"WHAT WE HAVE, WE WILL GIVE YOU."
It being rumored that the paper notes, "the greenbacks," should bear a motto as the coin had, "In God We Trust," it was suggested to quote from the apostles:
"Silver and gold we have not, but what we have we will give."
It was ascribed to Mr. Lincoln from his familiarity with the Scriptures and prevalent quoting from them.
MORE "SHINPLASTERS" TO HEAL THE SORE.
In 1863 President Lincoln went out to condole with the beaten Unionists, whom General Hooker had led fatally against Lee at Chancellorsville. Lincoln took his little son "Tad" with him. Amid the cheering one of the soldiers plainly voiced a terrible grievance--just when the sufferers were mostly in need of necessaries, the pay was behindhand. So one cried: "Send along more 'greenbacks,' Father Abraham!"
The boy was puzzled, but his companion explained that the soldiers wanted their money due. The hearer thought this over for a moment, and then pertly said: "Why don't 'Governor' Chase print some more?"
"THERE IS MUCH IN AN 'IF' AND A 'BUT.'"
Mr. Tinkler, telegraph-operator of the cipher telegrams at Washington, in the Executive residence, took the despatch announcing the nomination of Andrew Jackson, of Tennessee, to the vice-presidency with Lincoln for the second term. The latter read it carefully, and thought aloud:
"Well, I thought possibly that he might be the man; but--"