Story About Lincoln

"The first time I met Mr. Lincoln," said Senator Palmer of Illinois, "was in 1839; when I went to Springfield to be admitted to the bar. He was already recognized as a Whig leader. Be wore, I remember, a snit of linsey woolsey that conld not have been worth more than $8, even in those days. The last time I saw him was in February of 1865. I had come to Washington, at the request of the governor, to complain that Illinois had been creditedwith 18,000 too few troops. I saw Mr. Linooln one afternoon, and he asked me to come again in the morning. The next morning I sat in the anteroom while several officers were received. At length I was told to enter the president 's room. Mr. Linooln was in the hands of the barber. " 'Come in, Palmer,' he called out, 'come in. You're home folks. I can sbave bef ore you. I conldn't bef ore those others, and I have to do it some time. ' "We chatted about various matters, and at length I said, 'Well, Mr. Lincoln, ïf anybody had told me that in a great crisis like this the people were going out to a little one horse town and piek out a one horse lawyer for president, I wouldn't have believed it. ' "Mr. Lincoln whirled atxmt in bis chair, bis face white with latber and a towel under bis chin. At first I thought ae was angry. Sweeping the barber away, he leaned forward, and, placing one hand on my knee, said . " 'Neither would I, but it was a time when a man with a policy would have Deen fatal to the country. I have never ïad a policy. I have simply tried to do what seemed best each day as each day carne. -