During the hard days of the Civil War, President Lincoln made frequent visits to the hospitals that were always overcrowded with the suffering.
On one occasion he stopped to speak to one of the patients, a mere boy of 16, who had been mortally wounded and was nearing death.
President Lincoln, taking the thin, white hand, said, "My poor boy, what can I do for you?"
With a beseeching look the fellow turned his eyes to the homely, kindly face and asked, "Will you write to my mother for me?"
"That I will," answered the President, and calling for a pen, ink and paper, he seated himself and wrote a long letter. When it was finished, the President rose, saying, "I will mail this as soon as I get back to my office. Now is there anything else I can do for you?"
In some way the boy had come to know it was the President, and so, looking at him in the most appealing sort of way, he asked, "Will you stay with me till it is all over? I will not be long, and I want to hold onto your hand."
On one occasion he stopped to speak to one of the patients, a mere boy of 16, who had been mortally wounded and was nearing death.
President Lincoln, taking the thin, white hand, said, "My poor boy, what can I do for you?"
With a beseeching look the fellow turned his eyes to the homely, kindly face and asked, "Will you write to my mother for me?"
"That I will," answered the President, and calling for a pen, ink and paper, he seated himself and wrote a long letter. When it was finished, the President rose, saying, "I will mail this as soon as I get back to my office. Now is there anything else I can do for you?"
In some way the boy had come to know it was the President, and so, looking at him in the most appealing sort of way, he asked, "Will you stay with me till it is all over? I will not be long, and I want to hold onto your hand."
That was too much for the great hearted President to resist. The tears came to his eyes, and he sat down by him and took hold of his hand. The fellow did not move or speak a word. This was some time before four o'clock, and it was long after six before the end came.
Compassion! If such a busy and even burdened man as President Lincoln could take the time to give just a little to a dying fellow human, do we really have any excuses not to do the same? Think of the compassion God gives to us.
z35W7z4v9z8w