“'I will at once see if any papers in this case have been forwarded.'
“During all this time imagine the suspense and fears of Mary Anderson.
“The Secretary sent to the Judge-Advocate-General, and found that the papers had just arrived.
“The President said:
“'Let them be brought to me immediately.'
“When they were placed before him he read them over carefully, remarking, when he had finished, that they were exactly as stated by Capt. Lyon. He handed them to the Secretary and asked him to read them, which he did, and laid them down without a word of comment.
“After some conversation between the two men, the President turned to her and said:
“'Mrs. Anderson, cheer up, weep no more; your friend shall not be hurt! Instead of showing himself unworthy of clemency he has proven himself a noble boy. The kindness which he showed to his messmate and neighbor boy was enough to have commended him to mercy. He should have been complimented for his kindness and excused from duty, instead of having it imposed upon him. You can go home and bear the glad tidings to his father and mother that their boy shall be saved for a better fate.'
“Mary Anderson, trembling with emotion, said:
“'Mr. President, you are so very kind, sir. But, if you will pardon me, his father and mother know nothing of their boy's trouble. We kept it from them, believing it would have caused them great distress. We desire to keep it from them.'