President Abraham Lincoln often visited hospitals to talk   
     with wounded soldiers during the Civil War. Once, doctors pointed   
     out a young soldier who was near death and Lincoln went over to   
     his bedside.  
          "Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the President.  
          The soldier obviously didn't recognize Lincoln, and with   
     some effort he was able to whisper, "Would you please write a   
     letter to my mother?"  
          A pen and paper were provided and the President carefully   
     began writing down what the young man was able to say:  
          "My dearest mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty.   
     I'm afraid I'm not going to recover. Don't grieve too much for   
     me, please. Kiss Mary and John for me. May God bless you and   
     father."  
          The soldier was too weak to continue, so Lincoln signed the   
     letter for him and added, "Written for your son by Abraham   
     Lincoln."  
          The young man asked to see the note and was astonished when   
     he discovered who had written it. "Are you really the President?"   
     he asked.  
          "Yes I am," Lincoln replied quietly. Then he asked if there   
     was anything else he could do.  
          "Would you please hold my hand?" the soldier asked. "It will   
     help to see me through to the end."  
          In the hushed room, the tall gaunt President took the boy's   
     hand in his and spoke warm words of encouragement until death   
     came.  
       
                      By The Best of Bits & Pieces   
              from A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul    
           Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen