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"I'VE LOST MY APPLE."
During a public "reception," a farmer from one of the border counties
of Virginia told the President that the Union soldiers, in passing his
farm, had helped themselves not only to hay, but his horse, and he
hoped the President would urge the proper officer to consider his claim
immediately.
Mr. Lincoln said that this reminded him of an old acquaintance of his,
"Jack" Chase, a lumberman on the Illinois, a steady, sober man, and the
best raftsman on the river. It was quite a trick to take the logs over
the rapids; but he was skilful with a raft, and always kept her straight
in the channel. Finally a steamer was put on, and "Jack" was made
captain of her. He always used to take the wheel, going through the
rapids. One day when the boat was plunging and wallowing along the
boiling current, and "Jack's" utmost vigilance was being exercised to
keep her in the narrow channel, a boy pulled his coat-tail and hailed
him with:
"Say, Mister Captain! I wish you would just stop your boat a
minute--I've lost my apple overboard!"
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Stories and Anecdotes About the Life of Abraham Lincoln
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