gentleman made a hasty toilet
and presented himself at a quarter of five in the waiting-room of the
President. He asked the usher if he could see Mr. Lincoln.

"No," he replied.

"But I have an engagement to meet him this morning," answered the
visitor.

"At what hour?" asked the usher.

"At five o'clock."

"Well, sir, he will see you at five."

The visitor waited patiently, walking to and fro for a few minutes, when
he heard a voice as if in grave conversation.

"Who is talking in the next room?" he asked.

"It is the President, sir," said the usher, who then explained that
it was Mr. Lincoln's custom to spend every morning from four to five
reading the Scriptures, and praying.

HIS SPRINGFIELD FAREWELL ADDRESS

It was on the morning of February 11, 1861, that the President-elect,
together with his family and a small party of friends, bade adieu to the
city of Springfield, which, alas! he was never to see again.

A large throng of Springfield citizens assembled at the railway station
to see the departure, and before the train left Mr. Lincoln addressed
them in the following words:--

"MY FRIENDS: No one, not in my position, can appreciate the sadness I
feel at this parting. To this people I owe all that I am. Here I have
lived more than a quarter of a century; here my children were born, and
here one of them lies buried. I know not how soon I shall see you again.
A duty devolves upon me which is, perhaps, greater than that which has
devolved upon any other man since the days of Washington. He never would
have succeeded except by the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he at
all times relied. I feel that I cannot succeed without the same Divine
aid which sustained him, and on the same Almighty Being I place my
reliance for support; and I hope you, my friends, will all pray that I
may receive that Divine assistance, without which I cannot succeed,
but with which success is certain. Again I bid you an affectionate
farewell."

SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY

(FEBRUARY 14)

SAINT VALENTINE

The good Saint Valentine was a priest at Rome in the days of Claudius
II. He and Saint Marius aided the Christian martyrs, and for this kind
deed Saint Valentine was apprehended and dragged before the Prefect of
Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his
head cut off. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th day of February, about
the year 270.

At that time it was the custom in Rome, a