, of which Governor
Morton, of New York, was chairman, visited him in Spring-
field, 111., where he was officially informed of his nomination.

—57—

After this ceremony had passed, Mr. Lincoln remarked to
the company, that as an appropriate conclusion to an inter-
view so important and interesting as that which has just
transpired, he supposed good manners would require that he
should treat the company with something to drink; and open-
ing a door that led into a room in the rear, he called out,
'Mary! Mary!" A girl responded to the call, to whom Mr.
Lincoln spoke a few words in an undertone, and, closing the
door, returned to converse with his guests. In a few minutes
the maiden entered, bearing a large waiter, containing several
glass tumblers, and a large pitcher in the midst, and placed
it upon the center-table. Mr. Lincoln arose and, gravely
addressing the company, said: "Gentlemen, we must pledge
our mutual healths in the most healthy beverage which God
has given to man — it is the only beverage I have ever used or
allowed in my family, and I can not conscientiously depart
from it on this present occasion — it is pure Adam's ale from
the spring;" and, taking a tumbler, he touched it to his lips,
and pledged them his highest respects in a cup of cold water.
Of course all his guests were constrained to admire his con-
sistency , and to join in his example.

LINCOLN ON TEMPERANCE.

In response tc an address from the Sons of Temperance
in Washington on the 29th of September, 1863, Mr. Lincoln
made the following remarks :

"As a matter of course, it will not be possible for
me to make a response co-extensive with the address
which you have presented to me. If I were better known
than I am, you would not need to be told that, in advo-
cacy of the cause of temperance, you have a friend and
sympathizer in me. When a young man — long ago —
before the Sons of Temperance as an organization had
—58-

an existence, I, in an humble way, made temperance
speeches, and I think I may say that to this day I have
never, by my example, belied what I then said.

"In regard to the suggestions which you make for
the purpose af advancement of the cause of temperance
in the army, I cannot make particular response to them
at this time. To prevent intemperance in the army is
even a part of the articles of war. It is a part of the law
of the land, and was so, I presume, long ago to dismiss
officers for drunkenness. I am not sure that, consistent
with public service, more can be done than has been
done. All, therefore, that I can promise is (if you will
be pleased to furnish me with a copy of your address) to
have it submitted to the proper department, and have it
considered, whether it contains any suggestions which
will improve the cause of temperance in the army any
better than it is alreadydone. I can promise no more
than that.

"I think the reasonable men of the world have long
since agreed that intemperance is one of the greatest, if
not the very greatest, of all evils among mankind. That
is not a matter of dispute. I believe. That the disease
exists, and that it is a very great one, is agreed upon
by all. The mode of cure is one about which there
may be differences of opinion. You have suggested that
in an army — our army— drunkenness is a great evil, and
one which, while it exists to a very great extent, we
cannot expect to overcome so entirely as to leave such
success in our arms as we might have without it.
This, undoubtedly, is true, and while it is, perhaps,
a bad source to derive comfort from, nevertheless, in a
hard struggle I do not know but what it is some conso-
lation to be aware that there is some intemperance on
the other side, too, and that they have no right to beat
—69—

us in physical combat on that ground. But I have al-
ready said more than I expected to be able to say when
I began, and if you please to hand me a copy of your
address, it shall be considered. I thank you very hear-
tily, gentlemen, for this call, and for bringing with you
these very many pretty ladies."

WOULD NOT COME A SECOND TIME.

Among the visitors on one of the President's reception
days was the Hon. Thomas Shannon, of California. Soon
after the customary greeting, Mr. Shannon said :

"Mr. President, I met an old friend of yours in California
last summer, Thomas Campbell, who had a great deal to say
about your Springfield life." v

"Ah!" returned Mr. Lincoln, "I am glad to hear of him.
Campbell used to be a dry fellow," he continued. For a time
he was Secretary of State. One day during the legislative
vacation a meek, cadavarous-looking man, with a white neck-
cloth, introduced himself to him at his office, and, stating that
he had been informed that Mr. C. had the letting of the As-
sembly Chamber, said that he wished to secure it, if possible,
for a course of lectures he desired to deliver in Springfield.

"May I ask," said the Secretary, "what is to be the sub-
ject of your lectures ?"

"Certainly," was the reply, with a very solemn expression
of countenance. "The course I wish to deliver is on the
Second Coming of our Lord."

"It is of no use," said C. "If you will take my advice,
you will not waste your time in this city. It is my private
opinion that if the Lord has been in Springfield once, He will
not come a second time.

LINCOLN'S LITERARY EXPERIMENTS.

