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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 159"Creswell," replied Mr. Lincoln, "you make me think of a lot of youngfolks who once started out Maying. To reach their destination, they had tocross a shallow stream, and did so by means of an old flatboat. When thetime came to return, they found to their dismay that the old scow haddisappeared. They were in sore trouble, and thought over all manner ofdevices for getting over the water, but without avail."After a time, one of the boys proposed that each fellow should pick up thegirl he liked best and wade over with her. The masterly proposition wascarried out, until all that were left upon the island was a little short chapand a great, long, gothic-built, elderly lady."Now, Creswell, you are trying to leave me in the same predicament. Youfellows are all getting your own friends out of this scrape; and you willsucceed in carrying off one after another, until nobody but Jeff Davis andmyself will be left on the island, and then I won't know what to do. Howshould I feel? How should I look, lugging him over?"I guess the way to avoid such an embarrassing situation is to let them allout at once."He made a somewhat similar illustration at an informal Cabinet meeting, atwhich the disposition of Jefferson Davis and other prominent Confederateswas discussed. Each member of the Cabinet gave his opinion; most of themwere for hanging the traitors, or for some severe punishment. PresidentLincoln said nothing.Finally, Joshua F. Speed, his old and confidential friend, who had beeninvited to the meeting, said, "I have heard the opinion of your Ministers,and would like to hear yours.""Well, Josh," replied President Lincoln, "when I was a boy in Indiana, Iwent to a neighbor's house one morning and found a boy of my own sizeholding a coon by a string. I asked him what he had and what he was doing.