When Lincoln's attention was called to the fact that, at one time in his boyhood, he had spelled the name of the Deity with a small "g," he replied:
"That reminds me of a little story. It came about that a lot of Confederate mail was captured by the Union forces, and, while it was not exactly the proper thing to do, some of our soldiers opened several letters written by the Southerners at the front to their people at home.
"In one of these missives the writer, in a postscript, jotted down this assertion:
"'We'll lick the Yanks termorrer, if goddlemity (God Almighty) spares our lives.'
"That fellow was in earnest, too, as the letter was written the day before the second battle of Manassas."
BIG ENOUGH HOG FOR HIM
To a curiosity-seeker who desired a permit to pass the lines to visit the field of Bull Run, after the first battle, Lincoln made the following reply: "A man in Cortlandt county raised a porker of such unusual size that strangers went out of their way to see it.
"One of them the other day met the old gentleman and inquired about the animal.
"'Wall, yes,' the old fellow said, 'I've got such a critter, mi'ty big un; but I guess I'll have to charge you about a shillin' for lookin' at him.'