, Mr. Lincoln was almost broken-hearted.

The Governor regretted that his description had so sadly affected the
President. He remarked: "I would give all I possess to know how to
rescue you from this terrible war." Then Mr. Lincoln's wonderful
recuperative powers asserted themselves and this marvelous man was
himself.

Lincoln's whole aspect suddenly changed, and he relieved his mind by
telling a story.

"This reminds me, Governor," he said, "of an old farmer out in Illinois
that I used to know.

"He took it into his head to go into hog-raising. He sent out to Europe
and imported the finest breed of hogs he could buy.

"The prize hog was put in a pen, and the farmer's two mischievous boys,
James and John, were told to be sure not to let it out. But James, the
worst of the two, let the brute out the next day. The hog went straight
for the boys, and drove John up a tree, then the hog went for the seat
of James' trousers, and the only way the boy could save himself was by
holding on to the hog's tail.

"The hog would not give up his hunt, nor the boy his hold! After they
had made a good many circles around the tree, the boy's courage began to
give out, and he shouted to his brother, 'I say, John, come down, quick,
and help me let go this hog!'

"Now, Governor, that is exactly my case. I wish some one would come and
help me to let the hog go."

THE CABINET LINCOLN WANTED.

Judge Joseph Gillespie, of Chicago, was a firm friend of Mr. Lincoln,
and went to Springfield to see him shortly before his departure for the
inauguration.

"It was," said judge Gillespie, "Lincoln's Gethsemane. He feared he was
not the man for the great position and the great events which confronted
him. Untried in national affairs, unversed in international diplomacy,
unacquainted with the men who were foremost in the politics of the
nation, he groaned when he saw the inevitable War of the Rebellion
coming on. It was in humility of spirit that he told me he believed that
the American people had made a mistake in selecting him.

"In the course of our conversation he told me if he could select his
cabinet from the old bar that had traveled the circuit with him in
the early days, he believed he could avoid war or settle it without a
battle, even after the fact of secession.

"'But, Mr. Lincoln,' said I, 'those old lawyers are all Democrats.'

"'I know it,' was his reply. 'But I would rather have Democrats whom I
know than Republicans