The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1866-02-03
A Reminiscence of Mr.. Lincoln.


A writer in the Portland Press gives the
following interesting reminiscence of Presi
dent Lincoln:
When the convention was held in, Chica
go which nominated Mr.. Lincoln for the
Presidency in 1860, q respectable gentle.
man of my acquaintance in Massachusetts
not of Mr.. Lincoln's party-..was induced to
take the opportunity, in company with sew
eral delegates and other interested in the
objects ofthe convention, to go out to Chi
cago and spend few days in visiting that
section of our country. In q very few min.
utes after the final balloting was had and
Mr.. LINCOLN nominated, it happened that a
train of cars started upon the Central Rail
road, passing through Springfield, the place
of Mr.. Lincoln'S residence, and Mr.. r., the
gentleman alluded to, took passage in the
same. Arriving at Springfield, he put up
at public house, and loiteriug upon the
front door steps, had the curiosity to inquire
of the landlord whereMr. Lincoln lived
Whilst giving the necessary directions, the
landlord suddenly remarked, "There is Mr.
Lincoln now, coming down the sidewalk ;
that tall, crooked man, loosely walking this
way, if you wish to see him you will have an
opportunity by putting yonrselfin his track
In few moments the object of his curl
osity reached the point our friend occupied
who, advancing, ventured to accost him
thus "Is this Mr.. Lincoln 2"
"That, sir, is my name" "My name is
R., from Plymouth county, Massachusetts
and learning that yon have to-day been
made the public property of the United
States, | have ventured TO introduce my
self with view to brief acquaintance
hoping you will pardon such patriotic Gu
riosity in stranger" Mr.. LINCOLN receiv
ed his salutations with cordiality, told hin
no apology was necessary for his introduc
| tion, and asked him to accompany him tt
| his residence. He had just come from the
telegraph Office, where he had learned the
fact of his nomination, and was on his re
turn home when our friend met and accom-
panied him thither.
Arriving at Mr.. Lincoln's residence, h,
was introduced to Mrs. Lincoln and the twC
boys, and entered into conversation in rela
tion to the Lincoln family of the old colony
| the bingham General Lincoln of the Rev
olutionary Army, and the two Worceste
Lincolns, brothers, who were Governors o
Massachusetts and Maine at one and th
same time. In reply to Mr.. RS inquiry
whether Mr.. Lincoln could trace his ances
try to either of those early families of hi
own name, Mr.. Lincoln, with characteristic
4 righteousness, replied that he could no
4 say that he ever had. an ancestor older thai
4 his father, and therefore had it not in hi
power to trace his genealogy to so patriot
ic a source as old General Lincoln OF th
4 lt1f nh ho wis ba
After some further pleasant conversation
chiefly relating to the early history of tn
i Pilgrim Fathers, with which he seeme'
familiar Mr. r. desired the privilege o
writing letter to be despatched by tn
next mail Mr.. Lincoln very promptly an
kindly provided him with the necessar
means. A s he began to write, Mr.. Lincol
approached, and tapping him on the shou
der, expressed the hope that he was not
spy who had come thus early to report hi
faults to the public. "By no means, sir,
protested Mr.. r; 81 am writing home to m
wife, who, I dare say, will hardly credit th
fact that | am writing in your house." Oh
sir" exclaimed Mr.. Lincoln, eff your vii
doubts your word, will cheerfully endors
it, if you will give me permission )" an
taking the pen from Mr.. r., he wrote th
| following words in clear hand upon tn
blank page ofthe letter
81 am happy to say that your husban
is, at the present time, guest in my hous
, and in d due time trust you will greet h
safe return to the bosom of his family.
, ~. A. LINCOLN"
} This gave our friend an excellent aut,
J graph of Mr.. Lincoln, besides bearing wi
ness to his hospitable and cheerful spiri
! Whilst thus engaged in pleasant conve
J sation, the cars arrived that brought fro
! Chicago the committee of the conventio
! appointedto notify Mr.. Lincoln Of his non
) nation. He received them at the doc
J and conducted them to seats in his parlo
t Our friend who related the intervie
Q to us, says that on the reception Of th
! committee Mr.. Lincoln appeared son
d what embarrassed, but soon recovered b