Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House

[162] self-denying services rendered by the Commission, in feeling terms. He concluded his response in these words: “And I desire also to add to what I have said, that there is one association whose object and motives I have never heard in any degree impugned or questioned; and that is the ‘Christian Commission.’ And in ‘these days of villany,’ as Shakspeare says, that is a record, gentlemen, of which you may justly be proud!” Upon the conclusion of the “ceremony,” he added, in a conversational tone, “I believe, however, it is old ‘Jack Falstaff’ who talks about ‘villany,’ though of course Shakspeare is responsible.”

After the customary hand-shaking, which followed, several gentlemen came forward and asked the President for his autograph. One of them gave his name as “Cruikshank.” “That reminds me,” said Mr. Lincoln, “of what I used to be called when a young man--‘long-shanks.’ ” Hereupon the rest of the party, emboldened by the success of the few, crowded around the desk, and the President good naturedly wrote his name for each; the scene suggesting forcibly to my mind a country schoolmaster's weekly distribution of “tickets” among his pupils.

Li.

The “Baltimore Convention,” which renominated Mr. Lincoln, was convened July 7, 1864.