Lincoln's Yarns and Stories [91]
man is more favorable now than it was in the days of the Revolution.
"In those days, by common consent, the spread of the black man's bondage in the new countries was prohibited; but now Congress decides that it will not continue the prohibition, and the Supreme Court decides that it could not if it would.
"In those days, our Declaration of Independence was held sacred by all, and thought to include all; but now, to aid in making the bondage of the negro universal and eternal, it is assailed and sneered at, and constructed and hawked at, and torn, till, if its framers could rise from their graves, they could not at all recognize it.
"All the powers of earth seem combining against the slave; Mammon is after him, ambition follows, philosophy follows, and the theology of the day is fast joining the cry."
LINCOLN MADE MANY NOTABLE SPEECHES.
Abraham Lincoln made many notable addresses and speeches during his career previous to the time of his election to the Presidency.
However, beautiful in thought and expression as they were, they were not appreciated by those who heard and read them until after the people of the United States and the world had come to understand the man who delivered them.
Lincoln had the rare and valuable faculty of putting the most sublime feeling into his speeches; and he never found it necessary to incumber his wisest, wittiest and most famous sayings with a weakening mass of words.
He put his thoughts into the simplest language, so that all might comprehend, and he never said anything which was not full of the deepest meaning.
WHAT AILED THE BOYS.
Mr. Roland Diller, who was one of Mr. Lincoln's neighbors in Springfield, tells the following:
"I was called to the door one day by the cries of children in the street, and there was Mr. Lincoln, striding by with two of his boys, both of whom were wailing aloud. 'Why, Mr. Lincoln, what's the matter with the boys?' I asked.
"'Just what's the matter with the whole world,' Lincoln replied. 'I've got three walnuts, and each wants two.'"
TAD'S CONFEDERATE FLAG.
One of the prettiest incidents in the closing days of the Civil War occurred when the troops, 'marching home again,' passed in grand form, if with well-worn uniforms and tattered bunting, before the White House.
Naturally, an immense crowd had assembled on the streets, the lawns, porches, balconies, and windows, even those of the executive mansion itself being crowded to excess. A central figure was that of the President, Abraham Lincoln, who, with bared head, unfurled and waved our Nation's flag in the midst of lusty cheers.
But suddenly there was an unexpected sight.
A small boy leaned forward and sent streaming to the air the banner of the boys in gray. It was an old flag which had been captured from the Confederates, and which the urchin, the President's second son, Tad, had obtained possession of and considered an additional triumph to unfurl on this all-important day.
Vainly did the servant who had followed him to the window plead with him to desist. No, Master Tad, Pet of the White House, was not to be prevented from adding to the loyal demonstration of the hour.
To his surprise, however, the crowd viewed it differently. Had it floated from any other window in the capital that day, no doubt it would have been the target of contempt and abuse; but when the President, understanding what had happened, turned, with a smile on his grand, plain face, and showed his approval by a gesture and expression, cheer after cheer rent the air.
CALLED BLESSINGS ON THE AMERICAN WOMEN.
President Lincoln attended a Ladies' Fair for the benefit of the Union soldiers, at Washington, March 16th, 1864.
In his remarks he said:
"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 soldiers. 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
"In those days, by common consent, the spread of the black man's bondage in the new countries was prohibited; but now Congress decides that it will not continue the prohibition, and the Supreme Court decides that it could not if it would.
"In those days, our Declaration of Independence was held sacred by all, and thought to include all; but now, to aid in making the bondage of the negro universal and eternal, it is assailed and sneered at, and constructed and hawked at, and torn, till, if its framers could rise from their graves, they could not at all recognize it.
"All the powers of earth seem combining against the slave; Mammon is after him, ambition follows, philosophy follows, and the theology of the day is fast joining the cry."
LINCOLN MADE MANY NOTABLE SPEECHES.
Abraham Lincoln made many notable addresses and speeches during his career previous to the time of his election to the Presidency.
However, beautiful in thought and expression as they were, they were not appreciated by those who heard and read them until after the people of the United States and the world had come to understand the man who delivered them.
Lincoln had the rare and valuable faculty of putting the most sublime feeling into his speeches; and he never found it necessary to incumber his wisest, wittiest and most famous sayings with a weakening mass of words.
He put his thoughts into the simplest language, so that all might comprehend, and he never said anything which was not full of the deepest meaning.
WHAT AILED THE BOYS.
Mr. Roland Diller, who was one of Mr. Lincoln's neighbors in Springfield, tells the following:
"I was called to the door one day by the cries of children in the street, and there was Mr. Lincoln, striding by with two of his boys, both of whom were wailing aloud. 'Why, Mr. Lincoln, what's the matter with the boys?' I asked.
"'Just what's the matter with the whole world,' Lincoln replied. 'I've got three walnuts, and each wants two.'"
TAD'S CONFEDERATE FLAG.
One of the prettiest incidents in the closing days of the Civil War occurred when the troops, 'marching home again,' passed in grand form, if with well-worn uniforms and tattered bunting, before the White House.
Naturally, an immense crowd had assembled on the streets, the lawns, porches, balconies, and windows, even those of the executive mansion itself being crowded to excess. A central figure was that of the President, Abraham Lincoln, who, with bared head, unfurled and waved our Nation's flag in the midst of lusty cheers.
But suddenly there was an unexpected sight.
A small boy leaned forward and sent streaming to the air the banner of the boys in gray. It was an old flag which had been captured from the Confederates, and which the urchin, the President's second son, Tad, had obtained possession of and considered an additional triumph to unfurl on this all-important day.
Vainly did the servant who had followed him to the window plead with him to desist. No, Master Tad, Pet of the White House, was not to be prevented from adding to the loyal demonstration of the hour.
To his surprise, however, the crowd viewed it differently. Had it floated from any other window in the capital that day, no doubt it would have been the target of contempt and abuse; but when the President, understanding what had happened, turned, with a smile on his grand, plain face, and showed his approval by a gesture and expression, cheer after cheer rent the air.
CALLED BLESSINGS ON THE AMERICAN WOMEN.
President Lincoln attended a Ladies' Fair for the benefit of the Union soldiers, at Washington, March 16th, 1864.
In his remarks he said:
"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 soldiers. 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