Finding no worthy altar, must return The grave there is no heaven in whose wide air The spirit may find room, and in the love Of whose bright habitants the lavish heart May spend itself,—what thrice-mock'd fools are we !” Mr. Willis was both surprised and delighted with this evidence of familiarity with his writings, and the handsome compliment so gracefully tendered. We do not design to speak at length of Mr. Lincoln's mental ability; that has appeared, incidentally, from the beginning of our story. Enough has been quoted from his lip and pen to prove that Senator Trumbull's brief tribute was not exaggerated, "He is a giant; and without the prefix 'Little' to it, a giant in intellect as well as in stature." In the light of what has been said, the words of that noted Englishman, Goldwin Smith, are pertinent: "He met the most terrible of all emergencies with ability and self-possession, as well, probably, as it would have been met by any European sovereign or statesman whom you could name." However, this chapter should not close without his eloquent and beautiful address at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg, November 18th, 1863. Its originality and classic diction must commend it to the favourable consideration of the ripest scholars : "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 great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We are met to dedicate a portion of it as the final resting-place of 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 cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that they have thus far so nobly ⚫ carried on. It is rather for us here to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us-that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion,-that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have died in vain, that the nation shall, under God, 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.” We have intentionally omitted President Lincoln's care of the soldiers and coloured race during his life in the White House, that we might devote a chapter to each subject, both on account of the intrinsic importance of each, and the clear and interesting view of his character which they afford. XXV. HIS GREAT INTEREST IN SOLDIERS. ROM the time of President Lincoln's first call for FRO troops, his life in the White House brought him into intimate relations with Union soldiers. At once he bestowed upon them his most tender regard, which they reciprocated with kindred heartiness. He was called by the endearing name of " Father Abraham" in the army; and they were called by him in the White House," the boys." Our presentation of his public career would be very deficient without special attention to his fatherly service in their behalf. The controlling thought of his mind on this subject was expressed in the following words: "This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. 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 ! !” He spoke somewhat from experience. His brief service in the "Black Hawk war," where the provisions for personal comfort were small, made him familiar with the hardships of soldier-life. He knew from personal experience how many and great privations are inseparable from army service; and no doubt this knowledge. intensified the natural love in his heart for the loyal and patriotic "boys in blue." Some public men claimed that the President ought not to be interrupted and annoyed by so many applications from soldiers and their friends,-that some one of the military commissions, or a special one, should relieve him of this burden. But he would consent to no such arrangement. The "boys" belonged to his family, and he would enjoy a fatherly watch over them. There was reason for the suggestion, since his daily duties as President occupied every moment of his time, and, as we have seen, worried and wearied him beyond measure. The reader can scarcely understand how he could devote any time at all to the soldiers, when he reads the following description of his daily work, as given by parties who saw him every day. "Mr. Lincoln is an early riser, and he thus is able to devote two or three hours each morning to his voluminous private correspondence, besides glancing at a city paper. At nine he breakfasts; then walks over to the War Office to read such war telegrams as they give him, and to have a chat with General Halleck on the military situation, in which he takes a great interest. Returning to the White House, he goes through with his morning's mail, in company with a private secretary, who makes a minute of the reply which he is to make; and others the President retains, that he may answer them himself. Every letter receives attention; and all which are entitled to a reply receive one, no matter how they are worded, or how inelegant the chirography may be. Tuesdays and Fridays are cabinet days; but, on the other days, visitors at the White House are requested to wait in the ante-chamber, and send in their cards. Sometimes, before the President has finished reading his mail, Louis will have a handful of paste-board; and, from the cards laid before him, Mr. Lincoln has visitors ushered in, giving precedence to acquaintances. Three or four hours do they pour in, in rapid succession, nine out of ten asking offices; and patiently does the President listen to their application. . . . The simple and natural manner in which he delivers his thoughts makes him appear to those visiting him like an earnest, affectionate friend. At four o'clock the President declines seeing any more company, and sometimes accompanies his wife in her carriage to take a ride. . . . He dines at six; and it is rare that some personal friends do not grace the round dining-table, where he throws off the cares of office, and reminds those who have been in Kentucky of the oldschool gentlemen, who used to dispense generous hospitality there." Another writer adds: "At night, from ten to twelve, he usually makes a tour all round,-now at Secretary Seward's, and then at General Halleck's; and, if General Burnside was nearer, he would see him each night before he went to bed. Those who know his habits, and want to see him late at night, follow him round from place to place; and the last search generally brings him up at General Halleck's, as he can get the latest army intelligence there. Whoever else is asleep or indolent, the President is wide awake and around." How a public servant, under such a constant pressure of care, could find time to listen to every complaint of soldiers and their friends, many of the cases requiring much time to investigate, and also visit hospitals and go to the front to "see how the boys are getting along," the reader can scarcely understand. But he did, as the very interesting incidents we shall relate abundantly show. There is evidence that his heart was not so thoroughly absorbed in any other department of his |