LINCOLN comes in carrying a small book.
Lincoln: Good-morning, gentlemen.
He takes his place.
The Ministers: Good-morning, Mr. President.
Seward: Great news, we hear.
Hook: If we leave things with the army to take their course for a little now, we ought to see through our difficulties.
Lincoln: It's an exciting morning, gentlemen. I feel rather excited myself. I find my mind not at its best in excitement. Will you allow me?
Opening his book.
It may compose us all. It is Mr. Artemus Ward's latest.
THE MINISTERS, with the exception of HOOK, who makes no attempt to hide his irritation, and STANTON, who would do the same but for his disapproval of HOOK, listen with good-humoured patience and amusement while he reads the following passage from Artemus Ward.