newly-invented gun. Subsequently the party went aboard one of the steamers lying at the wharf. A discussion was going on as to the merits of the invention, in the midst of which Mr. Lincoln caught sight of some axes hanging up outside of the cabin. Leaving the group, he quietly went forward, and taking one down, returned with it, and said:

"Gentlemen, you may talk about your 'Raphael repeaters' and 'eleven-inch Dahlgrens,' but here is an institution which I guess I understand better than either of you." With that he held the ax out at arm's length by the end of the handle, or "helve," as the wood-cutters call it a feat not another person in the party could perform, though all made the attempt.

In such acts as this, showing that he neither forgot nor was ashamed of his humble origin, the good President exhibited his true nobility of character. He was a favorite illustration of his favorite poet's words:

"The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gold, for a' that!"

A PETITIONER'S SUDDEN CHANGE OF MIND.

The President was feeling indisposed, and had sent for his physician, who upon his arrival informed the President that his trouble was either varioloid, or mild smallpox. "They're all over me. Is it contagious?" said Mr. Lincoln. "Yes," answered the Doctor, "very contagious, indeed."

"Well," said a visitor, "I can't stop. I just called to see you.'

"Oh, don't be in a hurry, sir," placidly said the President.

"Thank you, sir; I'll call again," call again," retreating

abruptly.

"Some people," said the Executive, looking after him, "said they could not take very well to my proclamation, but now, I am happy to say, I have something that everybody can take."

"THOROUGH."

Some one came to the President with a story about a plot to accomplish some mischief in the Government. Lincoln listened to what was a very superficial and illformed story, and then said: "There is one thing that I have learned, and that you have not. It is only one word 'thorough.'"' Then, bringing his hand. down on the table with a thump to emphasize his meaning, he added, "thorough.'

MR. LINCOLN'S TACT.

Two young men called on the President from Springfield, Ill. Mr. Lincoln shook hands with them, and asked about the crops, the weather, etc. Finally one of the young men said, "Mother is not well, and she sent me up to inquire of you how the suit about the Wells property is getting on." Mr. Lincoln, in the same even tone with which he had asked the question, said: "Give my best wishes and respects to your mother, and tell her that I have so many outside matters to attend to now, that I have put that case, and

others, in the hands of a lawyer friend of mine, and if you will call on him" (giving name and address), "he will give you the information you want." After they had gone, I said: "Mr. Lincoln, you did not seem to know the young men?" He laughed and said: "No, I had never seen them before, and I had to beat around the bush until I found who they were. It was uphill work, but I topped it at last."

LINCOLN'S HAIR.

"By the way," said Mr. Lincoln to Colonel Cannon, "I can tell you a good story about my hair. When I was nominated at Chicago, an enterprising fellow thought that a great many people would like to see how Abe Lincoln looked, and, as I had not long before sat for a photograph, the fellow, having seen it, rushed over and bought the negative.

"He at once got no end of wood-cuts, and so active was their circulation they were soon selling in all parts of the country.

"Soon after they reached Springfield. I heard a boy crying them for sale on the streets. 'Here's your likeness of Abe Lincoln!' he shouted.

'Buy one,

price only two shillings! Will look a great deal better when he gets his hair combed!'''

"OH, PA! HE ISN'T UGLY!”

Lincoln's great love for children easily won their confidence.

A little girl, who had been told that the President

was very homely, was taken by her father to see the President at the White House. Mr. Lincoln took her upon his knee and chatted with her for a moment in his merry way, when she turned to her father and exclaimed: "Oh, Pa! he isn't ugly at all; he's beautiful!"'

SIMPLICITY.

Mr. Jeriah Bonham describes a visit that he paid Mr. Lincoln at his room in the State House, where he found him quite alone except that two of his children, one of whom was Tad, were with him.

The door was open.

We walked in and were at once recognized and seated-the two boys still continuing their play about the room. Tad was spinning his top; and Mr. Lincoln, as we entered, had just finished adjusting the string for him so as to give the top the greatest degree of force. He remarked that he was having a little fun

with the boys.

At another time, at Lincoln's residence, Tad came into the room, and putting his hand to his mouth, and his mouth to his father's ear, said in a boy's whisper, "Ma says come to supper."

All heard the announcement, and Mr. Lincoln, perceiving this, said: "You have heard, gentlemen, the announcement concerning the interesting state of things in the dining-room. It will never do for me, if elected, to make this young man a member of my cabinet, for it is plain he cannot be trusted with secrets of state."

MR. LINCOLN'S GREAT LOVE FOR LITTLE TAD.

No matter who was with the President, or how intently absorbed, his little son Tad was always welcome. He almost always accompanied his father. Once, on the way to Fortress Monroe, he became very troublesome. The President was much engaged in conversation with the party who accompanied him, and he at length said:

"Tad, if you will be a good boy, and not disturb me any more until we get to Fortress Monroe, I will give you a dollar.”

The hope of reward was effectual for a while in securing silence, but, boy-like, Tad soon forgot his promise, and was as noisy as ever. Upon reaching their destination, however, he said, very promptly, "Father, I want my dollar.'

Mr. Lincoln looked at him half-reproachfully for an instant, and then taking from his pocketbook a dollar note, he said: "Well, my son, at any rate, I will keep my part of the bargain."

While paying a visit to Commodore Porter, of Fortress Monroe, on one occasion, an incident occurred, subsequently related by Lieutenant Braine, one of the officers on board the flag-ship, to the Rev. Dr. Ewer, of New York. Noticing that the banks of the river were dotted with spring blossoms, the President said, with the manner of one asking a special favor:

"Commodore, Tad is very fond of flowers; won't you let a couple of your men take a boat and go with him for an hour or two along the shore, and gather a few? It will be a great gratification to him."