Swayed by an occasion, or by the responsiveness of an audience, Mr.Beecher would sometimes say something which was not meant as it sounded.

One evening, at a great political meeting at Cooper Union, Mr.Beecher was at his brightest and wittiest.

In the course of his remarks he had occasion to refer to ex-President Hayes; some one in the audience called out: "He was a softy!" "No," was Mr.Beecher's quick response.

"The country needed a poultice at that time, and got it." "He's dead now, anyhow," responded the voice.
"Not dead, my friend; he only sleepeth." It convulsed the audience, of course, and the reporters took it down in their books.
After the meeting Edward drove home with Mr.Beecher.
After a while he asked: "Well, how do you think it went ?" Edward replied he thought it went very well, except that he did not like the reference to ex-President Hayes.
"What reference?
What did I say ?" Edward repeated it.
"Did I say that ?" he asked.

Edward looked at him.