The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-12-27
ABE LINCOLN IN SPRINGFIELD.
How tho Presidential Candidate Got HIS
Maii-His wlfe's Ambition.


Yes, as you say, new yarns about
Lincoln are hard 10 find. Neverthe-
less. his was such striking personals
ity that Il is not easy To exhaust the
material no offered 10 the story-teller."
So spoke middle-aged man few
nights ago 10 the writer.
You see.n continued my friend. Il
was born in Springfield, ILL.,, and lived
there until the war. From my earliest
boyhood Abe Lincoln was 10 me an
impressive figure. He used TO come TO
nv fathers store, stick his feet on the
counter and talk about the affairs
of the nation. / was present one
night when Abe came in looking rs
melancholy rs man whose hens won't
lay.
whats the matter. LincolnP" my
father asked.
Oh. nothing much. I'm discour-
aged bit. | fear my tilt with Doug
las was not very successful"
Nonsense. Abe remarked my fa-
Their. Your words have electrified
the country. They will bear rich fruit
for you. Your reputation has been
merely local heretofore; now II Is
national
do YOU think so? Well. hope
you're right Then the future Presi-
dent stalked out into the night looking
more cheerful than when he entered.
s | will never forget the first few days
after he was nominated. AT that time
Springfield had no postal delivery and
we were in the habit of going 10 the
postollice late In tho afternoon for our
mail. Sometimes 200 people would
gather in and near the postoilice. The
evening after he was chosen presi-
dental candidate by his party Abe
came to the postollice as usual for his
letters. He was dressed in the homely
fashion of the time and place aud
greeted his neighbors in his usual dem
ocratic way. He found his box full OF
letters and newspapers.
The next afternoon he came again.
This time the mail filled three boxes.
he was dressed with more care than
he had been the day before. On the
third day after his nomination he APP
peared at the postoflice with basket
ON his arm. lie went away with his
basket. pockets and hat overlooking
with envelopes. newspapers, cam
paign documents, etc.
After this he was obliged to employ
secretary. who collected his mail. aud
we saw but little of the great man.
Whenever he appeared in public. how
ever. we noticed that he wore what
gossip called Ibis Sunday best"
Those were lively times in Spring
field. The town was overrun with
prominent men from all parts of the
country. 1t was my privilege to at
tend the reception given TO his fellow
townsmen by Lincoln after his cleo
ton. | shall never forget the picture
he presented as he lowered above his
wife and greeted his old friends. There
was rot in his manner the slightest in
dication OF what is now called the
big head Mrs. Lincoln was very
gracious and made fine impression
that night. / heard Abe say TO my fa-
Their In the hallway as we were about
TO leave:
II guess Mary will carry herself
right we in Washington. old man"
Speaking of Mrs. Lincoln reminds
me of an episode that took place some
years before Abe became n national
hero. There was well-to-do tailor in
SprinGf I'D who owned handsome
house just across the street from the
Lincolns. Mrs Lincoln did not feel
pleased that a tailor should live in u
finer residence than that occupied by
leading lawyer When Abe was oil
on circuit. therefore. she had story
added TO their house. The job was
nearly finished when Abe returned.
He strobe down the street. gazed ut
his house in surprise, aud then crossed
to the tailor's side of the road.
WHO lives In that palatial mansion
over thercP" he asked of his neighbour
THE widow Lincoln answered the
smiling tailor. Then was heard voice
from the top story OF the Lincoln house:
ABE, Abe come to dinner. You're
late.N