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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 236"He was almost dead, and I was badly scared. I rolled and pounded him ingood earnest. Then I got him by the arms and shook him, the watermeanwhile pouring out of his mouth. By this means I succeeded in bringinghim to, and he was soon all right."Then a new difficulty confronted us. If our mothers discovered our wetclothes they would whip us. This we dreaded from experience, anddetermined to avoid. It was June, the sun was very warm, and we soondried our clothing by spreading it on the rocks about us. We promisednever to tell the story, and I never did until after Lincoln's tragic end."WOULD NOT RECALL A SINGLE WORD.In conversation with some friends at the White House on New Year'sevening, 1863, President Lincoln said, concerning his EmancipationProclamation:"The signature looks a little tremulous, for my hand was tired, but myresolution was firm."I told them in September, if they did not return to their allegiance, andcease murdering our soldiers, I would strike at this pillar of their strength."And now the promise shall be kept, and not one word of it will I everrecall."OLD BROOM BEST AFTER ALL.During the time the enemies of General Grant were making their bitterestattacks upon him, and demanding that the President remove him fromcommand, "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper," of June 13, 1863, cameout with the cartoon reproduced. The text printed under the picture was tothe following effect:OLD ABE: "Greeley be hanged! I want no more new brooms. I begin tothink that the worst thing about my old ones was in not being handled