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them--and in the midst of the clamour of the gavel also--some enthusiasts
mounted Wilson on a big friend's shoulder and were going to fetch him in
triumph to the platform. The Chair's voice now rose above the noise:
"
Order! To your places! You forget that there is still a document to be
read." When quiet had been restored he took up the document, and was
going to read it, but laid it down again saying "I forgot; this is not to
be read until all written communications received by me have first been
read." He took an envelope out of his pocket, removed its enclosure,
glanced at it--seemed astonished--held it out and gazed at it--stared at
it.
Twenty or thirty voices cried out
"
What is it? Read it! read it!"
And he did--slowly, and wondering:
"
'The remark which I made to the stranger--[Voices. "Hello! how's
this?"]--was this: 'You are far from being a bad man. [Voices. "Great
Scott!"] Go, and reform.'" [Voice. "Oh, saw my leg off!"] Signed by
Mr. Pinkerton the banker."
The pandemonium of delight which turned itself loose now was of a sort to
make the judicious weep. Those whose withers were unwrung laughed till
the tears ran down; the reporters, in throes of laughter, set down
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