my little girl by the hand, he paused, looked at the child's bright
face, and taking a rose-bud from his button-hole, he presented it to her
with a manner so graceful, and a smile so benignant, as to show that
under the dingy blue uniform there beat the heart of a gentleman. He
kept a keen eye on current events, and sometimes expressed his views
with great sagacity. One day he stopped me on the street, saying:

"I have just read the report of the political sermon of Dr.--(giving
the name of a noted sensational preacher, who was in the habit, at
times, of discussing politics from his pulpit). I disapprove
political-preaching. What do you think?"

I expressed my cordial concurrence.

"I will put a stop to it. The preachers must stop preaching politics, or
they must all come into one State Church. I will at once issue a decree
to that effect."

For some unknown reason, that decree never was promulgated.

After the war, he took a deep interest in the reconstruction of the
Southern States. I met him one day on Montgomery street, when he asked
me in a tone and with a look of earnest solicitude:

"Do you hear any complaint or dissatisfaction concerning me from the
South?"

I gravely answered in the negative.

"I was for keeping the country undivided, but I have the kindest feeling