Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-25
MRS. LlNCOLS's HALLrCNATIoNs.

"ho' bANNVLN'o . uALLlOlNAl NAlIUNS.
Mrs. Abraham Lincoln is not sick, in
spite OF paragraphs in one thousand
newspapers OF the country. She is
peculiar, mentally little ''ofI;n
" mysteries, other old ladies call her
complaint. But her pursuit of happi-
ness is hardly more eccentric now than
much OF the time during her entire
widowhood. How is She, really?
Well, she took a carriage ride OF sew
eral miles the other day, returning 10
her home with q healthful glow upon
her cheek. She wants TO 90 again;
and. II this want doesn't wear out, Il
will be humored often. She said il
was the best ride she'd had for long
time. And, sure enough, il was, Tor
she had only just let herself out from
continuous, self-innicted confinement
in an upper room during six months
and more. Not even the kindcst sis
terly entreaty could persuade her feet
20 cross the chamber threshold till one
morning early she descended the stairs,
attired in pink silk and French mces,
and scolded her servant for not having
breakfast ready. "A pretty hotel, "
said she, scOrntully, "to keep guests
waiting for meals until after train
time" OF course, the kitchen maid
went nearly DAFT herself at sight OF
this guest, and ran to apprise her
mistress that Mrs. Lincoln had turned
over new leaf aud, sure enough, on
returning 10 the kitchen, tho maid
found that this strange "guest" had
no thought of taking the "traln" ON
an empty stomach, but had turned the
STEAK In the broiler, and was removing
the jackets from the boiled potatoes
with all the housewifely skill of her
early days.
Mrs. Lincoln came 10 this city to re-
side soon after her return from Europe,
in October last. She is most consider
atoly cared for, and all her harmless
weaknesses humored in the family OF
Hon. n. Edwards, Mrs. Edwards being
her sister. she arrived in November,
and, during the following holiday sea
son, she shut herself up in her room,
mourning the extravaganza OF the
times, and childing those about her
who displayed gifts of iewelry and the
like. And then she stayed. like veri-
table silk-worm, in its self woven CO.
NRNhf VIZ Nho AaAR =,
as above narrated. What did she do
there all that timcP Principally, she
oyerhauled her many trunks. complain
cd that she was very sick, and ate full
meals of substantial food three times a
day. She reoonciled ill-health and
hearty eating by insisting, TO the few
friends whom she admitted, that her
malady was a very peculiar one, COM
peliing her to consume large quantities
OF food. She would rise from repast
OF roast beef, coffee, ETC., and very de-
leotediy inform her attendant, or visi.
tor, that in all human probability she
should not see the light OF another day;
and often, in literal verifcation of her
prophecy, she would close the window
shutters, increase tho opaqueness OF
the curtains by pinning up shawls OF
quilts. and light plain tallow candle.
She rejects the use of gas as OF the
devil II asked 10 specify where she
ielt bad in body, she would reply,
sometimes, I'm on fire. burning up;
Just feel of me, and see how hot ann
AT the same time her temperature
would appear perfectly normal for a
lady above sixty years of age. At 9TH
or times she would insist that she was
being all hacked to pieces by knives;
Just feel thas cash IA my shoulder;
don't think can stand such wounding
long, do you7'' Yet tender and COM
miserating friends assured her that
there was no trace of either blood or
scar.
II is the vagaries of diseased mind
IN one eminently related to the tragic
period in American history, upon which
the gossips have laid hold and woven
the thousand -and-One stories of Mrs.
Lineolns probable death from day to
day, OF course. these stories have con
stantly come back TO her Springfield
friends with good deal of surprise;
and they were the source OF no little
annoyance, until one day In the latter
part Of January her sister, with the
view OF securing her indignant denials
OF these fabricated funeral bulletins,
carried her handful OF such clippings
"a chapter Of lamentations from the
press OF the country. Mrs Lincoln
read them slowly through, and her face
lighted up. So far from appearing in.
dlgnant, she was delighted to find her
sell once moro filling so large spot in
public observation. She laughed aud
ccapered about in great glee. And in
the hope that the public grief might
prove D private tonic, the reports OF