Corvallis gazette., February 12, 1904, Page 3, Image 3

HAPPENINGS HERE IN OREGON
PLAN FOR QOOD ROADS.
Linn Supervisors Will Work Together
on a Common Plan.
Albany Pursuant to the call
TnfltTA Palmer, the road supervisors
the county met with the county court,
now in sesison, and the question of
general road improvement was dis
cussed in all its phases. The discus
ision was perfectly informal, and the
methods in use in the various districts
nf the rnnntv were compared, both
as
to amounts of money expended and re
cnlta nhtained. There were 27 road
supervisors present, being all the supr
ervisors in the county except one. - The
members of the court and two road
maatora WPrA fl.lfln Present.
&a a result nf the meetiner a. uniform
system of road building and improve
ment was adopted for use all over the
county. The grades will be of a un
form width, the gravel covering of un
frrm depth, etc. More monev will be
I- j - t
expended on road improvement than in
years gone by. Linn county has re
ceived from the state this year moneys
to the amount of $2,146, representing
this county's share of the moneys re
ceived by the state of Oregon from the
sale of eovernment lands. It has been
-decided to devote this money to the im
t of the public roads in Linn
county. The money will be expended
in those districts which are willing to
help themselves.
Every district will be given $75 of
this money at the start, provided the
district contributes a like sum. In
this way it is thought the people of
verv district will be encouraged to
spend some time and money in the
improvement of their roads, and that
gradually an interest will be aroused
in iha cmnA rnnris movement which will
result in passable' highways over the
entire county.
SIGNATURES ARB ALL COUNTED.
Local Option Petition Had 8,81o Names
Direct Primaries, 8746.
Salem Secretary of State Dunbar
has finished counting the signatures
on the initiative petitions and finds
,that there are 8,816 names on the local
option petition and 8,746 on that for
the direct primary law. The equal
suffrage amendment petitions were not
filed. A few petitions were sent in
from independent sources, but the large
number of petitions prepared under
the direction of the leaders of the
equal suffrage movement were not pre
sented to the secretary of state.
The secretary of state has officially
notified the governor that the petitions
have been filed and the governor will
issue a proclamation setting forth the
substance of the proposed laws and
notifying the voters that the measures
will be submitted at the June election.
The proclamation will be published in
one newspaper in each judicial district.
Creamery for La Grande.
La Grande Arrangements have been
perfected for a creamery in La Grande,
which will be in operation about the
middle of March. The machinery has
been sent for and a car load will arrive
here March 1. Harper & Smith, who
are so successfully operating creameries
at the Cove and at Union, are the pro
moters of the enterprise here, and will
Tun it under the name of Harper,
Smith & Co. In a recent partial can
vass Mr. Harper was able to secure the
product of 250 cows, and the number
will be greatly increased when the
creamery is started. The business
men and the farmers are encouraging
the project.
Biggest Spruce on Earth.
Astoria V. S. Linkhart, of Neha
lem City, has discovered what is be
lieved to be the largest spruce tree in
the world. The monster tree is locat
ed in God's valley, on the south fork
of the Nehalem river, about 12 miles
from Nehalem City. The tree meas
ures 21 feet in diameter and 63 feet in
circumference. Its "height was not
measured, but Linkhart expresses the
belief that it is easily monarch of the
northern forests in this respect as well
as in others. God's valley is the loca
tion of the largest trees ever discovered
in Northwestern Oregon.
Strike Big Ledge of Cinnabar.
Cottage Grove Three pioneer pros
pectors of Bohemia, Ed Jenks, Ben
"Curry and George Kerns, while out
from Bohemia for a vacation, heard of
a large ledge of some character up
Mosby creek, some five miles east of
here. Upon investigation they discov
ered a strong and well defined ledge of
cinnabar. They began at once to run
a surface crosscut and so far found the
ledge to be 50 feet in width and from
the pannings show a good prospect of
quicksilver, and some native quicksil
ver can be seen in the ore.
