But when the evidence was finished, and
Lincoln's time came to make his argument, he called
for an almanac, which the clerk of the court had
ready for him, and handed it to the jury. They
saw at once that on the night of the murder there
was no moon at all. They were satisfied that the
witness had told what was not true. Lincoln's
case was won.
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.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53