sort of special escort to accompany the President from Washington to Gettysburg upon the occasion of the first anniversary of the battle at that place. At the appointed time I went to the White House, where I found the President's carriage at the door to take him to the station; but he was not ready. When he appeared it was rather late, and I remarked that he had no time to lose in going to the train. "Well," said he, "I feel about that as the convict in one of our Illinois towns felt when he was going to the gallows. As he passed along the road in custody of the sheriff, the people, eager to see the execution, kept crowding and pushing past him. At last he called out: 'Boys, you needn't be in such a hurry to get ahead, there won't be any fun till I get there."

It has been said, I believe, that Lincoln wrote in the car en route to Gettysburg the celebrated speech which he delivered upon that historic battle-ground. I am quite sure that is an error. I have no recollection of seeing him writing or even reading his speech during the journey. In fact, there was hardly any opportunity for him to read or write.

In April, 1865, I was sent with the government excursion from Washington to Charleston to take part in the ceremony of raising over Fort Sumter the flag that had been lowered there in April, 1861. When I reported to Stanton upon my return, he

gave me a detailed account of the awful tragedy which had been enacted in the national capital during our absence. He said that he had never felt so sensible of his deep affection for Lincoln as he did during their final interview. At last they could see the end of bloody fratricidal war. Peace was dawning upon their beloved country. "Well done, good and faithful servants!" was upon the lips of the nation. As they exchanged congratulations, Lincoln, from his greater height, dropped his long arm upon Stanton's shoulders, and a hearty embrace terminated their rejoicings over the close of the mighty struggle. Stanton went home happy. That night Lincoln was assassinated, and a black pall covered the land.

JAMES B. FRY.

THE NEW YORK

A

TILLER

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XXIII.

HUGH MCCULLOCH.

HE history of Mr. Lincoln's life is an exceed

TH

ingly interesting one-more interesting in many respects than that of any other man which our country has produced.

Of humble parentage, without opportunities for mental culture in early life, he became an able lawyer, a forcible writer, a captivating and instructive speaker, an executive officer of singular foresight and wisdom in the most trying period of our nation's history. Before his joint debate with Mr. Douglas in 1858, he was little known outside of his own State. The ability which he displayed in that debate gave him a national reputation. He and Mr. Douglas were the rival candidates for a seat in the United States Senate, of which Mr. Douglas was a prominent member, but whose term of office was about to expire. They had frequently met as opposing counsel in important suits. They were therefore well known to each other, and by their public speeches they were well known to the people of Illinois. They had, in one or two instances, addressed the same audiences upon po