In the April (1894) number of the Century John G. Nicolay
writes of "Lincoln's Literary Experiments," and quotes a
poem written by the President in his early manhood. In a
letter enclosing the poem to a friend, Lincoln explains that
the verses were written in 1844, when he visited the neighbor-
hood in which he was raised, on a stumping tour. Here are
the opening stanzas :

"My childhood's home I see again,

And sudden with the view;
And still, as memory crowds my brain,

There's pleasure in it, too.

"O Memory! thou midway world

'Twixt earth and paradise,
Where things decayed and loved ones lost

In dreamy shadows rise."

"And, freed from all that's earthly, vile,

Seem hallowed, pure and bright,
Like scenes in some enchanted isle,

All bathed in liquid light."

"He loved the thrush— 'twas such a gentle bird,

That sang in strains of cheerful melody;
But since he died its note has not been h*ard,

It droops beneath the weeping willow tree !
Clear as the rill of fountains ere the frost

Of winter lays a seal upon their lips ;

Nor broken by the prow of sturdy ships;
Now plaintive as when maids at prayer entreat

For absolution— the bird gushed forth a stream
Of eoul-lit music, till one quick heart beat

(Boused by the dying eagle's anguished scream)
Shriveled all to diamond notes, which heaven displayed,

To show his death had even the gods dismayed!"

—Rollin Cutter.

Referring to the beautiful legend prevalent among the far-
mers of the west, that the brown thrush was silent for one year
after Lincoln's death, and that a brilliant meteor shower illu-
minated the heavens on the morning of his passing away.

—61—

SIMPLY PRESIDENT.

[From the Fort Wayne Gazette, Feb. 15, 1898, referring to the cele-
bration at Lebanon, Ind.

Mr. William Bender Wilson, of Lancaster, Pa., who
entered the War Department as a military telegrapher in 1861,
gives the following fresh anecdote :

In the fall of 1861 fires in Washington City were of
frequent occurrence, without any organized adequate means
for extinguishing them being in existence there. This con-
dition of affairs was a source of so much anxiety to the
country at large that no sooner was a Washington fire an-
nounced in the newspapers than the mails would teem with
patriotic offers to the President from all sections for the
formation of fire brigades as a component part of the army
for the protection of the Capitol. This was one of the great
annoyances of irrelevant subjects thrust upon the President.
He bore it all as a part of the responsibilities resting upon
him, yet at last was compelled to rebuke it from sheer lack of
time to give it any attention.

One night the Washington infirmary burned down, and, as
was customary after such disasters, the next day brought the
President the usual complement of offers of fire engines and
firemen. Philadelphia's patriotism, true to its traditions,
could not await the slow progress of the mail, but sent for-
ward a committee of citizens to urge upon the President the
acceptance of a fully equipped fire brigade for Washington.
On their arrival at the White House they were most courte-
ously and blandly received by Mr. Lincoln. Eloquently did
they urge their mission, but valuable time was being wasted,
and Mr. Lincoln was forced to bring the conference to a close,
which he did by interrupting the committee in the midst of a
grand and to be clinching oratorical effort by gravely saying,

-32-

as if he had just awakened to the true import of the visit:
"Ah, yes, gentlemen, but it is a mistake to suppose that I am
at the head of the fire department of the City of Washington !
I am simply President of the United States ! "

TAD LINCOLN.

Thomas Lincoln, or Tad, as he was familiarly called, was
given a soldierly bent by the military displays. Dressed in
full uniform and thoroughly equipped, although but 12 years
of age at the time, he afterward appeared in the camps of the
army, and, mounted upon a Shetland pony, rode beside his
father when reviewing the troops as commander-in-chief.

E. A. Spring,
Formerly Seventh N. Y. Militia Vols.

WHAT LINCOLN SAID.

[Surprising incident related by General Lew Wallace. "Why Lincoln was
greatly worried,]

One of the most interesting speeches delivered at the
Lincoln banquet here, in which 500 people, including most of
the State officials, participated, was that of General Lew
Wallace. The address for the most part dealt with personal
reminiscences of the great emancipator. In concluding his
remarks the speaker said :

"I will tell you at this time of an incident which I have
never before made public. I do not know that it is proper,
but the man whom it is about is dead, and I will relate it. I
had made an engagement with Lincoln to call at the White
House and present two ladies who desired to meet him. The
time set for the call was at 11 a. m. At the appointed hour I
presented myself in company with the ladies. As I was
ushered in I saw, at the farther end of the room, the tall form
of Lincoln leaning against a window. He waved his hand,

—63—

indicating that I was to take the ladies to a sofa and then by
another wave of the hand he motioned for me to come to him.
My heart filled with sympathy for him, for I knew something
was wrong.

