United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
From that day Scott was the most industrious man in the company. He was
always at work, generally helping some other soldier. His arms and his
dress were neat and cleanly; he took charge of policing the company’s
quarters; was never absent at roll-call, unless he was sent away, and
always on hand if there was any work to be done. He was very strong,
and practised feats of strength until he could pick up a man lying on
the ground and carry him away on his shoulders. He was of great use
in the hospital, and in all the serious cases sought employment as a
nurse, because it trained him in night-work and keeping awake at night.
He soon attracted attention. He was offered promotion, which, for some
reason, he declined.
It was a long time before he would speak of his interview with Mr.
Lincoln. One night, when he had received a long letter from home, Scott
opened his heart, and told Evans the story.
Scott said: “The President was the kindest man I had ever seen; I knew
him at once by a Lincoln medal I had long worn. I was scared at first,
for I had never before talked with a great man. But Mr. Lincoln was so
easy with me, so gentle, that I soon forgot my fright. He asked me all
about the people at home, the neighbors, the farm, and where I went
to school, and who my schoolmates were. Then he asked me about mother,
and how she looked, and I was glad I could take her photograph from
my bosom and show it to him. He said how thankful I ought to be that
my mother still lived, and how, if he was in my place, he would try
to make her a proud mother, and never cause her a sorrow or a tear. I
cannot remember it all, but every word was so kind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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