A clergyman of some prominence was one day presented to Lincoln, who gave
the visitor a chair and said, with an air of patient waiting:
“I am now ready to hear what you have to say.”
“Oh, bless you, sir,” replied the clergyman, “I have nothing special to
say. I merely called to pay my respects.”
“My dear sir,” said the President, rising promptly, his face showing
instant relief, and with both hands grasping that of his visitor; “I am
very glad to see you, indeed. It is a relief to find a clergyman, or any
other man, for that matter, who has nothing to say. I thought you had
come to preach to me.”