Wood Is No Cheaper.
Pendleton Notwithstanding that
there is a good supply of wood on hand,
nrioes remain the same as they were '
when the cry went up last fall that ,
there would be a scarcity. Ihe Dest
quality of wood is still selling at $7
per cord, the price which prevailed
early in the season. Wood has been
at a higher price this -season than for a
number of years, although more coal
has been used this winter than ever be
fore. Coming Events.
Oregon Christain Endeavor conven
tion, Fendleton, February 19-22.
College oratorical contest, Pacific
university, Forest Grove, March 13.
Dog show, Portland, April 20-23.
State convention, Knights of the
Maccabees, Portland, March 22.
CATTLE STARVING ON RANGES.
Forehanded Ranchers Alone are Saving
Stock by Dry Feed.
Eugene Stockraisers in this county
are beignning to realize that winter
feeding is necessary even in an unusu
ally mild winter like the present.
This month and next are the months
when the greatest losses occur on the
ranges, and from all reports the losses
will be almost as great this winetr as
in those winters when we have had
snow and freezing weather.
Until a few weeks past cattle have
been getting along fairly well without
dry feed, but now feeding is general, ;
except in cases where the farmers have
no reserve supply, and in such cases
stock is being lost. In some sections I
of the county quite a number of cattle I
have died from exposure and insuffi
cient nourishment, the pastures being
eaten down' to the roots and no hay to
pitch to the hungry brutes. j
This is only a beginning, and before
the end of March many of the stacks
of hay will be exhaiisted, and stock
men realize that considerable losses
will be sustained. Cattle which have
been running in the foothills of the
Cascades, and which did well until a
month ago, have now been driven
down to the valley by the snows, and
they are dependent on dry feed. j
Even if grass were to grow now it
would only be slight help, as the first
grass of the spring possesses little nour
ishment. Enter Large Body of Base Ore.
Cottage Grove The Vesuvius min
ing company, of Bohemia, reports that
an immense body of ore has just been
entered in the lower working tunnel.
The ore body is several feet wide and
of a base character, carrying copper,
lead and iron. This tunnel is in 160
feet, and when .he proper distance is
attained will top this property at a
vertical depth of 100 feet from the
apex of the mountain. The Vesuvius
property has several thousand feet of
tunnels, consisting of drifts and up
raises above this level.
Big Nuggets are Common.
Grants Pass The Grants Pass bank
ing and trust company received this j
week from the Oscar creek mines a
handsome bunch of nuggets, the largest
of which weighs nearly $40. This is J
not the same $40 piece that was found j
last week. Nuggets of this size are '
found so frequently on Oscar creek that j
their discovery causes little comment.
A number of other handsome pieces
ranging in value from $15 down are in
cluded in the collection.
Look to the Rogue River.
Jacksonville Indications are that
the year 1904 will witness the largest
immigration ever known to ihe Rogue
river valley. More immigrants have
come in this winter than is usual for
the time of the year and houses are in
demand in every town in the valley.
The Jacksonville board of trade, as a
result of some judicious advertising, is
in receipt of a large number of letters
of inquiry, letters coming from almost
every state of the union .
- Cattle Deal at Pendleton.
Pendleton Max Jackson, a promi
nent cattle man of North Yakima, has
just closed a deal with Receiver Taylor
for C. B. Wade's cattle aggregating
nearly 700. He pays an average price
of about $16 per head, making the deal
one of about $10,000. It is the largest
cattle transaction made here in years.
PORTLAND MARKETS.
Wheat Walla Walla, 75c;
blue-
stem, 8081c; valley, 7980c.
Barley Feed, $20 per ton; brewing,
$20(320.50; rolled, $21.
Flour Valley, $3.753.85 per- bar
rel; hard wheat straights, $3.904.10;
clears, $3.553.75; hard wheat pat
ents, $4.204.50; graham, $3.75;
whole wheat, $4; . rye flour, $4.50
4.75.