As I approached him and looked into his face it seemed to
me it was the saddest and most troubled countenance I had
ever beheld. There were deep lines of suffering about the
face, the features were drawn and pinched. His hair, which
had grown thin, was uncombed. He was naturally somewhat
stoop-shouldered, but seemed to be especially so on this
occasion. As I drew nearer and caught his eye I was more
deeply impressed with the sadness which permeated his whole
being. If I were to live a thousand years I would not forget
the anguish of the expression of his face.

"I said . 'Mr. Lincoln, I hope you are not sick?'

"He replied : 'No, I am not sick.

" 'But,' said I. 'You look sad. Something terrible must
have happened. '

"He made no reply, but calling a servant, he inquired
how long it would be until the boat left the wharf for
Harrison's Landing. The answer was, 'In half an hour.'
Then turning to me, Lincoln said, and the sadness of his face
deepened as he said it, 'I must go on that boat to Harrison's
Landing on the James River.'

" 'What for, Mr. Lincoln? ' I asked in surprise.

"His voice dropped to a whisper as he replied: 'I must
go there to keep McClellan from surrendering the army.'

"It was after the seven days' battle, and the leader of the
great army was retreating before the confederates.

"At this point I introduced the ladies and retired. In
thirty minutes Lincoln was on board the boat speeding away
on his mission. The next I heard of Lincoln he was at
Harrison's Landing, and the Union army was not sur-
rendered."

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON LIFE OF LINCOLN.

On the 12th of February, 1809, in the wilderness of Larue
County, Kentucky, was born one of the best and greatest men
that ever lived — Abraham Lincoln. His father was a poor
farmer, and in the rude life of the backwoods his entire
schooling did not exceed a year, but while at school he was
noted as a good speller, but more particularly for his hatred
of cruelty — his earliest composition being a protest against
putting coals of fire on the backs of captured terrapins. He wore
coarse, home-made clothes and a coonskin cap, and his
trousers, owing to his rapid growth ( before his 17th birthday
he was at his maximum of 6 feet 4 inches ), were almost always
nearly a foot too short. His last attendance at school was in
1826, when he was 17 years old, but after leaving it he read
everything readable within his reach, and copied passages
and sentences that especially attracted him. His first
knowledge of the law, in which he afterwards became eminent,
was through reading the statutes of Indiana, lent to him by a
constable, and he obtained a tolerable knowledge of grammar,
also from a borrowed book, studied by the light of burning
shavings in a cooper's shop, after his family had, in 1830,
emigrated to Illinois. In 1834 he was elected to the Illinois,
Legislature — was three times re-elected — was admitted to
practice law in 1836, and then removed to Springfield, the
State capital. In 1846 he was elected to Congress, where he
voted against the extension of slavery, and in 1854 was a recog-
nized leader in the newly-formed Republican party. In 1860
he was nominated for the Presidency, received a majority of
votes over any of the other candidates and was installed in
the President's chair March 4, 1861. His election was followed
by the secession of eleven Southern States and a war for the
restoration of the Union. As a military measure he pro-
claimed Jan. 1, 1863, the freedom of all slaves in the seceding

States; and was re-elected to the Presidency in 1864. The war
was brought to a close April 2, 1865, and on the 15th of the same
month Abraham Lincoln's life was ended by the hand of an
assassin. Thus, when he

Had mounted Fame's ladder so high

From the round at the top he could step to the sky,

the great President passed to his rest. Twice elected to his
high office, he was torn from it in the moment of triumph, to
be placed side by side with Washington, the one the father,
the other the savior of the Union; the one the founder of a
republic, the other the liberator of a race.

LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION.

So soon as it was known in the autumn of 1860 that Abra-
ham Lincoln was to be the next President of the United States,
he was at once beset by two pests: the office-seekers and the
men who either warned him to fear assassination or anony-
mously threatened him with it. Of the two, the office-seekers
annoyed him by far the more; they came like the plague of
locusts and devoured his time and his patience. His contempt
and disgust for them were unutterable; he said that the one
purpose in life with at least one-half of the nation seemed to
be that they should live comfortably at the expense of the
other half. But it was the fashion of the people, and he was
obliged to endure the affliction, however, it might stir his in-
dignation and contempt. The matter of assassination he was
more free to treat as he chose. A curious incident, strangely
illustrating the superstitious element in his nature, was nar-
rated by him as follows:

i 'It was just after my election in 1860, when the news had
been coming in thick and fast all day, and there had been a
great 'hurrah, boys!' so that I was well tired out and went

—66—

home to rest, throwing myself upon a lounge in my chamber.
Opposite to where I lay was a bureau with a swinging glass
upon it ; and, in looking in that glass, I saw myself reflected
nearly, at full length; but my face, I noticed, had two separate
and distinct images, the tip of the nose of one being three
inches from the tip of the other. I was a little bothered, per-
haps startled, and got up and looked in the glass; but the illu-
sion vanished. On lying down again I saw it a second time,
plainer, if possible, than before; and then I noticed that one
of the faces was a little paler— say five shades— than the other.
I got up and the thing melted away; and I went off, and in the
excitement of the hour forgot all about it, — nearly, but not
quite, for the thing would once in a while come up, and give
me a little pang, as though something uncomfortable had hap-
pened. When I went home, I told my wife about it, and a few
days after I tried the experiment again, when, sure enough, the
thing came back again; but I never succeeded in bringing the
ghost back after that, though I once tried very industriously
to show it to my wife, who was worried about it somewhat.
She thought it was 'a sign' that I was to be elected to a second
term of office, and that the paleness of one of the faces was an
omen that I should not see life through the second term."

