‘Even his failings lean to virtue’s side.’ ”

Also, when Stonewall Jackson fell in battle, and the Washington Chronicle spoke well of him as a brave soldier but mistaken man, Mr. Lincoln wrote to the editor:—

“I honour you for your generosity to one who, though contending against us in a guilty cause, was nevertheless a gallant man. Let us forget his sins over his fresh-made grave.”

His humour, kindness, and magnanimity appeared to go on hand in hand, presenting one of the most unique, genial, and remarkable characters ever found in public life.

In this connection his art of putting things deserves attention. Mr. Lincoln understood it to perfection; and these remarkable sallies often exposed him to severe criticisms. For example, the report of the capture of a Union brigadier and squad of cavalry, near Fairfax Court House, by rebel guerillas, was brought to him. The brigadier had proved to be incompetent.

“I am very sorry to lose the horses,” responded the President, on receipt of the news.

“What do you mean?” inquired his informant, somewhat startled by his seemingly heartless words.

“Why,” rejoined the President, “I can make a better brigadier any day; but those horses cost the government one hundred and twenty-five dollars apiece.”

It was customary for the Secretary of State to write the President’s speeches to foreign ministers, and, perhaps, home delegations. A messenger entered the President’s room one day, saying, “The Secretary has sent the speech you are to make to-day to the Swiss minister.” Mr. Lincoln received it smiling, and then, as if to ridicule the practice, and intimate that he could make his own speeches, he remarked, loud enough for all present to hear,—

“Oh, this is a speech Mr. Seward has written for me, is it? I guess I will try it before these gentlemen and see how it goes.” He proceeded to read it aloud, in a waggish manner, and remarked, as he closed it, “There, I like that. It has the merit of originality.”

A delegation from the West waited upon him to protest against some of his measures. After having listened to their complaints, he answered:—

“Gentlemen, suppose all the property you were worth was in gold, and you had put it into the hands of Blondin to carry across the Niagara river on a rope, would you shake the cable, or keep shouting out to him, ‘Blondin, stand up straighter—Blondin, stoop a little more—go a little faster—lean a little more to the north—lean a little more to the south.’ No, you would hold your breath as well as your tongue, and keep your hands on until he was safe over. The government are carrying an immense weight. Untold treasures are in their hands. They are doing the very best they can. Don’t badger them. Keep silence, and we will get you safe across.”

Another delegation came to open his eyes to the “breakers ahead.” Mr. Lincoln thought they magnified the perils; and so he told a story. “You remind me of the schoolboy,” he said, “who found difficulty in pronouncing the Scripture names, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.’ The teacher had drilled him repeatedly in the pronunciation of these names. One day the teacher purposely took the same lesson in Bible reading, and managed to have this boy read the passages, containing these names, again. As the dull pupil came to them he stopped, looked up, and said, ‘Teacher, there’s them three fellers ag’in.” ’

A clergyman remarked to him, “The Lord is on our side.”

“I am not at all concerned about that,” replied Mr. Lincoln; “for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”