Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1901 — What Lincoln Did for a Boy. [ARTICLE]

What Lincoln Did for a Boy.

During the campaign of 1800, while Abraham Lincoln was in Springfield, 111., a youngster named George ratten wae introduced to him and shook him by the hand. It was a very small matter to a man ns busy ns Lincoln was that summer. Little George was but one of thousands who received similar honor, and with most men the incident would quickly have passed from memory. But Lincoln was not given to forgetting trifles. Proud of his distinction, George lost no chance of parading the affuir before hia schoolmates, and foT a time was looked upon as a most important personage. But gradually his prestige faded, and after the President had taken his scat at the capital several of George’s older companions openly poohpoohed the story. This stigma well-nigh broke bis boyish heart, but he was resourceful aud resolved to obtain clear proof of his meeting with the great man. So he wrote a letter to Washington, keeping silent the while, anil in course of a month a reply came which read: "Executive Mansion, March 19, 1801.—'To Whom It May Concern: I did see and talk with George Evans Patten, last Mtr, at Springfield, III: Respectfully, "A. LINCOLN.” Those were trying times for the homely man who was carrying one of the heaviest burdens ever laid upon a statesman. Wur wus in the wind, every minute of his time was golden und little George Patten's misfortune wns a matter that could easily have been sent to waste basket oblivion. But Abraham Lincoln loved justice, and i*mehow he found the five minutes necessary to write to the schoolboy and set things right in his troubled world.