From this time forth anonymous threats and friendly
warnings came thick and fast up to the fatal day when the real
event befell. Some of these he kept, labeled "Assassination
Letters." Before he left Springfield for his journey to Wash-
ington, many ingenious fears were suggested to him; but, ex-
cept for his change of route toward the close of his journey.
none of these pres agings visibly influenced him, and his
change of purpose concerning the passage through Baltimore
was never afterward recalled by him without vexation. From
this time forth he resolutely ignored all danger of this kind.
During most of the time that he was in office any one could
easily call upon him, unguarded, at the White House: he

-$7—

moved through the streets of Washington like any private
citizen; and he drove about the environs, and habitually in
the warm season took the long drive to and from the Soldiers'
Home, with substantially no protection. When, at last, a
guard at the White House and an escort upon his drives were
fairly forced upon him by Mr. Stanton (who was declared by
the gossip of the unfriendly to be somewhat troubled with phy-
sical timidity) , he rebelled against these incumbrances upon
his freedom, and submitted, when he had to do so, with an ill
grace. To those who remonstrated with him upon his careless-
ness he made various replies. Sometimes, half jocosely, he said
that it was hardly likely that any intelligent Southerner would
care to get rid of him in order to set either Vice-President
Hamlin or, later, Vice-President Johnson, in his place. At
other times he said: "What is the use of setting up the gap,
when the fence is down all round ?" or, "I do not see that I
can make myself secure except by shutting myself up in an
iron box, and in that condition I think I could hardly satis-
factorily transact the business of the presidency." Again he
said: "If I am killed, I can die but once; but to live in con-
stant dread of it, is to die over and over again. ' ' This was
an obvious reflection, easy enough of suggestion for any one
who was not within the danger line; but to live every day in
accordance with it, when the danger was never absent, called
for a singular tranquility of temperament, and a kind of cour-
age in which brave men are notoriously apt to be deficient.

On April 9th the President was coming up the Potomac in
a steamer from City Point; the Comte de Chambrun was of
the party and relates that, as they were nearing Washington,
Mrs. Lincoln, who had been silently gazing toward the town,
said: "That city is filled with our enemies;" Thereupon Mr.
Lincoln somewhat impatiently retorted: "Enemies 1 we must
never speak of that!" For he was resolutely cherishing the
impossible idea that Northerners and Southerners were to be

—68—

enemies no longer, but that a pacification of the spirit was
coming throughout the warring land contemporaneously with
the cessation of hostilities, a dream romantic and hopelessly
incapable of realization, but humane and beautiful. Since he
did not live to endeavor to transform it into a fact, and
thereby, perhaps, to have his efforts cause even seriously inju-
rious results, it is open to us to forget the impracticability of
the fancy and to revere the nature which in such an hour could
give birth to such a purpose.

The fourteenth day of April was Friday — Good Friday.
Many religious persons afterward ventured to say that if the
President had not been at the theatre npon that sacred day,
the awful tragedy might never have occurred at all. Others,
however, not less religiously disposed, were impressed by the
coincidence that the fatal shot was fired upon that day which the
Christian world had agreed to adopt as the anniversary of the
crucifixion of the Saviour of mankind. General Grant and
his wife were in Washington on that day and the President
invited them to go with him to see the play at Ford's Theatre
in the evening, but personal engagements called them north-
ward. In the afternoon the President drove out with his wife
and again the superstitious element comes in; for he appeared
in such good spirits as he chatted cheerfully of the past and
future, that she uneasily remarked to him: ? 'I have seen you
thus only once before; it was just before our dear Willie
died." Such a frame of mind, however, under the circum-
stances at that time must be regarded as entirely natural
rather than as ominous.

