What the President Promised the Young Lady

Those who were of the unusually large party who besieged the waiting room adjoining the President’s apartment in the White House, on the morning of the 23d of September – the day succeeding the issue of the Proclamation of Freedom – will doubtless never forget a remarkable incident that then transpired.  A gentleman had discovered the President through a slight opening between the folding doors on the right of the antechamber, pacing slowly up and down the long and thickly carpeted hall.  Tall, angular, with hair snarled and unkept, whiskers awry, collar in creases and slippers very much down at the heel; his eyes gazing low at vacancy, his shoulders drooping; one hand behind his back, his fingers twitching nervously, the other thoughtfully pulling at his beard – in garb ill fitting, in face homely and impressive, and in manner patient, resolute, meditative – this was the figure that immediately after discovery became the cynosure of a constellation of eyes.  Whispered remarks were made, one by an elderly gentleman to the effect that the President would not keep faith with the letter of the Emancipation Proclamation.

A Young girl of remarkable beauty, who hung upon his arm, and who had been gazing upon the subject of the doubt with undisguised admiration, looked up rather scornfully and said:

“Won’t he?  I’m not afraid of it – you shall see,” and relinquishing the gentleman’s arm, she passed, to the intense astonishment of all, through the door way, moved up the hall with exquisite grace and paused almost in front of Mr. Lincoln, who stopped in surprise.

“Pardon,” pleaded the intruder, in a short French way; then earnestly looking in his face, “but they say Mr. President, you will not keep your word about the salves.  I love you for the words and say you will.  Which is it?”

The face of the President was radiant as he bent to take her hand, and said:

“You need not fear – I shall not fail.”

The questioner with a suppressed triumphant “I knew it,” withdrew, while the slow walk in the hall went on.

This incident is veritable, and has never before been made public.  Utica Herald.

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, January 3, 1863