''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 105dipped it in the ink, moved his hand to the place for the signature, held it amoment, then removed his hand and dropped the pen. After a littlehesitation, he again took up the pen and went through the same movementas before. Mr. Lincoln then turned to Mr. Seward and said:"I have been shaking hands since nine o'clock this morning, and my rightarm is almost paralyzed. If my name ever goes into history, it will be forthis act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand trembles when I sign theProclamation, all who examine the document hereafter will say, 'Hehesitated.'"He then turned to the table, took up the pen again, and slowly, firmly wrote"Abraham Lincoln," with which the whole world is now familiar.He then looked up, smiled, and said, "That will do."LINCOLN SAW STANTON ABOUT IT.Mr. Lovejoy, heading a committee of Western men, discussed an importantscheme with the President, and the gentlemen were then directed to explainit to Secretary of War Stanton.Upon presenting themselves to the Secretary, and showing the President'sorder, the Secretary said: "Did Lincoln give you an order of that kind?""He did, sir.""Then he is a d--d fool," said the angry Secretary."Do you mean to say that the President is a d--d fool?" asked Lovejoy, inamazement."Yes, sir, if he gave you such an order as that."The bewildered Illinoisan betook himself at once to the President andrelated the result of the conference.