Millstuffs Bran, $1818.50 per
ton; middlings, $26; shorts, $19.50
20; chop, $18; linseed, dairy food, $19.
Hay Timothy, $15 16 per ton;
clover, $1213; grain, $1213; cheat,
$1213.
Butter Sweet cream butter, 32c
per pound ; fancy creamery, 30c ; choice
creamery, 25 27c; dairy, 2022Kc;
store, 1214c.
Butter Fat Sweet cream, 31c; sour
cream, 29c.
Poultry Chickens, mixed, 114
12c per pound; springs, small, 1314c;
hens, 1212sc; turkeys, live, 15
16c; dressed, 1820c; ducks, $89
per dozen; geese, live, 8c per pound.
Cheese Full cream, twins, 14c;
Young America, 15c.
Eggs Oregon ranch, 26c per dozen.
Vegetables Turnips, 80c per sack;
carrots, SOc; beets, $1; parsnips, $1;
parsley, per dozen, 25c; tomatoes,
$1.502 per crate; celery, 6575c per
dozen; pumkpins, lc per pound; on
ions, Yellow Danvers, $1.351.50 per
sack.
Honey $33.50 per case.
Potatoes Fancy, 75 80c per sack;
common, 6075c; sweets, 2jc in
sacks; 2c in crates.
Apples Fancy Baldwins and Spitz
enberrgs, $150. per box; cooking, 75c
$1.
- Hops Choice, 2729c per pound;
prime, 25c; medium, 24c.
Wool Valley, 1718c; Eastern
Oregon, 1215cc; mohair, 3235c.
Beef Dressed, 67c per pound.
Mutton Dressed, 67jc; lambs,
7sc
Veal Dressed, small, 89c; large,
56Mc.
Pork Dressed, 67c.
FOES TO AMERICA
POWERS TRIED TO HOLD UP THE
PANAMA CANAL TREATY.
Germany Tried to Oet an Island, Which
Would Give Her Practical Control of
the Route France Was Also Active
, Official Correspondence Sent to the
Senate Discloses the Fact.'
Washington, Feb. 8. The interfer
ence of foreign governments to prevent
the ratification of the Hay-Herran
treaty between the governments of the
United States and Colombia is clearly
proven by the correspondence just sent
to the senate in confidence by the pres
ident and in response to the Culberson
resolution.
The documents include dispatches
passing between Ministers Hart and
Beaupre, at Bogota, and the state de
partment relative to the Hay-Herran
treaty, the reasons for its rejection,
and the meddling of those represent
ing foreign governments. Among
these documents are cablegrams calcu
lated to prove that Germany sought to
acquire from Colombia an island in the
harbor of Cartagena for a coaling sta
tion, notwithstanding the Monroe doc
trine. This island would enable that
power to virtually control the canal
when constructed. Minister Hart
promptly notified the state department
of these negotiations.
There are also dispatches intended
to show that there was secret interfer
ence at Bogota by representatives of
European nations, notably Germany
and France, to prevent the ratfication
of the treaty. Others indicate that a
representative went to Berlin for the
purpose of seeking to sell, either to the
German government direct, or to a
syndicate of capitalists representing
the government, the shares of stock
owned by Colombia in the new Panama
canal company, and to encourage the
purchase of that company's concess
ions and property by a syndicate com
posed of British, German and French
financiers.
It is indicated that the assembling of
a large American fleet in Carribean
waters was first brought by anticipated
action from the French government in
sending warships to Colon to protect
the canal property, representations
having been made at Paris that it
would be threatened by a revolutoin on
the isthmus. There is further corres
pondence indicating the apprehension
of the American representative at Bo
gota that some of the European powers
would attack Colombia, or possibly
seize the neutral zone because of un
paid debts.
D8WEY IDEA OF SHIPS PREVAIL.
