William Wasson

Lincoln, Captain Cummings' Recollections of "Honest Abe" William Wasson

I will never forget that day as long as I live, for it seemed as if the whole world just stopped-sort of hushed like. Lincoln came, God's word upon his lips and with God's mantle about him, he did his allotted task, then vanished, leaving behind a memory, half mortal and half myth. Where did I first meet Lincoln? Well, it seems I always knew Abe. You see we grew up together. His law office, where he and Billie H. Herndon practiced for so many years, was just across the street from my store -and morning and evening we got into the friendly habit of walking back and forth together. You see we lived just around the corner from each other. Those were interesting days ! Everybody felt as if he had a share and a responsibility in running our country. Slavery was a big question. People were divided on the Dred Scott decision and arguing over the Missouri Compromise. Our neighbors in the South were pressing State Rights. I wish everybody today took as much interest in our country's problems as we all did then.