Anecdote Of President Lincoln

I cfilled npon Mr. Lincoln soon after ho was first iustalled iu the White House. Ib the room where Mr. Lincoln granted interviews, etc., wero sevcral persons who were waiting their turn to speak with hinx. I listened to the requests of geveml men and women, and I saw that very few were granted what they solicited. I had a seat Rt or near one end of a long table. Mr. Lincoln sat at the other end. Soon after I was seated, in walked several afiicers of the Spanish navy to pay their compliments to Mr. Lincoln. By some means they were directed toward my end of the table, and I saw they took me for the President. Mr. Lincoln saw the same thing, and hastily signaled meto "go ahead," as he expressed it, and receive them. I rose, slicok hands with each officer, and exchanged a few words with them, which would have been, I suppose, appropriate had I indeed been President. The moment their backs were turned I looked toward Mr. Lincoln. He was shaking with laughtcr. I thought now I liad paved the way to win the position I had come to ask. I made np my mind to address the President in a new way, and thus add to the hold I alroady had upon Jiim. Ho, wlipn my time carne, I stopped np to Mr. Lincoln and said: " Sir, I have seen the annoyance to which you are subjected by so many and oft-repeated requests for innumerable positions, etc. Now, if you will permit me to shake hands, I will trv and wnotlier my desire for a certain position which I liad come to ask f rom you." Mr. L. jumped up, and, grasping my i hand, said: " Sir, you are one man in a thousand. I am doübly indebted to you. You have been the monns of conveying to those Spanish officers that tlie President of the United States is a very handsome man, and then you do not aak an office. But," he added, "hurry home. You may repent." It is sufficiëut to add that I hurried. - Harper' Sfagazine.