House Committee Goes on Record for
Heavy Fighting Vessels.
Washington, Feb. 8. Admiral
Dewey's suggestions in favor of heavy
fighting ships for the navy prevailed
today with the house committee on
naval affairs over the recommendation
of the general board, submitted by Sec
retary Moody. The naval appropria
tion bill was completed by the commit
tee, after a hearing granted Admiral
Dewey. It carried an aggregate appro
priation of $95,000,000. The ships
authorized are one battleship, two
armored cruisers, three scout cruisers
and two squadron colliers. The appro
priation of $500,000 made last year for
two submarine boats was reappropri
ated, the boats to be purchased in the
discretion of the secretaiy of the navy.
This building program gives a total
of 44,000 tons of heavy fighting ships,
as compared with 62,000 tons last year.
j The heavy construction provided will
cost $21,750,000, while the lighter
1 construction will bring the cost - of the
building program up to $28,000,000.
i Provision was made for an armor
plate factory to cost $4,000,000, which
the secretary of the navy is authorized
to construct, in case he cannot secure
armor from private bidders at a reason
able price; An addition of 3,000 men
is authorized to the personnel of the
navy.
America to Keep Fleet Away.
Washignton, Feb. 8. In case of a
Japanese-Russian war, the fighting
ships of the Asiatic fleet will be kept
I away from the scene of hotsilitles and
! every care will be taken to observe good
j sea manners. That the American
I navy, however, may not be without
observers of what will be the greatest
naval struggle of modern times, it is
possible several of the smaller ships of
j the fleet will be detailed to go north
i ward with competent officers, who will
be detailed to act as official observers
of this government.
Urges China to Join Japan.
London, Feb. 8. "Yuan Shi Kai
(the commander of the Chinese imper
ial army and navy) and the vice presi
dent of the war board have memorial
ized the throne, urgently insisting up
on an offensive and defensive alliance
with Japan to regain Manchuria," ca
bles the Shanghai correspondent of the
LondoGn lobe. "The memorials," the
correspondent adds, "maintain that
the Japanese are better prepared for
war than the Russians."
Buried Under Volcano Ashes.
Amsterdam, Feb. 8. The latest dis
patches received from the Dutch East
Indies, reporting the eruption of the
volcano of Merapi, in the . island of
Java, say 12 persons were burned to
death, and that 20 were severely in
jured. The eruption was accompanied
by showers of red-hot coals.
j TO ST. VALENTINE.
Valentine! Saint Valentine!
!A pilgrim to thy holy ah tine.
! Behold I come!
Footsore, and very heavy-laden
Because of love for one small maiden.
My lips are dumb.
O Valentine! Saint Valentine!
Thou know'at this little maid of mine.
This dainty sweet.
So pnre and fair that when she passes
Our gray old world grows green with
grasses
Beneath her feet;
That everywhere her dear face shows
The west wind takes it for a rose
Just newly born.
0 grant, sweet Saint, that to her know
ing r
Bat fragrance soft and bloom be showing,
Give me the thorn!
Oh, Phyllis fair! Oh, Phyllis young.
1 would mine were a poet's tongue
That I might sue;
That I might sing In golden numbers
To wake your heart from out its slumbers
My love for you.
Yet no, dear heart! The years will bring
A sweeter song than I could sing;
So slumber on.
You will awaken to discover
When he shall come that happy lover.
And I am gone.
New York Independent.
ND the girl clings to this silly no
tion? It's preposterous! If you
don't make her give up that poor
fellow and accept Rufus Clark, I'll have
no more to do with any of you. I go
to-night unless the girl gives in. She's
your daughter; make her obey!" And
Aunt Madeline walked out of the room,
leaving her uiece gentle, helpless Mrs.
Prices in despair, for well she knew that
her persuasions were powerless with loy
al Kitty Price.
