Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House

[295] feared that he was not to go to the Naval School. He was, however, soon consoled by being told that “the President could make it right.” It was my fortune to meet him the next morning at the door of the Executive Chamber with his father.

Taking by the hand the little fellow,--short for his age, dressed in the sailor's blue pants and shirt,--I advanced with him to the President, who sat in his usual seat, and said: “Mr. President, my young friend, Willie Bladen, finds a difficulty about his appointment. You have directed him to appear at the school in July; but he is not yet fourteen years of age.” But before I got half of this out, Mr. Lincoln, laying down his spectacles, rose and said: “Bless me! is that the boy who did so gallantly in those two great battles? Why, I feel that I should bow to him, and not he to me.”

The little fellow had made his graceful bow. The President took the papers at once, and as soon as he learned that a postponement till September would suffice, made the order that the lad should report in that month. Then putting his hand on Willie's head, he said: “Now, my boy, go home and have good fun during the two months, for they are about the last holiday you will get.” The little fellow bowed himself out, feeling that the President of the United States, though a very great man, was one that he would nevertheless like to have a game of romps with.

There was not unfrequently a curious mingling