Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1879 — Practical President Lincoln. [ARTICLE]

Practical President Lincoln.

In incident is related by Mr. Murdoch, the tragedian, of Abraham Lincoln. Few who lived through the war have yet forgotten the poem of the “ Sleeping Sentinel,” which was written by Janvier in commemoration of an act of clemency by Lincoln in pardoning a young Vermont volunteer at the very moment when he had been led out to be shot for sleeping at his post. The first public reading of this poem by Mr. Murdoch took place at the White Houso, the President, the poet, and a large assembly being present. Before reading the verses aloud Murdoch privately pointed out to Mr. Janvier a slight poetic license where he had described the arrival of the President with the pardon as being accompanied by the sound of rolling wheels, whereas Lincoln had ridden on horseback to the place of execution. Janvier thought it a matter of very trifling consequence, and the reading proceeded. At the close the President and many of the party were in tears. Lincoln, wiping the tell-tale drop 3 from his cheeks, then said hastily in a smothered voice, “Very touching, Mr. Janvier, but I did not go in a coach.” “Oh, well, Mr. Lincoln,” said Senator Foote, of Vermont, “we all know you would have gone on foot if it had been necessary.” “Yes, but ihe fact is—and let us stick to the fact—l went on horseback,”insisted Mr. Lincoln.—Philadelphia Times.