About nine o'clock in the evening the President entered
his box at the theatre; with him were his wife, Major Rathbone
and a lady; the box had been decorated with an American
flag, of which the folds swept down to the stage. Unfortu-
nately it had also been tampered with, in preparation for the
plans of the conspirators. Between it and the corridor was a

—69—

small vestibule; and a stout stick of wood had been so ar-
ranged that it could in an instant be made to fasten securely,
on the inside, the door which opened from the corridor into
this vestibule. Also in the door which led from the vestibule
into the box itself a hole had been cut, through which the
situation of the different persons in the box could be clearly
seen. Soon after the party had entered, when the cheering had
subsided and the play was going forward, just after ten o'clock,
a man approached through the corridor, pushed his visit-
ing card into the hands of the attendant who sat there, hast-
ily entered the vestibule and closed and fastened the door
behind him. A moment later the noise of a pistol shot as-
tounded every one, and instantly a man was seen at the front
of the President's box; Major Rathbone sprang to grapple
with him, but was severely slashed in the arm and failed to
retard his progress; he vaulted over the rail to the stage, but
caught his spur in the folds of the flag, so that he did not
alight fairly upon his feet; but he instantly recovered himself,
and with a visible limp in his gait hastened across the stage;
as he went, he turned toward the audience, brandished the
bloody dagger with which he had just struck Rathbone, and
cried "Sic semper tyrannis!" Some recognized John Wilkes
Booth, an actor of melo-dramatic characters. The door at
the back of the theatre was held open for him by Edward
Spangler, an employe, and in the alley hard by a boy, also
employed about the theatre, was holding the assassin's horse,
saddled and bridled. Booth kicked the boy aside, with a
curse, climbed into the saddle with difficulty, — for the small
bone of his leg between the knee and ankle had been broken in
his fall upon the stage, — and rode rapidly away into the night.
Amid the confusion, jio efficient pursuit was made.

-70-

PART II.

FACTS ABOUT

THE LINCOLN MEDICINES.

\7I/e BEG to call the attention of the public to
the complete line of the Lincoln Medicines.
The proprietors have spared no expense to make
these remedies the best of their kind on the market.
All of the ingredients contained in the Lincoln
Medicines are the purest and of the finest quality
to be had.

The Lincoln Proprietary Company have ob-
served the advantage of giving to the public even
at a great expense, pure medicines which possess
merit, at small profit, rather than a cheap medicine
with absolutely no merit and big profits. The
enormous sale of these medicines and the numer-
ous testimonials for their merit have amply paid
the proprietors for giving the public honest goods.
We trust whoever picks up this book will read
the same, and if you have any ailment for which
the Lincoln Medicines are adapted, you will give
them a trial and see the good results of an honest
remedy.

LINCOLN PROPRIETARY CO.

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

— TZ-

[INCOLN TEA

Is a wonderful medicine. It is a remedy that makes people
well. First prescribed by the greatest physician this country
has ever known, it was at once recognized as a boon to
humanity, and has been prescribed and recommended by
physicians of every class everywhere.

There are a greater number of imitations of Lincoln Tea,
which possess not one particle of merit, but the original and
Famous Tea is Lincoln.

The herbs used in the manufacture of Lincoln Tea are col-
lected from different portions of the globe. Some are imported
from the land of the Pyramid and Mummy; some grow under
the sunny skies of Italy; some are gathered on the shores
washed by the Baltic Sea. All contribute some specific qual-
ity for which they are noted, and when combined and com-
pounded together form a medicine which stays the ravages of
disease, restores the weakened system to its normal condition
and HEALTH, the AIM, is reached. K -

Every family should keep constantly on hand some simple,
effective remedy, reliably known to produce healthy conditions
to the human system.

Thinking people everywhere agree that simplicity is the
great desideratum. What then, is the test by which the en-
quirer may exactly know what fills the above requirements?
We answer: ^OOK UP THE RECORD OF LINCOLN TEA.
Here you will find a medicine which removes causes, and con-
sequently cures disease. Compare, too, its gentle yet thorough
working with the former prevalent methods resulting in violent
purging and griping, which left the system in such an exhaust-
ed condition that frequent relapses were the result. Lincoln
Tea is GUARANTEED NOT TO GRIPE.

CERTAIN CURE FOR SICK HEADACHE.

-73—

POSITIVE CURE FOR CONSTIPATION.

Are you not willing to accord a fair trial to a remedy
whose virtues have built up senile age to a semblance of
youth, have aided those in middle life to turn the treacherous
point which makes or mars their future, have enabled blushing
and beautiful youth to build up healthy constitutions, the true
foundation of happiness and prosperity.

THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN,

With that "run-down" feeling written' all over their faces,
unable to work, without courage, have recovered health, heart
and ambition through this remarkable remedy for the blood.
It purines the blood. It enriches the blood. It generally stirs
liver and kidneys and other organs destined to keep sweet
and clean the vital machinery.

Within a very few days after LINCOLN TEA is taken
regularly there will be a marked improvement in the general
health; strength will become more enduring, the body plumper,
the spirits better and the breath sweeter — all declaring in the
plainest terms a healthier action of the blood.

