Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-09-30
Mrs. Lincoln's Ambition.
Her Early Determination to Become the Wife of
 the President of the United States

Her Early Determination to Become the Wife of
 the President of the United States.
 Although Mrs. Lincoln's illness was not known here. her name was mention ed in pleasant parlor conversation be- tween ladies one evening recently, and some interesting "reminiscences of her were given by Mrs. William Preston, of Lexington, Ky, who, when a young girl, Miss Wicklife, was well acquaint- ed with Mary Todd, for both were then living in Lexington. Mrs Preston said that Miss Todd had always insisted when quite young girl that her hus- band would be president of the United States, and as she did not then appear to be one who would attract the atten- tion of young men, not being as hand some as most of her companions, many of the latter would laugh at her predic- tion. While she was still young she got into girlish pet with her family, and announced that she was going away to make her home with her sister, Mrs Edwards, in Springfield, H.. and de- clared that she would vet be the wife of the president of the United States and triumph over those who had opposed her.
 She went, and was courted by beth Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lin coin, and accepted the latter. After becoming engaged to him sLe wrote to her friend, Miss -Wickliffe playful de- scription of the man of her choice, men tioning his unprepossessing appearance and awkwardness, and with merry appreciation of the humor of the pre- diction again said: But 1 mean to make him president of the United States all the same You will see that, as l always told you, I will yet be the presidents wife,
 Years afterward, in fact not more than ten or twelve years ago, in looking over the papers of his father-in-law, Gov. Wickliffe, who had just died. Gen. Pres ton came across aletter indorsed in Gov. Wickliffe's handwriting: ''The most re- markable letter ever written by one girl to another" This proved to be the identical letter written by Mary Todd in regard to her betrothed- Abraham Lin coln. When Gen. Preston showed it to his wife she said she supposed that af- ter reading it she had thrown it care lessly down on her fathers desk, at taching no importance to it, but he, picking it up, was so impressed by 1t that he indorsed it as quoted above and laid it away among his papers, to be found after the girlish prophecy had been fulfilled.
 Mrs. Lincoln's talent for match-mak- ing did not end with herself, for it was she who picked out Mary Harlan, the daughter of the senator from Iowa, for her son Robert, and seeing her one even ing at the opera remarked: ..I should like Robert to marry just snch a girl as that" Her husband, who heard her say it, then observed to Mir. Sumner: My wife is great matchmaker She will make match between Harlan's daughter and Bob; see if she don't.'
 Subsequently Mrs. Lincoln sent Miss Harlan bouquet, and began cultiyat- ing her acquaintance and throwing her son and the young lady together. Mean time the young people had met at ahop at the National Hotel, in Washington, and soon became interested in each oth- CT. That was in the spring of 1865. Their marriage, however, did not occur until September, 1867 or 1868, I think the latter year, and the only time Mrs. Abraham Lincoln has visited Washing ton since her removal from the white house after her husbands assassination was when she attended her sons we'd ding there. She has always been fond of his wife, even since she has been of tended with him, and Mrs. Robert Lin coin visited her last winter, and has done so every year when her mother-in- law has been in this country. President Lincoln also was attracted by Miss Har- Ian, and was told by one who knows, and who spoke of it to me in Washing ton in the spring, that he had before his death decided to take Mir. Harlan into his cabinet, and it was playfully said that it was the possibility of a match between their children which first sug- gested the idea to him.-Cor. Pkiladel- pbiG Press. .1 F