Kitty, the eldest of the widow's four
children, had been Aunt Madeline's pro
tege for years. Ever since her father's
death the child had been clothed and edu
cated by this aunt of Mr. Price's, a child
less widow, who, to be near her darling
Kitty, had for the last three years board
ed with Mrs. Price, her. liberal payment
and well-chosen gifts helping out the
widow's straitened income in a way all
of them appreciated. That Aunt Made
line "should go" meant that Jack must
leave school and go to business, that the
little ones could have no new suits that
winter, that only bare necessities could
be bought, perhaps not even these. Yet
Mrs. Price felt afraid to interfere fur
ther with Kitty's choice of a husband.
It was true that the rich Rufus Clark
seemed to others fully as good a mau,
kind, steady and devoted, as Herbert
Huntley, who had a small salary and no
bright prospects. But Kitty unfortu
nately loved Herbert before Rufus ap
peared on the field, and she did not be
lieve her aunt Madeline, who assured her
that Herbert would "take to drink," or
let her support herself and her family
after a few years.
Aunt Madeline had made a love match
herself, and it had not turned out . well.
She, too, had been loved by a rich man,
and by one who, if not' poor, was not
blessed with much of this world's goods.
She persisted in marrying her choice, re
verses had come, and he, a weak charac
ter, could not bear trials, resorted to
stimulants to cheer him up, and at last
was for years dependent upon his wife
for his home and support. The rich lov
er never married, and just when Mrs.
Joyce (Aunt Madeline) was preparing to
go to work to earn her own support, he
died, leaving his one love his large for
tune. Judging by her own experience
Aunt Madeline had some excuse for ad
vocating marrying for money instead of
for love; but "all lovers don't turn out
so," Kitty argued, and was sure that
manly Herbert, who had supported his
sister for years and was thoroughly tried
by repeated disappointments and re
verses, was very different from weak,
vacillating Henry Joyce.
"I won't give him up. I ought not to.
I can't," the girl . was just repeating,
when her gentle mother; knocked at her
door. Mrs. Price was one of those wom
en who never entered a child's room with
out knocking. . She respected each one's
privacy, and perhaps it was for that rea
son that her children confided so fully in
her, taking her as their one confidant.
"Come in, Motherdy. I can see Aunt
Madeline has been tormenting you again.
Why doesn't she come to me instead of
worrying you? I think it mean, and I've
a good mind to tell her so."
"You won't have a chance, my dear;
your aunt is going to leave to-night."
"Leave! for good? O mother! and I
have done this when you peed the help
she gives so much! I wish " and Kit
ty's voice sounded so hesitatingly that
Mrs. Price ventured one last appeal.
"Kitty, dear, it is a sacrifice, and one I
cannot ask of you, but if you make it of
your own free will you are doing a great
and unselfish thing. Rufus Clark would
take Jim into his employ, your aunt
would see Jack through college, Minnie
would have a luxurious home with you,
moving in the best society, if anything
happens to me and Rufus is as good as
Herbert I cannot but think your liking
would soon grow as warm for him as for
your early love." .
The girl s face was white and fixed.
She loved her brothers and little sister
devotedly, and then, too, had not her dy
ing father begged her to be a true elder
sister to them? He might have fore
seen some trial like this, for only a day
or two before he died he said to Kitty,
when she sat alone with him.
My girl, you have a hard lot before
you the eioest aaugnter or a poor
widow you may have to sacrifice a
bright future for the sake of your orphan
brothers and sister; but do it cheerfully,
bravely, and unselfishly and God will
make such sacrifice work out for you a
far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory."
These words seemed ringing in the
poor girl's ears. She must not drive
Aunt Madeline from her mother. She
must not deprive her brothers of Rufus
aid, or Minnie of the safe refuge she
could command for her if she gave up
Herbert. With pale lips, the girl said:
"Wait a moment, mother; I'll speak to
Aunt Madeline; only let me sit alone a
while." ,
The mother, frightened at the girl's
looks, yet knowing how good and true a
man Rufus Clark was, left the room,
though longing to uphold her girl In her
first decision, and Kitty sat alone, not
wavering now, only waiting until it
should grow dusk that her face might not
betray her.
