Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-11-11
MR. LlNcoLN.s MAIL.
He Received Lots of It After He Had BOs
 come . PreaIdential CandIdate.

H0 1SeOelV0u Lots Of It After He H00 l1Os
 come a Presidential Candidate.
 ''You see" said the middle-aged man, 'I was born in Springfield, H., and my earliest boyhood Abe Lincoln was to me an impressive figure. He used to come to my fathers store, stick his feet on the counter and talk about the af- fairs of the Nation. was present one night when Abe came in, looking as melancholy as man whose hens won't lay.
 Whats the matter, Lincoln% my father asked.
 Oh, nothing much. I'm discour. aged bit I fear my tilt with Douglas was not very successful
 :" Nonsense, Abe,' remarked my father. Your words have electrified the country. They will bear rich fruit for you. Your reputation has been merely local heretofore; now it is National
 "'Do you think SOP We'll, I hope you're right Then the future Presi- dent stalked out into the night, looking more cheerful than when he entered.
 ,'T 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 to the post-office late in the afternoon for our | mail Sometimes two hundred people would gather in and near the post office. The evening after he was chosen presidential candidate by his party Abe came to the post-off1ce as usual for his letters. He was dressed in the homely l fashion of the time and place and 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 his 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 appeared at the post-off1ce with basket on his arm. He went away with his basket, pockets and hat overfowing with envelopes, newspapers, campaign documents, etc.
 After that he was obliged to employ the services of secretary, who col lected his mail, and we saw but little of the great man. Whenever he ap- peared in public, however, we noticed that he were what gossips called his Sunday best
 '"Those were lively times in Spring field. The town was overrun with prominent men from all parts of the country. It was my privilege to attend the reception given to his fellow-towns- men by Lincoln after his election. will never forget the picture he pre- sented as he lowered above his wife and greeted his old friends. There was not in his manner the slightest indica- tion of what is now called the big head Mrs. Lincoln was very gracious and made fine impression that night I heard Abe say to my father in the hall. way as we were about to leave:
 "T guess Mary will carry herself right we'll in Washington, old man.
 Speaking of Mrs. Lincoln reminds me of an episode that took place some years before Abe became a National hero. There was well-to-do tailor in | Springfield who owned a handsome | house just across the street from the Lincolns. Mrs. Lincoln did not feel | pleased that tailor should live in a finer residence than that occupied by a leading lawyer. When Abe was off on circuit, therefore, she had story added to their house. The job was nearly | finished when Abe returned. He strode down the street, gazed at his house in surprise, and then crossed to the tail | or's side of the road.
 "'Who lives in that palatial mansion over there?' he asked of his neighbor. "'The widow Lincoln,' answered the smiling tailor. Then was heard a voice from the top story of the Lincoln house:
 "'Abe, Abe; come to dinner. Your late.' '"-N. Y. World.