nestness of his interlocutor, took his hand in both his own, and,
with his face full of sympathetic light, exclaimed: "I say _amen_ to
that! _amen to that_!"

After the New England tour, Lincoln returned to his home in Springfield.
As often happens, those least appreciative of his success were his own
neighbors; and certain reflections gained vogue concerning his motives
in visiting the East. It was charged that he had been mercenary; that
his political speeches had been paid for. Something of this sort having
been brought to Lincoln's notice, he disposed of the matter in the
following manly and characteristic letter:

C.F. McNEILL, ESQ.--_Dear Sir:_--Reaching home yesterday, I found
yours of the 23d March, enclosing a slip from the 'Middleport
Press.' It is not true that I ever charged anything for a political
speech in my life; but this much is true: Last October I was
requested by letter to deliver some sort of speech in Mr. Beecher's
church in Brooklyn, $200 being offered in the first letter. I wrote
that I could do it in February, provided they would take a
political speech if I could find time to get up no other. They
agreed; and subsequently I informed them the speech would have to
be a political one. When I reached New York, I learned for the
first time that the place was changed to Cooper Institute. I made
the speech, and left for New England, where I have a son at school,
neither asking for pay nor having any offered me. Three days after,
a check for $200 was sent me, and I took it, and did not know it
was wrong. My understanding now is--though I knew nothing of it at
the time--that they did charge for admittance at the Cooper
Institute, and that they took in more than twice $200. I have made
this explanation to you as a friend; but I wish no explanation made
to our enemies. What they want is a squabble and a fuss; and that
they can have if we explain; and they cannot have it if we don't.
When I returned through New York from New England, I was told by
the gentleman who sent me the check that a drunken vagabond in the
club, having learned something about the $200, made the exhibition
out of which the 'Herald' manufactured the article quoted by the
'Press' of your town. My judgment is, and therefore my request is,
that you give no denial, and no explanations.

Thanking you for