surroundings. Neither
General McClellan nor any one else made any objections to the singing;
the place was not on the battle-field; the time was sixteen days after
the battle; no dead body was seen during the whole time the President
was absent from Washington, nor even a grave that had not been rained on
since the time it was made."

"ONE WAR AT A TIME."

Nothing in Lincoln's entire career better illustrated the surprising
resources of his mind than his manner of dealing with "The Trent
Affair." The readiness and ability with which he met this perilous
emergency, in a field entirely new to his experience, was worthy the
most accomplished diplomat and statesman. Admirable, also, was his cool
courage and self-reliance in following a course radically opposed to
the prevailing sentiment throughout the country and in Congress, and
contrary to the advice of his own Cabinet.

Secretary of the Navy Welles hastened to approve officially the act of
Captain Wilkes in apprehending the Confederate Commissioners Mason and
Slidell, Secretary Stanton publicly applauded, and even Secretary
of State Seward, whose long public career had made him especially
conservative, stated that he was opposed to any concession or surrender
of Mason and Slidell.

But Lincoln, with great sagacity, simply said, "One war at a time."

PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S LAST PUBLIC ADDRESS.

The President made his last public address on the evening of April 11th,
1865, to a gathering at the White House. Said he:

"We meet this evening not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.

"The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the
principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace,
whose joyous expression cannot be restrained.

"In the midst of this, however, He from whom all blessings flow must not
be forgotten.

"Nor must those whose harder part gives us the cause of rejoicing be
overlooked; their honors must not be parceled out with others.

"I myself was near the front, and had the high pleasure of transmitting
the good news to you; but no part of the honor, for plan or execution,
is mine.

"To General Grant, his skillful officers and brave men, all belongs."

NO OTHERS LIKE THEM.

One day an old lady from the country called on President Lincoln, her
tanned face peering up to his through a pair of spectacles. Her errand
was to present Mr. Lincoln a pair of stockings of her own make a yard
long. Kind t