When the President had an attack of spotted fever, and was told he must
be immured, as it was catching, he smiled and said:
"It is a pity to shut the public off--as while every act of mine is not
taken to, _now_ I have something everybody might take!"
* * * * *
"NOT MANY SUCH BOYS OUTSIDE OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS!"
A Boston business house was deceived in an errand boy. Fresh from the
country he succumbed to temptation and robbed the mails. His father
tried to get him off the penalty as the United States Government took
up the case. He went to Washington and prevailed on his representative,
Alexander H. Rice, to intercede for him. Rice and the President were on
familiar terms. As soon as the pleader presented himself, Mr. Lincoln
assumed an easy attitude, legs stretched, leaning back, and read the
petition.
"Well," said he, "did you meet a man going out as you came in? His
errand was to get a man out of the penitentiary, and now you come to
get a boy out of jail. I am bothered to death about these pardon cases;
but I am a little encouraged by _your_ visit. They are after me on the
men, but appear to be roping _you_ in on the boys. What shall we do?
The trouble appears to come from the courts. Let us abolish the courts,
and I think that will end the difficulty. And it seems to me that the
courts ought to be abolished, anyway, for they appear to pick out the
very best men in the community and send them to the penitentiary, and
now they are after the same kind of boys. I don't know much about boys
in Massachusetts, but according to this petition, there are not many
such boys as this one outside the Sunday-schools in other parts!"
It was settled that if a majority of the Massachusetts delegates signed
the paper, a pardon would be given.--(Testified to by Honorable
Alexander H. Rice, former governor of Massachusetts.)
* * * * *