WOMEN TROUBLED with pain at the time of the usual
"monthly sickness," and those just entering motherhood, will
find relief on taking a single dose. If you have Jaundice, or
suffer from irregular conditions of the bowels resulting from
constipation, try LINCOLN TEA. It will cure you.

CHANGE OF LIFE.

This is a very "critical period" in the life of women, and
generally occurs between the age of forty and forty-five years.
This stoppage of the menses often produces heart trouble, ner-
vousness, insanity, general debility and serious disorders of
the internal organs.

—74—

JINCOLN TEA

Positirely removes all dangers arising from the changes
of life:

Mrs. J. H. Carso, of Streator, Ills., writes as follows:
Lincoln Proprietary Company, Fort Wayne, Ind.:

Gentlemen: I feel that it is my duty to tell you the won-
derful benefit your LINCOLN TEA has done me. I had been
sick for many months, unable to do anything about the house,
had grown very thin and was getting thinner. The cause of
my sickness was brought about by a misfortune during the
peri6d known as "change of life." My doctor had given me
up, and, in fact, I had given up all hope of recovery myself.
One day a man left a sample of your blessed medicine at our
home. My daughter made the sample up for me according to
directions, I drank the cupful, and was astonished at the
result. I slept better that night than I had for months. I pur-
chased some of the Tea of the druggist. I have now taken s>ix
boxes and feel like a young woman; have gained twenty-three
pounds in flesh and am happy. I wish I could let every
woman in the world know what a wonderful medicine LIN-
COLN TEA is. Wishing you all the success in the world, I
am your friend. Mrs. J. H. Carso.

FOR THE COMPLEXION.!

LINCOLN TEA is incomparable in its effects. Where is
there a woman, be she duchess or dairy maid, that does not
court a fair skin? Even the lords of creation sometimes find
themselves in a blotchy, pimpled condition, offensive to the eye.

Now we place before you, the human family, male and
female, young and old, a means by which this adjunct of
beauty can be readily attained.

CERTAIN CURE FOB SICK HEADACHE.

—75—

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF BAD SKIN ?

Sluggish circulation and bad digestion. Remove the
cause of the above condition, and marked improvement will
be discovered, often within one week.

Health alone paints upon the cheek the charming rose-
tinted symbol desired by nature herself, and which is never
successfully imitated by cosmetics.

LINCOLN TEA FOR STOMACH, BOWELS AND LIVER.

Regularity can never be successfully established by the
use of drastic medicines — for the reason that the vitality is
always lowered by its use below recuperation point. Nature
teaches us to husband our energies, not to tear down before
we build up. Vegetable Remedies are confessedly mild in
their effects upon the human system, and among these LIN-
COLN TEA stands paramount. Deceit is impossible, for each
one sees for himself. No man, woman or child need misun-
derstand conditions or their care.

LINCOLN TEA is one of the grandest and most perfect
Blood Purifiers in the World.

DYSPEPSIA AND STOMACH TROUBLE.

Symptoms.— Bad taste in the mouth, furred tongue, offen-
sive breath, belching of wind, distress before or after eating,
fainting, dizziness, palpitation of the heart, headache, heart-
burn, blurred vision, colic, imperfect circulation, the mind
becomes affected, low spirits, fretfulness and irritability fol-
low and insanity often results.

LINCOLN TEA cures all forms of stomach trouble and
indigestion. It invigorates, soothes and heals stomachs where
the lining has been impaired by physics and strong drugs.
CERTAIN CURE FOR SICK HEADACHE.
—76—

FOR THE LIVER.

Over half of the suicides in this country can be traced to a
disordered liver. In fact, there is no other disease that has
such a depressing effiect on the patient as disease of the liver.
Thousands of people are to-day doctoring for some imaginary
ailment, who, if their liver were working in a healthy manner,
would be in perfect health. The liver acts as a purifier of the
blood, and above all other members of the body, should be
attended to carefully.

SYMPTOMS.— Yellowish, hue of the eyes and cheeks, a
frequent rising of a bitter substance, leaving a bad taste in the
mouth, a dull, heavy headache, coated tongue, highly colored
urine, wind on the stomach, pain and soreness under the right
side under the lower ribs, sick headache, dull spirits and rest-
less nights.

LINCOLN TEA is a guaranteed cure for all diseases of
the liver. It acts immediately and leaves none of the bad
effects that result from calomel and other poisonous drugs.

FEMALE DISORDER.

Women suffer from many symptoms of the most distress-
ing characters as a result of the womb and ovaries.

SYMPTOMS. — Dragging down pains in small of back,
scant flow with clots, or excessive flow, irregular menstrua-
tion, leucorrhoea or whites, tired and all-gone feeling, feeling
more tired in the morning than when retiring, headache,
pain in top of head, sensation as of a ball rising in the throat
that causes a sensation of choking, scant or frequent desire to
pass water that sometimes causes scalding.

