Lincoln Story Book, The

<h3>"IF GOOD, HE'S GOT IT! IF T'AINT GOOD, HE AIN'T GOT IT!"</h3> <p>A revenue cutter conveyed a presidential party from Washington to Fortress Monroe, consisting of the chief, his secretaries of war and of the treasury, and General Egbert L. Viele--who preserved this tale. On the way Secretary Stanton stated that he had telegraphed to General Mitchell in Alabama "All right--go ahead!" though he did not know what emergency was thus to meet. He wished the executive to take the responsibility in case his ignorance erred.</p> <p>"I will have to get you to countermand the order." So he hinted.</p> <p>"Well," exclaimed the good-humored superior, "that is very much like a certain horse-sale in Kentucky when I was a boy (Lincoln was only eight when leaving Kentucky for Indiana). A particularly fine horse was to be sold, and the people gathered together. They had a small boy to ride the horse up and down while the spectators examined it for points. At last, one man whispered to the boy as he went by:</p> <p>"'Look here, boy, ain't that hoss got the splints?'</p> <p>"The boy replied: 'Master, I don't know what the splints is; but, if it is good for him, he has got it! If it ain't good for him, he ain't got it!' Now," finished the adviser, "if this was good for Mitchell, it was all right; but, if it was not, I have to countermand, eh?"--(Noted by General Viele.) <br/> <br/> <br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />