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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 340first genuine iron-clad--the victor in the first fight of iron-clads--let memake a confession, and perform an act of simple justice."I never fully believed in armored vessels until I saw this battle."I know all the facts which united to give us the Monitor. I withhold nocredit from Captain Ericsson, her inventor, but I know that the country isprincipally indebted for the construction of the vessel to President Lincoln,and for the success of her trial to Captain Worden, her commander."HER ONLY IMPERFECTION.At one time a certain Major Hill charged Lincoln with making defamatoryremarks regarding Mrs. Hill.Hill was insulting in his language to Lincoln who never lost his temper.When he saw his chance to edge a word in, Lincoln denied emphaticallyusing the language or anything like that attributed to him.He entertained, he insisted, a high regard for Mrs. Hill, and the only thinghe knew to her discredit was the fact that she was Major Hill's wife.THE OLD LADY'S PROPHECY.Among those who called to congratulate Mr. Lincoln upon his nominationfor President was an old lady, very plainly dressed. She knew Mr. Lincoln,but Mr. Lincoln did not at first recognize her. Then she undertook to recallto his memory certain incidents connected with his ride upon thecircuit--especially his dining at her house upon the road at different times.Then he remembered her and her home.Having fixed her own place in his recollection, she tried to recall to him acertain scanty dinner of bread and milk that he once ate at her house. Hecould not remember it--on the contrary, he only remembered that he hadalways fared well at her house.