4 - f
: Aunt Madeline's Valentine. i:
.
"Government of the People, by the People, and For
the People Shall Not
Born in Hardin County Kentucky, February 12, 1809.
Died at Washington, D. C, April 15, 1865.
Meanwhile Mrs. Joyce was packing
her trunks and boxes, for she was a de
termined woman, and meant to keep her
word. A friend had repeatedly urged her
to come and keep "old maids' hall" with
her, and sometimes when the boys were
particularly quarrelsome and noisy Aunt
Madeline had felt inclined to accept, and
had hinted as much to Miss Mills, who
often said she would expect her "at any
time." So now she telegraphed to Bos
ton that she was to come by the night
train, and went to work at her packing
to keep down the feelings of regret and
compunction that threatened to over
whelm her. She decided she would not
pack all, but send or come for the rest,
and thought with relief that she need
not sort over her old mementoes of for
mer days; but there was one paper she
must get at and take with her. As 6he
turned over a box full of papers she
came across a pink envelope, worn and
faded, but one that in its day was evi
dently chosen for its beauty to hold some
dainty message.
"Harry's valentine! poor fellow, poor
fellow! My own loving Harry!" and she
opened the faded envelope with fast
falling tears. It was not Henry Joyce,
the drunkard, of whom she thought; it
was her bonnie lover of those long years
back. She seemed to be standing again,
a loving, trusting girl of eighteen, and to
see his blue eyes so full of love, so beau
tiful and true to her, beaming upon her,
as he said:
"I wrote it myself, Pet, and I want
you to keep it always from your Val
entine." "Always forever!" she had answered,
with a blush. Ah, there is always one
that gives, and one that takes, in love
affairs. If she had been the giver, pour
ing out her very life in devotion and
sacrifice for him, had she not found a
wonderful secret happiness, even in her
pain? Would she even now have her
past life different? She pressed the fad
ed valentine to her lips.
"Aunt Madeline, I have come to say
you need not pack your things. I'll give
up I'll marry Rufus Clark. Herbert
will understand, poor fellow. Do stay,
Aunt Madeline!"
"Stay! who talked of going? What
nonsense! Just because I choose to look
over my things on a rainy afternoon" (it
was . perfectly dry outside, but the old
lady was hard put to it), "to take it for
granted I am going! And as for Rufus
Clark, let him go. my child, let him go!
I suppose you want Herbert, for better,
for worse, and if it's for worse, dear,"
and the old lady's voice grew tender and
solemn. ."God will help yon. as he has
helped many another. The happiest
marriages are not always the truest
some one must bear with and sustain
the feeble ones. Keep your Herbert, as
you love him, and God bless you."
The girl longed to say, "But Herbert
is not feeble, and there won't be any
'worse,' but all "better,' in oar marriage."
but she was wise, and let the old lady
have the floor.
"There, -this old valentine conquered
me mere doggerel, I suppose, the lines
seem to you;" and Aunt Madeline read
the verses to Kitty, which were doggerel,
and probably only slightly altered from
some old book, to suit the lover's pur
pose. "Mere doggerel: but keep your
valentines, dear, when they come from
your true love; they may keep you from
being a heartless, meddlesome old
wretch, and separating two true hearts,
as I came near doing."
Kitty's mother went down to the tea
table with bread. It would be almost as
bad to learn that Aunt Madeline was to
stay and dear Kitty sacrificed, as to bid
good-by to their one well-to-do relation.
To her surprise, Kitty and Aunty entered
the dining room together, the young girl
beaming and blushing, the old lady with
a tender light in her eyes, and a delicate
flush on her withered cheek.
"It's all right, Motherdy," said Kitty,
joyously. "Aunty isn't going away, and
I needn't marry Rufus. He'll have to
wait for Minnie !"
