The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1868-04-10
AbrGhdBp Lincoln.
PERSONAL HABITS AND MANNERS.

A correspondent of the Utica Herald
gives the following a. the "reminiscences
of Mr.. Eaton, of Springfield. who said
he knew Mr.. Lincoln for thirty years:
81 am a carpenter, and built his house
for him. He was often in my house and
| in his. | sold him the first and think
the only COW ne ever owned. He came
for her himself and led her home with
rope. He was the most common, so
ciable man | ever knew His wife was
rather quick tempered, and used to fret
and seold about great deal, but | don't
believe Mr. Lincoln was ever angry in
his life. | knew him when he first
came to Springfield. | had been here
about year There were only a few
scattered houses when | came. Young
Lincoln, was an awkward, hard work
ing young man. Everybody said he
would never make a good lawyer, be-
cause he was too honest He came to
my shop one day, after he had been here
five or six months and said he had a no.
ton to quit studying law and learn the
carpenters trade. He thought there was
more need of carpenters out here than
lawyers. Mrs. LincOn's folks were
dreadfully opposed to her union with
Abe. She had two sisters and a broth
er living here they live here now, and
are very wealthy aristocTatic and high
~ respectable people. Mrs. Lincoln
never goes there they have never
spoken TO each other as I know of since
the day she and Lincoln were married
first they would not speak TO her because
she had brought such disgrace upon them
by marrying Abe Lincoln After Lin
coin began to show his colors Il little. be-
gan to be popular, Mrs Lincoln would
not speak to them, but Abe was on good
terms with everybody. Housed always
TO do his own marketing, even after he
was elected President, and before he
went TO Washington. ! used 10 see him
at the baker and butchers every NOR
ming, with his basket on his arm
Every lady respected him-no more af-
ter he was President than they did be-
fore. He was kind and sociable with
every one. He would speak to every
one. After he was elected we would
sometimes address him as " Mr. Presi-
dent or ''glad to shake the hand ofou
President. We'll YES, ! suppose 80. !
he would say II shall have TO 20 and !
leave you before long. You must call |
and see me when ! am living in the big |
house" He was 80 common, 80 kind. I
so childlike, that ! don't believe there /
was one in this city but who loved him (
a. a father or brother. He was a very |
liberal man, too much so, perhaps, for !
his own good. | am one of the trustees /
Of the FIRST Baptist Church, andalthough 1
Mr. Lincoln was not an attendant with /
our congregation, ne would always give /
Sl5, $50, or 50 every year to help sup
port the minister He was sure to give
something toevery benevolent and char
liable purpose that came along. "Well. /
how much do you want / should give?u
he would say drawing his purse. "You
must leave me a little 10 feed the babies
with" There was considerable talk
here about Mrs. Lincoln's bad temper
She was very irritable. and would often
say things she would afterwards be sor-
~ for. | have often heard her say TO
Mr.. Lincoln, 'Why don't YOU dress up
and try to look like somebody ~ Some
times she would get in stew and re-
fuse TO get his meals for him. | was
one morning in the eating saloon round
in Monroe street fixing up a counter,
when Mr. Lincoln and his oldest son,
Robert, then only little hoy. came in
and ordered breakfast. After the meal
was served, Mr.. Lincoln, leaning back
in his chair and commencing to pick
his teeth, SAYS 10 the boy, who had not
quite finished, ''Well. RObby. this amt
~ WI be4tt attSt air - IL II Hit ttpll
conclude to let Us come back we viii
board here all summer He never
seemed to be the least ruffied-always
calm and pleasant. Lincoln was sitting
in the telegraph Office talking with ev
erybOdy around him a. usual. when the
came announcing his nominal
ton to the Presidency by the Chicago
Convention. After the dispatch was
read, Mr.. Lincoln gets up and says,
. There woman over to my house
who | guess would be pleased to hear
that bit of news. III walk over and tell
il to her" He was never east down by
adversely, never elated by success.