LINCOLN TEA is generally adapted for the speedy and
permanent cure of all diseases peculiar to women. It not only
CERTAIN CUBE FOB SICK HEADACHE.
—77—

POSITIVE CUBE FOE CONSTIPATION.

quiets and soothes the deranged parts, but tones and builds
up the entire system and by this means improves the general
health and restores the generative organs to a normal and
healthy condition.

In suppressed menstruation the LINCOLN TANSY PILLS
are recommended.

RHEUMATISM.

In the majority of cases rheumatism is due to derangement
of the kidneys, impoverished condition of the blood, or sud-
den cold.

SYMPTOMS. — Pain, soreness, stiffness and lameness in
the neck, shoulders, back, loins, limbs, or feet.

ACUTE CASES are accompanied with high fever, redness
and swelling of parts affected, scanty secretions.

CHRONIC CASES are designated by lameness, stiffness,
pain, aching and distortion of the limbs.

LUMBAGO. — Pain with sudden catch in the small of the
back, worse on rising from bed or chair; or constant dull
gains in the back or loins.

SCIATICA. — Severe shooting, drawing pains or continu-
ous dull, heavy aching in the hip, thigh, leg or foot, some-
times accompanied with numbness.

LINCOLN TEA will cure Rheumatism in any part of the
body. Acute or Muscular Rheumatism cured in from one to
five days; Chronic Rheumatism, Sciatica, Lumbago, are re-
lieved in a short time and permanently cured in a few days.

For external application the LINCOLN PAIN CURE is a
sure relief for severe pains.

We wish to caution the public and our friends against
imitations of LINCOLN TEA and against vile compounds.
CERTAIN CUBE FOR SICK HEADACHE.
— 7S—

POSITIVE CURE FOR CONSTIPATION.

Why pay a dollar for a bottle of nasty mixture which will do
you no good, when you can procure for 25 cents, a package of
LINCOLN TEA made of pure, fresh herbs, full of merit and
guaranteed to cure? Give in a trial.

LINCOLN TEA MAKES WILL SHARP, OF ABINGTON,
ILLS., HAPPY AND FAT— LISTEN.

Gentlemen : — I think it my duty to bear testimony to the
excellence of your LINCOLN TEA. Some time ago I got hold
of a sample package, and from that time to this I have not been
without it. Since I first commenced using it I have gained
eighteen pounds in weight. It is a most excellent remedy for a
diseased stomach. I wish you could get every person suffer-
ing with this ailment to use LINCOLN TEA.

Sincerely, WILL SHARP.

Chester Farrell, a noted physician, writes under date of
April 8, 1894:
Lincoln Proprietary Company:

Dear Sirs: — We have used your Tea and found its med-
ical properties for diseases of the kidneys and liver unequalled.
Yours, etc., CHESTER FARRELL.

CURED AFTER YEARS OF SUFFERING.

Oliver Holmes, of Bloomington, writes:

Gentlemen: — I am a book-keeper and have suffered for
years with habitual constipation, and the natural consequences
of such condition, dizzy headache, foul breath, etc. I had used
pills by the hundreds and other medicine, all of which afforded
me no relielf . I got a sample of your LINCOLN TEA one day

CERTAIN CUBE FOB SICE HEADACHE.

—79—

POSITIVE CURE FOR CONSTIPATION.

and derived much benefit from the first dose. I have been
using it ever since and am entirely cured. My system is regu-
lar and my general health much improved.

OLIVER HOLMES.

A BOON TO WOMANKIND.

Aunt Lydia's Anastringent— Vegetable Pastiles.

THE MOST REMARKABLE TREATMENT FOR DISEASES
OF WOMEN EVER DISCOVERED.

A Positive Cure for Congestion,
Granulation,
Inflammation
Leucorrhoea, {Whites)
Prolapsus,
All Displacements,
Diseases of the Ovaries,
And Menstruation.
The results from the use of Aunt Lydia's Anastringent
(Vegetable Pastiles) are astonishing. The medicine proves
more effectual than any treatment in the world. It is in ad-
vance of any medicine ever offered to suffering women for
diseases peculiar to their sex.

To satisfy any woman suffering from female weakness of
the wonderful merits of Anastringent, and enable them to give
the remedy a trial, FREE samples will be sent to any lady
sending her name and address to

LINCOLN PROPRIETARY CO.,

Fort Wayne, Indiana.

-80-

SPRING MEDICINES.

