Encourage Longing for Work
In 1861, the badgered President had so novel an application that he wrote the annexed note to facilitate its harvest:
“To Major Ramsey: The lady—bearer of this—says she has two sons who want to work. Set them at it, if possible. Wanting to work is so rare a merit that it should be encouraged.”
“BUT AARON GOT HIS COMMISSION!”
To animadversion on the President appointing to a post one who had zealously opposed his reelection, he replied:
“Well, I allow that Judge E——, having been disappointed before, did behave pretty ‘ugly,’ but that would not make him any less fit for the place; and I think I have scriptural authority for appointing him. You remember when the Lord was on Mount Sinai getting out a commission for Aaron, said Aaron was at the foot of the mountain, making a false god for the people to worship? Yet Aaron got his commission, you know.”