insulting; but the life of the nation was at stake, and he would use him in his effort to save the country.

"Are you going to be Secretary of War?" It was an old-time friend who put the question to Mr. Stanton.

"Yes."

"What will you do?" The friend had in mind the scene between Lincoln and Stanton at Cincinnati.

"Do? I intend to accomplish three things: I will make Lincoln President of the United States; I will force that man McClellan to fight or throw up; and last, but not least, I will pick Lorenzo Thomas up with a pair of tongs and drop him out of the nearest window." (")

Mr. Stanton had come to the conclusion that McClellan was ignoring

the authority of his superior-that his appointments were his favorites and pets, who were ready to subserve his personal interests and further his aspirations.

Lorenzo Thomas was adjutant-general of the army. Stanton, however, did not pick him up with a pair of tongs, for he remained in office through the war.

General George H. Thomas had marched through mud and storm, and won a victory. If the Union and Confederate troops in Kentucky could make marches in midwinter, why could not those around Washington? Mr. Lincoln could wait, but the time had come when waiting was no longer a virtue. There was no sign of a movement. As commander in-chief, as head of the nation, he would take matters in his own hands. Without consulting any member of his Cabinet, he wrote a military order. The 22d of February would be the anniversary of the birth of George Washington-a day to awaken patriotic fervor. He directed a general movement of all the land and naval forces to be made on that day. All officers would be severally held to their strict and full responsibility for its prompt execution.

That McClellan might have some definite line for action, a second order was issued directing him to provide for the safety of Washington, and then move to gain the railroads leading south from Jan. 25. Manassas. But McClellan wanted instead to take the army to Annapolis, down Chesapeake Bay, then up the Rappahannock to Urbana, and from thence march to York River.

These the questions written out by the President:

"If you will give me satisfactory answers to the following questions I shall gladly yield my plan to yours:

"First.-Does not your plan involve a greatly larger expenditure of time and money than mine?

"Second.—Wherein is victory more certain by your plan than mine? "Third. Wherein is victory more valuable by your plan than mine?

"Fourth.-In fact, would it not be less valuable in this: that it would break no great line of the enemy's communication, while mine. would?

"Fifth. In case of disaster, would not a retreat be more difficult. by your plan than mine?"

General McClellan did not answer the President's questions, nor acknowledge the receipt of the letter. He sent a long communication to Mr. Stanton, in which he set forth the advantages of a move

ment by water to Urbana, from whence he could march into Richmond, but made no allusion to any letter from the President, or to the questions asked. Railroad trains at that moment were speeding from Manassas loaded with supplies for the Confederate army. Jefferson Davis had read the order of President Lincoln. General Johnston had read it. They comprehended its meaning. They knew that with only a little more than 40,000 troops, the Union army of 150,000 could easily seize the railroad south of Manassas. More than 5,000,000 pounds of food had been accumulated, all of which was sent south of the Rapidan.

There was a general at Cairo, also a commodore, who had no desire to wait until February 22d before moving. "General Grant and myself," wrote Commodore Foote to General Halleck, "are of the opinion. that Fort Henry can be carried by four gunboats and troops."

"From Fort Henry," wrote General Grant, "it will be easy to operate either on the Cumberland, twelve miles distant, on Memphis, or Columbus."

Feb. 2.

Fort Henry was on the Tennessee River, near the line between Kentucky and Tennessee. Fort Donelson was on the Cumberland. Admiral Foote, with four gunboats, attacked Fort Henry and compelled its surrender. A week passed and 14,000 prisoners were captured at Fort Donelson by General Grant. This movement forced the Confederates to evacuate Kentucky. The victories electrified the country.

President Lincoln had been called from the retirement of his home in the capital of Illinois to the executive mansion of the nation. He could find no time for study or contemplation. His oldest son, Robert, was in Harvard University, but Willie and "Tad" made the White House ring with their joyous shouts. (") They connected the many bellwires, so when one was pulled every bell in the house began to tinkle. They slid down the balusters, and made themselves at home in every apartment. When the President entered the breakfast-room they climbed into his lap, pulled his ears, ran their fingers through his hair.

Both boys were seized with sickness. In addition to the weight of public cares came anxious days and sleepless nights to the President. How could he sleep when he saw that Willie was to be taken from him? "Why is it? Why is it? This is the hardest trial of my life," he said to the nurse. "Have you ever had any such trial?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Lincoln. I am a widow. My husband and my two chil

dren are in heaven, and I can say that I can see the hand of my Heavenly Father in it. I did not love Him so much before my affliction as I do now."

"How has that come about?"

"God is my Father, and I know that He does everything well. I trust Him."

"Did you submit fully under the first loss?"

"Oh no, not wholly; but as one after the other went, I did submit, and am very happy."

"I am glad to hear that. Your experience will be a help to me." The young life faded away, and the heart-broken father stood beside the coffin, looking for the last time upon Willie's face.

"Mr. Lincoln," said the nurse, "a great many people are praying for you to-day."

"I am glad to hear that. I want them to pray for me. I need their prayers; and I will try to go to God with my sorrow. I wish I had that childlike faith you speak of. I trust God will give it to me. My mother had it. She died many years ago. I remember her prayers; they have always followed me. They have clung to me through

life.” (*)

When all that was mortal of his child was laid to rest, the President went on with his duties for one week. On the succeeding Thursday he shut out all visitors, and gave way to his grief. Again, when the day came, his doors were closed. The old-time melancholy was taking possession of him, increasing as the weeks went by.

Little did Rev. Francis Vinton, rector of Trinity Church, New York, know, when he entered the cars for a visit to friends in Washington, how divine Providence was going to use him. He was acquainted with Mrs. Edwards, sister of Mrs. Lincoln, who was in Washington. He also had met Mrs. Lincoln, who, learning he was in the city, informed him. in regard to the melancholy of the President. He visited the White House.

"Mr. President," said Mr. Vinton, "it is natural that you should mourn for your son-one whom you so tenderly loved; but is it not your duty to rise above the affliction? Your duties are to the living. They are far greater than those of a father to his son. You are at the head of the nation-a father of the people; and are you not unfitting yourself for a right exercise of the responsibility that God has laid upon you? You ought not to mourn for your son as lost-that is not Christianity, but heathenism. Your son is above. Do you not remem

ber that passage in the Gospels, "God is not the God of the dead, but

of the living?"

The President is sitting on the sofa, listening as if dazed.

"Alive! alive! Do you say that Willie is alive? Pray do not mock

me."

He rises and looks with intense earnestness at Mr. Vinton. "Yes, Mr. Lincoln, alive. Jesus Christ has said it."

He clasps the clergyman in his arms.

"ALIVE! alive!" he exclaims. Tears are rolling down his cheeks. "Yes, Mr. Lincoln, it is one of God's most precious truths. You remember that the Sadducees, when questioning Jesus, had no other conception than that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were dead and buried; but Jesus said, 'Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living for all live unto Him.' God has taken your son from you for some good end-possibly for your good. Doubt it not. I have a sermon upon this subject which possibly may interest you."

FRANCIS VINTON.

was so impressed by its treatment of the Resurrection and Immortality that he read it again and again, and caused it to be copied. No longer was Thursday a day for seclusion. With unwonted cheerfulness he took up the burden of the nation. The thought that in the radiant future he would once more clasp his boy in his arms made his sorrow easier to bear than ever before, (") and he cheerfully turned his thoughts to the affairs of the nation.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had been closed by the burning of the bridge at Harper's Ferry, and the destruction of the company's shops