St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-06

WA p:! $:; 2's! # 5.:g e.
mss NpS ing in this county.
- D marry fel ASraha no
Lincoln, who was afterward president"
AS soon as she saw the clipping she
smiled and said:
Yes, it is quite true"
The correspondent suggested that
little sketch of her history would be in
tereStlng, and she gave it as follows:
Il was born in Bingham county, North
Carolina, in 1916, but when quite young
moved with my parents to Sangamon
county, Illinois, where l lived until, in
1912, l moved to Texas. 1 knew Mr..
Lincoln well-knew and played with
nm when he wore knee breecheS and
went barefOoted with the rest of us. We
attended the same school in all old log
schoolhOuse, presided over by what l
how know to have been a very primi-
tive, but good old man. He didn't
KNOW MUCH,
as men are educated these days; but,
lab, me! we used to think him COM
pendulum of knowledge. And Mr.. Lin
coin simply Abe then. thought, was a
very apt scholar. always ahead Ill his
studies. He was great friend of mine
those days and used to coach" me, as
my son calls it.
Il could talk day of Mr.. Lincoln. for
he attained such aa eminent place in
Americas history, and my childhood
having been passed within half an
hours easy walk from his house, that |
have treasured his memory most dearly.
AS boy he was an excellent playmate.
and could make as good mud pies as
any of us. 1t seems rather strange to
talk of president making mud pies.
doesn't it? Well. | reckon ali of them
have, and liked it, too. But as young
man he was most neutrality-suspicious.
to fault. chivalrous, kind, honest and
trustworthy; and he loved his good old
mother.
''Une little incident | never will for
get. We all went to church one Sun
day, creek being Oh the way, over
which we crossed on two fallen logs.
Mr.. Lincoln was not present during
church-was away, believe, in Spring
field. Several of us girls had walked,
as it was beautiful day. But just be-
fore church was out, the sky clouded
up and it commenced to rain very
hard.
at the conclusion of the service, were
sitting in the church waiting for the
rain to cease, when Mr.. Lincoln rode
up. His mother had also attended Serv-
ice, and on foot. After the rain was
over he assisted Mrs. Lincoln onto his
horse, saying he would walk home with
the girls. which he did. But when we
came to the creek the logs had been
washed away and the water was fully
three feet deep. What to do we didn't
know, but young Abe did. He COM
menced with me, and carried us all over
in safety, till the last one, very f1eShy
He waded through after her and took
her in his arms, starting across. We
were making all sorts OF fun at them,
and, laughing gayly, when she, being a
miSchevious body anyway, whispered
something to him which caused him to
give vent suddenly to a loud peal of
laughter, when, somehow, the girl
slipped from his arms and both fell
fiat into the water. But it didn't spoil
our fun in the least. Why, bless your
SOUL when we saw the two wOebegone-
looking creatures rise and wade to the
shore we laughed all the more, and so
did they. Those were good old times,
indeed.
ut was early in the spring of 1884,
one evening when we were out walking,
that Mr.. Lincoln asked me to
MARRY HIM,
but as had already formed an attach
ment with and had promised to marry
Mr.. Drenan, of course l refused him.
He seemed to be quite sorry, but in his
genial way said: Well, Martha, any
way, we can always be good friends
And we were. / always thought a
great deal of Abe, and hated to refuse
him, but circumstances were such that
l was almost compelled to.
when he heard of our intention to
remove to Texas Mr.. Lincoln came over
to our house on visit and remained
three days, trying his best to dssuade
us. My maiden name was Matilda Will
son."
Mrs. Drenan gave the above with the
artessness of a child, and was greatly
affected during the recital. She laughed
heartily when telling of the accident at
the creek. Judging from her present
looks, Miss Matilda Wilson must have
been an exceptionally prepossesSing
young lady, and one that Mr.. Lincoln
would naturally look to for help-meet.
for her mind is richly stored with
knowledge gained both from books and
varied experiences. The furrOwed brow
anu Si1V6Ty lldlI Dut Jeli a Tale OI YEARS
IN an undeveloped country amid trials
and vexations, and her manner is
motherly and benevolent. She is
VERY LoVABLE STILL.
Mr.. Drenan then gave some very
happy "reminiscences of Lincoln.
Yes, indeed" he said. II knew Mr..
| Lincoln WELL We were chums in our
youth. and many a fishing and hunting
| trip have we been on together. He was
| a very robust young man and one of the
most powerful in the country. His
honesty and integrity were proverbial.
my wife told an incident in his early
life and if you wish will tell one that
have never seen in print. There was
an election in Springfield and large
numbers of country folks were there to
vote. In the forenoon, however, gang
! of roughS. who were intoxicated, de-
| clared that no one should vote unless
| they said so. For an hour they kept
the polls closed, when Abe. becoming
eXasperated, ran to hardware store
near by, grabbed an axe handle, and
motioning the waiting voters to come
! on, told the belligerantS to move aside,
for he would either pave the way to the
| polls or break their heads They were
! too we'll acquainted with the athletic
| Young aspirant for Office to say nay, and
the polls remained open the balance of
| the day."