Upon another occasion, as I was going through the passage, the door of the President’s office suddenly opened, and two ladies, one of whom seemed in a towering passion, were unceremoniously ushered out by one of the attendants. As they passed me on their way down the stairs, I overheard the elder remonstrating with her companion upon the violence of her expressions. I afterward asked old Daniel what had happened? “Oh,” he replied, “the younger woman was very saucy to the President. She went one step too far; and he told me to show them out of the house.”
Of a similar character is an incident given by “N. C. J.,” in a letter to the New York “Times”:—
“Among the various applicants, a well-dressed lady came forward, without apparent embarrassment in her air or manner, and addressed the President. Giving her a very close and scrutinizing look, he said, ‘Well, madam, what can I do for you?’ She proceeded to tell him that she lived in Alexandria; that the church where she worshipped had been taken for a hospital. ‘What church, madam?’ Mr. Lincoln asked, in a quick, nervous manner. ‘The —— church,’ she replied; ‘and as there are only two or three wounded soldiers in it, I came to see if you would not let us have it, as we want it very much to worship God in.’ ‘Madam, have you been to see the Post Surgeon at Alexandria about this matter?’ ‘Yes, sir; but we could do nothing with him.’ ‘Well, we put him there to attend to just such business, and it is reasonable to suppose that he knows better what should be done under the circumstances than I do. See here: you say you live in Alexandria; probably you own property there. How much will you give to assist in building a hospital?’
“‘You know, Mr. Lincoln, our property is very much embarrassed by the war;—so, really, I could hardly afford to give much for such a purpose.’
“‘Well, madam, I expect we shall have another fight soon; and my candid opinion is, God wants that church for poor wounded Union soldiers, as much as he does for secesh people to worship in.’ Turning to his table, he said, quite abruptly, ‘You will excuse me; I can do nothing for you. Good day, madam.’
“I had noticed two other women who stood just back of me. I was fully convinced that I had rightly guessed their errand from their appearance; for one of them, whose wicked eyes shot fire, said to her companion in a spiteful under-tone, ‘Oh! the old brute,—there is no use asking for our passes; come, let’s go.’ And they did go, in evident wrath; leaving the President to perform more pleasant duties.”
The same correspondent witnessed also the following scene:—
“A couple of aged, plain country people, poorly clad, but with frank open countenances, now came forward. ‘Now is your time, dear,’ said the husband, as the President dismissed the one preceding them. The lady stepped forward, made a low courtesy, and said, ‘Mr. President.’
“Mr. Lincoln, looking over his spectacles, fixed those gray, piercing, yet mild eyes upon her, then lifting his head and extending his hand, he said, in the kindest tones: ‘Well, good lady, what can I do for you?’
“‘Mr. President,’ she resumed, ‘I feel so embarrassed I can hardly speak. I never spoke to a President before; but I am a good Union woman down in Maryland, and my son is wounded badly, and in the hospital, and I have been trying to get him out, but somehow couldn’t, and they said I had better come right to you. When the war first broke out I gave my son first to God, and then told him he might go fight the Rebels; and now if you will let me take him home I will nurse him up, and just as soon as he gets well enough he shall go right back and help put down the rebellion. He is a good boy, and don’t want to shirk the service.’