George Pickett's Friend
by Charles W. Moores
George Pickett, who had known Lincoln
in
Illinois, years before, joined the Southern army,
and by his conspicuous bravery and ability had
become one of the great generals of the
Confederacy. Toward the close of the war, when a
large part of Virginia had fallen into the
possession of the Union army, the President called at
General Pickett's Virginia home.
The general's wife, with her baby on her arm,
met him at the door. She herself has told the
story for us.
"Is this George Pickett's home?"
he asked.
"With all the courage and dignity
I could muster, I replied, "Yes, and I am his wife, and
this is his baby."
"I am Abraham Lincoln"
"The President!" I gasped. I had
never seen him, but I knew the intense love and reverence
with which my soldier always spoke of him.
"The stranger shook his head and
replied, "No - Abraham Lincoln, George's old friend."
"The baby pushed away from me
and reached out his hands to Mr. Lincoln, who took him
in his arms. As he did so an expression of rapt, almost
divine tenderness and love lighted up the sad
face. It was a look that I have never seen on any
other face. The baby opened his mouth wide and
insisted upon giving his father's friend a dewy
kiss.
"As Mr. Lincoln gave the little
one back to me he said, "Tell your father, the rascal,
that I forgive him for the sake of your bright eyes." |
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