Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/244

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204
AMERICAN BOYS' LIFE

when relating her experience. "He seemed to be sech a big man, I couldn't say nuffin nohow. He looked at me cu'rus like, an' all to once he says, 'Ain't dis Mammy Tucker?' Den I most gasp' fo' bref, an' I says, 'Yes, dis is Mammy Tucker, Mister President,' an' he give my hand a hot squeeze, an' says, 'Glad to see you, Mrs. Tucker. I hope you are well.' Dat flustered me mightily, but I braces up, an' I says, 'I'se putty well, sah, but mighty poor, sah—wid de old man gone, an' Washington out o' wuk. Wisht Washington cud git somet'ing to do around yeah, sah.' By dat time de crowd behin' was pushin' up, an' he says, 'Come an' see me to-morrow at nine o'clock,' an' den I had to pass on, wid everybody a-lookin' an' a-starin' at me, 'cause de blessed President had stopped to talk to a poor ole colored pusson like me."

Promptly at nine o'clock the next day she presented herself at the White House and told the doorkeeper what the President had said. Without hesitation McKinley accorded her a short interview, and gave her some money with which to tide over