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could do nothing with him.”
“Well, we put him there to attend to just such business, and it is reasonable to suppose that he knows better what should be done under the circumstances than I do. See here: you say you live in Alexandria; probably you own property there.
How much will you give to assist in building a hospital?”
“You know, Mr. Lincoln, our property is very much embarrassed by the war;--so, really, I could hardly afford to give much for such a purpose.”
“Well, madam, I expect we shall have another fight soon; and my candid opinion is, God wants that church for poor wounded Union soldiers, as much as he does for secesh people to worship in.”
Turning to his table, he said, quite abruptly, “You will excuse me; I can do nothing for you. Good day, madam.”
I had noticed two other women who stood just back of me. I was fully convinced that I had rightly guessed their errand from their appearance; for one of them, whose wicked eyes shot fire, said to her companion in a spiteful under-tone, “Oh!
the old brute,--there is no use asking for our passes; come, let's go.”
And they did go, in evident wrath; leaving the President to perform more pleasant duties.
The same correspondent witnessed also the following scene:--
A couple of aged, plain country people, poorly clad, but with frank open countenances, now came
