about twelve o'clock
It seems that two of the conservative Border State chaps , who are here for the express purpose of protesting against everything whatever , had a discussion about the Honest Abe , and one chap bet the other chap five dollars that he could n't , by any possible means , speak to the President without hearing a small anecdote . `` Done ! '' says the other chap , gleefully , `` I 'll take the bet . '' That very same night , at about twelve o'clock , he tore frantically up to the White House , and commenced thundering at the door like King Richard at the gates of Ascalon . The Honest Abe stuck his night-capped head out of the window , and says he : `` Is that you , Mr. Seward ? '' `` No , sir , '' says the Border State chap , glaring up through the darkness . `` I 'm a messenger from the army .