e is not
interfered with, but a lot of boys are standing around, ready to mix in
to help the little fellow. They are ready to trip up the big fellow,
so the little one can jump on him, and they are getting ready to throw
stones at him, and kick him on the shins. Then a big bully that they are
all afraid to tackle, comes along and says: 'This little fellow picked
on the big fellow, and kept nagging him till he had to fight or run. Now
the little fool has got to take his medicine, and you fellows mustn't
mix in, or you got me to fight. Just keep hands off, that's all.' That's
all there was to it, but it came in mighty handy, and we appreciate it,
but there is too much grand stand play about an alliance. In other wars
with England, Germans and French and Poles have fought with us, and for
us, and yet we have never felt like having an alliance with them. Do you
ever take much stock in Russia, boys? Don't ever forget Russia. During
our war between the North and South, we were once in a tight place.
England and other countries were about to recognize the Southern
Confederacy, and England was doing everything possible to break us up,
furnishing privateers, and harboring confederate gunboats, and making it
warm for us. Boys, your Uncle Abraham Lincoln was perspiring a good
deal those days. They say he couldn't wear a collar, he sweat so. It
was believed that England and several other countries were going to
simultaneously recognize the Confederacy, and maybe turn in and fight
us. Warships from other countries were hovering around our southern
coast, and our soldiers were feeling pretty blue, the cabinet never
smiled, and nobody laughed out loud except Uncle Abe, and even his laugh
seemed to have a hollow, croupy sound. One day, when the strain was
the greatest, and everybody felt as though there was a funeral in the
family, and there were funerals in most families, a flock of warships
flying the flag of Russia, steamed by Sandy Hook, and up to New York,
saluted the forts and the Stars and Stripes all along up to the Battery.
It seemed as though those battleships never would stop coming. They
lined up all around New York, and their guns pointed toward the sea, and
every Russian on board acted as though he was loaded for bear. The news
went to Washington that night, and they say Uncle Abe had night sweats.
The next morning a Russian admiral, who had gone over to Washington on a
night train, called to pay his respects to the Preside