Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-12-28

paid 10 New Salem on Sunday, the l4th
Of October, 1885, to find her grave which
with the cemetery in which it is situated,
is described with painful minuteness. This
is followed by several columns descriptive
Of New Salem, the appearances Of the
country, the character Of its soil, trees,
houses, flowers, weeds, streams, stones, and
everything in any way connected with it,
and sketches ofs8e persons who once
lived there; dsS iptions of pioneer
population, and philosophical reflections on
life, religion and character generally.
Then follows this further passage concern
ing Mr.. Lincoln and Miss Rutledge
aAbraham Lincoln loved Miss Ann
Rutledge with all his soul, mind and
strength. She loved him as dearly, ten
derly and affectionately. They seemed
made in heaven for each other, though
opposite in many things. As before re-
marked, she was accidentally, innocently
and honestly engaged to A. Lincoln and
Mr. at the same time. 1t is said and
thought that the young lady was condi-
tionally promised to Mr.. Lincoln, to be
consummated upon a release from her
prior engagement with Mr.. The causes
which led to this complication shall be re-
lated to you at another time and place.
There was no dishonor in it to any of the
three.-In her conflicts of honor, duty,
love, promises and worldly engagements
she was taken sick. She struggled, re-
GREETED, grieved, and became nervous.
She ate not, slept not, and was taken down
by brain fever, and was fast sinking TO the
grave. Lincoln wished to see her. She
silently prayed to see him. Their friends
at first refused the wish of both. Still the
wishes of both prevailed. Mr.. Lincoln
went TO see her about the 10th of August,
1885. The meeting was quite as much
as either could bear, and more than Lin
coin, with all his GOODNESS and philosophy,
could endure. The voice, the face, the
| features of her; the love, sympathy and
| interview, fastened themselves ON his
heart and soul forever. Heaven only
knows what was said by the two. Goo
only knows what was thought.
DR.. Jason Duncan of New Salem
about September, 1888, had placed in Mr.
Lincoln's hands the poem called Immor
tality,' or, Oh why should the spirit 0
mortal be proud 2" Miss Rutledge die,
August %, 1885, and was buried in
cemetery at Concord, rear New Salem
Mr.. Lincoln has said that his heart. sa,
and broken. was buried there. He said
also, to The same fri nd, '' cannot endur,
the thought that sleet and storm, frost ane
snow should beat on her grave" He nev
er addressed any other woman, your.
afectionately,' and generally and charac
teristically abstained from the use of the
word love. That word cannot be fount
more than half dozen times in al hi.
letters and speeches since that time.
have seen some of his letters to other la
dies but he never says love- He nevel
ended his letters with yours affectionate
ly,' but signed his name, Your friend, A
Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was by ma
ture more or less abstracted-had th,
power of continued, concentrated thought
He was an ardent and impulsive man be
fore 1885. He never cared for food
eating mechanically. He sorrowed an,
grieved, rambled over the hills and throug
the forests, day and night. He suffere,
and bore it for while like great man
philosopher. He flept not, ate moi
joyed not. This he did until he becam
emaciated, and gave way. His mind wan
dered from its throne. He muttere
words to her he loved. His reason de
throned, walked out of itself, and embrac
ed and kissed the shadows of the heate
brain. Love, future happiness, death
sorrow, despair, want of sleep, want @
food, an aching heart, intense though
soon worked a partial wreck of body ant
mind. 1t has been said that Mr. Lineol
became insane. This is not exactly true
: The dethronement of reason was onl
partial, and could be detected only by tn
most deeerning of his friends, through tn
abruptness of his sentences and the shar
/, contrasts of his ideas and language. L
2 give you an exact idea of his mental con
/; dition at that time, imagine Mr.. Lincol
e situated as l have attempted to describe
!. He had strong, clear mind. His styl
n of expression in 1885 was entirely differ
I ent from what they we're from 1858 t
: 1864. He had more emotion and imagin
o alton in 1885, when he was twenty-si,
d than he had in 1864. He grew stror
: ger as he became older. Did the calamit
: of which j have spoken crush him, an
e thus modify if it did not change his ms
# ture? 1t must be expected that his e,