"But I " began Mrs. Price, wonder
ingly. "Mother, St. Valentine shall be my
patron saint hereafter!"
At which speech Aunty's flush deepen
ed, though she tried to come down grace
fully from her former attitude.
"I still think Kitty Is foolish, but time
will teach her her folly!" and no one
argued to the contrary.
The wedding came off on St. Valen
tine's day, Kitty declaring that the saint
Perish from the Earth.'
would bring them luck. Minnie wore her
first "long dress," and Mr. Clark seemed
so much struck with her wonderful re
semblance to the bride that Aunty may
still have one of her nieces "married
well." Herbert in spite of Aunt Made
line's fears, seems altogether "for bet
ter" and not "for worse." He may nev
er be rich, but he fa loving and honora
ble, and on each wedding anniversary
he gives his wife a valentine, which is
carefully treasured. -But Kitty begs in
vain for the faded pink envelope and its
enclosure. "I'll leave it to you, dear,"
said Aunty, on the third anniversary of
Kitty's marriage, "but as long as I live
I'll keep my one valentine. May yours
have only sweet memories enshrined in
them! Mine, though precious, tells a
mixed tale of sorrow, hope, almost de
spair. But, through it all, hope tri
umphs." And Kitty, remembering the dying
bed, where the poor weak man had re
pented of his wasted life, felt that even
Aunt Madeline's choice had not been so
utterly a mistake as some would insist.
The Housewife.
LINCOLN'S LAW PARTNER.
Hiram W. Beckwith, from 1856 to
1861 a partner of Abraham Lincoln, died
recently at St. Luke's hospital in Chi
cago, aged 72. Mr.
Beckwith's fathei
was one of the
pioneers of Illinois,
having helped to
found the town of
Danville in 1819.
Young Beckwith
studied law under
Ward II. Lamon,
who was marshal of
the District- of Co
lumbia d urine Lin-
H. W. BECKWITH. coln,8 administra.
tion. He was a close friend of Lincoln
and later became his resident partner at
Danville, while Lincoln was a circuit
lawyer.
From 1897 to 1902 Mr. Beckwith was
president of the State Historical Society.
He was compelled to resign in the latter
year on account of illness. He left a
widow and two sons.
Lincoln and the Dying Soldier Boy.
One day in May, 1863, while the great
war was raging between the North and
the South, President Lincoln paid a visit
to one of the military hospitals, says an
exchange. He had spoken many cheer
ing words of sympathy to the wounded
as he proceeded through the various
wards, and aow he was at the bedside
of a Vermont boy about sixteen years of
age, who lay there mortally wounded.
Taking the dying boy's thin, white
hands in his own, the President said, in
a tender tone, "Well, my poor boy, what
can I do for you?"
The young man looked up Into the
President's kindly face and asked:
"Won't you write to my mother for me?"
"That I will," answered Mr. Lincoln;
and calling for a pen, ink and paper, he
seated himself by the side of the bed
and wrote from the boy's dictation. It
was a long letter, but the President be
trayed no signs of weariness. When it
was finished, rose, saying: "I will
post this as soon as I get back to my
office. Now is there anything else I can
do for you?"
The boy looked up appealingly to the
President.
"Won't you stay with me?" he asked.
"I do want to hold on to your hand."
Mr. Lincoln at once perceived the lad's
meaning. The appeal was too strong for
him to resist; so he sat down by his side
and took hold of his hand. For two
hours the President sat there patiently,
as though he had been the boy's father.
When the end came he bent over and
folded the boy's thin hands over his
breast As he did so, he burst into tears;
and when, soon afterward, he left the
hospital, they were still streaming down
his cheeks.
Unnoticed.
"You say you saw my sister at a
recent wedding?"
"Yes. It wasn't very long ago,"
"But I don't remember that she
mentioned seeing you."
"Very likely. I was only th
groom." Cleveland Plain Dealer.