Time Spent With a Famous Person
I am driving through the country road in my black model T. And there it is the building that Abraham Lincoln lives in. I feel my heart start to beat and anxiety threatens to make me turn around. But no! I must go and see him for there will never have another opportunity. I see his home and drive up towards his door. One of his servants beckons me over to him. I park my car and get out. As I start to walk towards him he calls out to me, Are you Mr. Parker?" As I reach him I say, "Yes, I am here to see Mr. Lincoln." He replies, “Yes, he is expecting you. I am Peter Brown but you can call me Peter. I am one of Lincoln's servants." He leads me inside of Lincoln's modest home.
Upon entering I see my host, Abe Lincoln himself, coming to greet me. "My friend," he says coming down the stairs, "come in, come in, it’s great to meet you! I am dumbstruck at seeing the man that at first I just stare before uttering "Sir, it is such an honor to finally meet you." He looks at me and laughs, "It probably is, but come young man I am sure you want to see the grounds." He starts to walk and I hurry to keep up with his long strides. He leads me around his house, pointing out things that he has collected, made, and things he is proud of.
Finally we finish downstairs and he leads me up to his study. I look around at all the papers strewn across his desk and I say to him, "Sir you have been doing a fantastic job running the country and I know a lot of people hate you because of your beliefs about slavery. I just want you to know that if you ever need anyone to watch your back, I will be there for you." He just looks at me and says, “Yes, you strike me as an honest man. And I don’t know much of what my own people think of what I am trying to accomplish."
He takes all the papers on his desk and puts them in a neat pile on the side. As he finishes he leans back in his chair, and looking at me he says, "There are many problems in this country, and even the world today. Slavery is one of the problems that nobody has a compromise to. We of the north say let it go and those of the south say expand it. And why do they say that? They say it because of greed; greed is driving them to be brutal masters to people just like us. People that have friends, families, and feelings just like us." He sighs, "It quite frankly disgusts me. And my enemies! Ah, my enemies are many. I fear for the fate of this country." At this I say to him, "what do you think will happen?" He hesitates and then says, "I fear that there may be a war between the north and south." I stare in shock, "but what will happen if there is a war?" I exclaim. "It would tear this country apart!" He calmly asks me, "What do you think I should do, my friend? What can I say or do to calm the people of this country?"
I sit and think for a minute before answering. Then I say, “What if you told the slave owners that they had to pay the slaves? If the average slave is $100 then make the slave owners pay them let’s say… $1 a month. You could tell the owners that if the slave can come up with $100 then they have to let them go with their family if they have any. Also, you could tell the owners that if they are caught not paying the slaves then they get fined $100.” As I finish we both just sit, thinking. Me about the possible war and him, I am sure, about my idea.
Then at last he says, “Those are good thoughts. You have given me much to think about.” He looks out the window and exclaims, “Look at the time! I am afraid that our time is coming to a close but I thank you for your support, thoughts, and ideas surrounding this matter.” We stand up and head out walking down the stairs towards the front. He opens the door for me and I walk out but as I get to my car I turn back and say, “Whatever you do I will support.” I get in and start my car but as I am driving away I turn back and watch him walk inside. As I turn back to the road I say to myself, “He truly is a god given leader to lead in these dark times.”
