and it was passed out to him. His key
fitted the lock, but alas! when it was opened the satchel contained
only a soiled shirt, some paper collars, a pack of cards and a bottle of
whisky. A few minutes later the satchel containing the inaugural address
was found among the pile of baggage.

The recovery of the address also reminded Mr. Lincoln of a story, which
is thus narrated by Ward Lamon in his "Recollections of Abraham Lincoln":

The loss of the address and the search for it was the subject of a great
deal of amusement. Mr. Lincoln said many funny things in connection with
the incident. One of them was that he knew a fellow once who had saved
up fifteen hundred dollars, and had placed it in a private banking
establishment. The bank soon failed, and he afterward received ten per
cent of his investment. He then took his one hundred and fifty dollars
and deposited it in a savings bank, where he was sure it would be safe.
In a short time this bank also failed, and he received at the final
settlement ten per cent on the amount deposited. When the fifteen
dollars was paid over to him, he held it in his hand and looked at it
thoughtfully; then he said, "Now, darn you, I have got you reduced to a
portable shape, so I'll put you in my pocket." Suiting the action to the
word, Mr. Lincoln took his address from the bag and carefully placed
it in the inside pocket of his vest, but held on to the satchel with
as much interest as if it still contained his "certificate of moral
character."

NOTE PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT.

The great English funny paper, London "Punch," printed this cartoon on
September 27th, 1862. It is intended to convey the idea that Lincoln,
having asserted that the war would be over in ninety days, had not
redeemed his word: The text under the Cartoon in Punch was:

MR. SOUTH TO MR. NORTH: "Your 'ninety-day' promissory note isn't taken
up yet, sirree!"

The tone of the cartoon is decidedly unfriendly. The North finally took
up the note, but the South had to pay it. "Punch" was not pleased
with the result, but "Mr. North" did not care particularly what this
periodical thought about it. The United States, since then, has been
prepared to take up all of its obligations when due, but it must be
acknowledged that at the time this cartoon was published the outlook was
rather dark and gloomy. Lincoln did not despair, however; but although
business was in rather bad shape for a time, the financial skies finally