Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-03-20
1RAxsIExr.
The Home Life Of Mr.. Lincoln.

pOnuent, making the pedestrfan tour from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific, who signs
himself ~ poor Student" flis lsst let
ter is dated Springfield, ILL.,, which place
be reached ON the 10Th Of Jsnusry. An
extract from his diary is exceedingly rscy, i,
and gives gossip relative to Mr. LiscoIn's
home life, whieh--like everything about
Mr.. Lincoln-will be read With great in
terest: rtg4tH
"REsPEcTABLE' BOARDING HOUSE.
Friday, January l0-reached Spring.
field at nine eA.M.--inquircd A.. for board
ing house; was directed to one kept by .
Mrs. Roberts, on seventh street--cslled--
received information from Mr.. r. that she
kept respectable house. and did not care
to receive strangers unless they came re-
commended by one Vi the clergy ywen. or
some person she knew'in ne cisy--csold
not comply aud without thinking harm
asked her TO direct me 10 a house not
quite SO respectable a. hers. She was in
dignant aud SKINNED the door against IN o
--didnt hurt Diuch : another charge 20
make pgainst old clothes--went further
down the street and overlook an old gray
headed man, whom | thought to be an old
settler. Asked him ii he knew Abraham
Lincoln.
PAGE EAToS's STORY oY MR.. LINCOLN.
"Kucw him we'll Tor thirty ycsrs was The
reply. IL am csrpepter. and bnilt his
house. lie was often in my house, and I
in his. | sold him the frst, and think
the only COW he ever owned. lie esms
for her himself, aud led her home with
rope. lie was ihe most common socisb.s
man ever knew; his wife was rather quick
tempered, used to fret aud sccId good
deal, but l don't believe Nr. l.. vss
ever angry in his life. knew him when
he FIRST came to Spri0eheld. had been
here year. There hsd only been q few
scattered houses when | came. Young
Lincoln remember wss an awkward hard
working young wan. Everybody said he
never would make good lawyer because
he was TOO honest lie came to my shop
one day. after he had been here i've or
six mouths. aud said he had notion TO
quit studying law and learn the esrpen-
ter's trade. lie thought there Was Ihore
need Of carpenters out here than lawyers.
Mrs. Lincolu's folks were drcadfully OPP
posed 10 her union with Abe. She had
two sisters and brother living here, they
live here now aud are very wealthy, aris.
tocrauc, aud highly respectable people.
Mrs. Lincoln never goes there, they have
not spoken 70 each other Us know OF
since the duy she aud MIR. Lincoln were
married. lirst they would not speak TO her
L.....a .ho l.d krnu..kf .unk 1faora.s
upon them by marrying Abe Lincoln.
After Abe began TO show his colors lit
tle-began 10 be popular-Mrs. Lincoln
would not speak 10 them, but Abe was on
good terms with everybody. lie used al
ways TO do his own marketing, even after
he was elected President and before he
went to Washington. ! used TO see him
ut the bakor aud butchers every morn
ing with his basket on his arm. Every
lady respected him--ho more after he was
President than they did before. lie was
kind and soeiabIe TO every one. lie
would speak to every one.
After he was elected We would some
times address hin Ms "Mr President or
''glad to shake the hand Of our President"
"Well, yes. suppose co. he would cay.
II shall have 10 20 and leave you before
long. You must call aud see me when
am living in the big house" lie was so
common, so kind, 50 child-like, that | do
not believe there was ore in this city but
what loved him ~ father or a brother.
lie was a very liberal man, TOO much so.
perhaps, for bis own good. am one Of
the trustees of the First Baptist Church.
aud although Sir. Lincoln was not an at
tendant with our congregation, be would
always give from fifteen to twenty-five
dollars every year TO help support the min
lister. lie was sure 10 give sUmething TO
every benevolent aud charitable purposes
that came along. "Well, how much do
you want | should giye2" he would say.
drawing bis purse, You must leave mo
little to feed the babies with. There was
considerable talk here about Mrs. Lin.
coins bad temper. She was very irrita-
Bile, and would often say things she was
afterwards sorry for. have vfteu heard
her say to Mr.. lincoln. why don't you
dress up aud uy TO looh like someb0djy'
Sometimes she would get in stew aud
refuse TO get his meals for him was one
morning IN All eating suloUn IN Monroe
street, fixing up "a counter, when Mr. Lin
coin aud his eldest son Robert, then only
a liltle boy, came in aud ordered break
fast. After the u.cal was served, Mr. Lin
coin, leaning back iu his chair and coul-
mencing To pick his teeth. said to the boy
who had no, quite fnishedf Well Robert,
this is not 50 very bad after all, is NJ Ii
ma don't conclude TO let MS come back,
We will board here all summer" He new
err seemed to be the leas. ruillcd always
calm aud pleasant. Lincoln was sitting
in the telegraph Office, talking with every
body around him, as usual, when the dis
patch came announcing his nomination to
Presidency by the Chicago Convention.
After the dispatch was read, MIR. Lincoln
gets up and says: There is u woman over
to my house who, guess, would be pleas
ed TO hear that Tit of news. Iii walk
over aud tell il to her," lie was never
cast down By advorsiiyi never elated by
success. Tie gentleman am indebted
to for this conversation, is named Page
Eaton.