lHuman Krndlfiness

In a recent number of McClure's Magazine, Henry B. Rankin, now in his eighty-sixth year, in collaboration with Neil M. Clark, tells this story of Lincoln.

"Here, on the day in question, a group of local notables and politicians sat along two benches at the rear of the platform, and presently came cries of 'Lincolnt Lincolnt Abe Lincolnt' Mr. Lincoln, never in a hurry to begin a speech, rose, deposited his tall hat under the bench, and advanced to the front. Most of those before him were old friends.

"The foor of the platform was about on a level with a man's shoulders. Lincoln had begun to speak when a man known to all of us, James Pantier, arrived, and pushed up to the platform, and stood on the ground there with his folded arms resting on the foor. He was almost directly in front of the speaker, and from that position he gazed directly into Lincoln's face.

"We boys watched Pantier with interest. He was a curious product of the back woods. A pioneer, he had retained many of the characteristics of the original woodsmen. A hunter, trapper, faith doctor, sawmill-owner, and farmer, he was a firm friend of Abraham Lincoln; but his clothes were a queer admixture for a gathering at the county seat, while his hat, which had long since Iost its brim from the combined efiects of storm and long usage, rested at the extreme back of his head. Uncle Jimmie, as \^'e called him, was able to tell wonderful stories of adventure from his recollection of frontier days, and on that account we boys liked to get him to talk. However, being unfamiliar with the proprieties of platform procedure, he was naturally not prepared to observe them. He had come to see his friend Abraham Lincoln and to hear him speak, and at the first opportunity he said:

" 'Howdy, Abe.' A moment's silence, then'Howdy, Abe-howdy, Abe.'

"He spoke twice before Lincoln heard him, and three times before Lincoln saw where the voice came from. Then, perceiving who had addressed him, Lincoln greeted him cordially.

" 'Why, how are you, uncle Jimmiel'he said, and leaning down shook hands heartily.

"Still holding the old man's hand, he led him along the front of the platform to the steps and brought him up. There was no seat but that which Lincoln himself had just vacated, and he led Uncle Jimmie to that and sat his down. There, between Judge Treat and the Hon. B. S. Edwards, two of the most dignified and artistocratic members of the community, Uncle Jimmie sat, not quite at his ease, while Lincoln returned to the front of the platform and continued his speech.

"His battered old hat bothered the pioneer. He did not know what to do with it. Finally, seeing Lincoln's tall hat under the bench, he twisted up his own and stuck it in that, along with the paperE and news clippings with which it was already half filled. Still, however, something apparently disquieted him. Finally, he remembered; and, leaning forward in his place, he spoke again to Lincoln.

"'Abe!' he said. 'Abe! I forgot about how Mary and the babies werel' ax you

'"Lincoln broke off his speech and t Uncle Jimmie. In a low voice he replied:

" 'All well when I left them at Springfield terday morning, Uncle Jimmie; all very thank youl'

"He resumed his speech where he had off. Throughout there had been not the est trace of impatience or embarrassment conthat descension in his demeanor, no su

Uncle Jimmie had violated the There was that in Lincoln's conduct others, then and always, which transcended It was the very spirit of human ki ness from which all true manners spring."

Silent Partner