In the spring everybody needs, and should take a spring
medicine. Not only is this a common practice, but a very
necessary and healthful one. It is a fact which physicians
acknowledge and the people recognize generally, that a spring
tonic, taken during the months of March, April and May, is
more conducive to the restoration of health, in cases of those
who are sick, than any other course of treatment that can
possibly be adopted.

It is further understood by everybody that even for those
who call themselves well, it is very important at this season
of the year, if they would maintain good health and vigor, to
take a spring remedy to strengthen and invigorate the nerves,
tone up the action of all the organs, and thus, by creating a
healthy condition of the nerves, blood, liver, kidneys and
bowels, assist nature in the efforts she always makes in the
spring to cleanse, purify and invigorate the system.

In the spring there are a great many and important
changes going on in the body. Perfect health can not be
maintained while the system is clogged and the organs slug-
gish, and the person has a languid and weakened feeling, with
more or less nervousness and debility.

WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

The Spring Medicine should be some mild stimulating
remedy, known to possess qualities of medicinal character,
and not a vile, nauseating mixture of which you know nothing,
but a simple, honest, preparation. Herb Remedies are ac-
knowledged to be the best for such cases, and of these none are
equal to LINCOLN TEA.

CERTAIN CUBE FOR SICK HEADACHE.

—81—

POSITIVE CTTRE FOR CONSTIPATION.

It is mild, pleasant and effective, and is recommended by
druggists, physicians and people everywhere.

No remedy in the world is so sure to bring back bloom
and color into the wan and faded cheeks, the brilliancy to the
hollow and haggard eyes, the lightness and elasticity to the
weak and weary steps, the strength and vitality to the un-
strung, shattered and worn-out nerves. It is, indeed, the
greatest of all spring medicines, for it makes those who use it
well and strong.

Beauty lies less in the features than in the condition and
expression of the face. The Creator has endowed every woman
with beauty, and every woman in good health, who is of a cheer-
ful nature, is beautiful and comely to look upon. A clear, fresh,
wholesome look is the result of the possession of good health, and
no woman can be beautiful and attractive without good health.
The dull, dead, gnawing pain, the sense of nervousness, weak-
ness, oppression and discouragement, the tired, listless, lan-
guid feeling, the shooting pains, the aching head, pain in the
back, all these are symptoms of a disordered 6ystem, and all
these are beauty killers, producers of dull, leaden complexions,
unnatural flushings, dark circles under the eyes, black-heads,
lustreless eyes and other disfigurements which divest women
of their natural gift of beauty. Why be homely when you can
be beautiful and attractive? Get good health, and with it
those looks and attributes which attract, please and fascinate.
It is within your power to do so, for it is within every woman's
power to be well and strong, and hence look her best, if she
will use LINCOLN TEA to give her strong, vigorous nerves,
pure, rich blood, a pure complexion, and thus restore the
energies and vitality of sound and perfect health.

A deranged stomach cannot digest food properly. Undi-

CERTAIN CURE FOR SICK HEADACHE.

—82—

POSITIVE CURE FOE CONSTIPATION.

gested food sours or rots in the stomach. That plays havoc
with the whole of nature's plan of sustaining life. Gas gene-
rates and swells the stomach to large proportions. The ner-
vous system becomes excited. The heart gallops and palpi-
tates. The liver is overloaded with corrupt matter, the bowels
are unable to dispose of it fast enough, and the blood is cor-
rupted. What is to be done? Simply assist the stomach,
liver and bowels with that greatest of all regulators — LIN-
COLN TEA. It unloads the bowels, stimulates the liver and
invigorates the stomach. Nature does the rest.

Constipation of the bowels is the result or cause of more
ill health and suffering than almost any other complaint. The
bowels are to the body what the sewers are to a great city .
If the sewer is clogged, the deadly gas permeates every house
and scatters the seeds of all diseases throughout the city.
Constipated bowels sow the seeds of dyspepsia, liver complaint,
impure blood, piles, irregular and painful menstruation and
many other derangements from which women suffer. LIN-
COLN TEA relieves constipation at once, regulates digestion,
invigorates the liver, and, by persistent use, makes a perma-
nent cure.

OEBTAIN CURE FOB SICK HEADACHE.

-83—

\

Fill a glass or dish with uririe and let it stand
twenty -four hours. If it stains the glass, or de-
posits a sediment, there is trouble for you unless
you have treatment. You may not have kidney
disease, but you have some derangement of the
kidneys, liver, stomach or bowels. LINCOLN
TEA has cured hundreds of cases of so-called
Bright's Disease, simply by regulating the diges-
tion, unloading the bowels and stimulating the
liv#r.

PART III.

LINCOLN'S EARLY HOME IN ILLINOIS.

MRS. SARAH BUSH LINCOLN.

Lincoln's Beloved Stepmother.

i

y

■«i;

W. H. KERNDON,

Lincoln's Law Partner, Springfield, 111