The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-11-06
ABE LINCOLN IN SPRINGFIELD.
How the Presidential Candidate Got His
Mail-His WiEe,s Ambition.

Yes, as you say. new yarns about
Lincoln are hard TO find. Neyerthe-
less, his was such a striking PERSONAL
ity that it is not easy to exhaust the
material he offered to the story-teller.n
So spoke middle-aged man few
nights ago to the writer.
You see" continued my friend. Il
was born in Springfield, H.. and lived
there until the war. From 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 affairs
of the nation. | was present one
night when Abe came in looking as
melancholy as man whose hens won't
lay.
What's the matter, Lincoln?n my
father asked.
"Oh, nothing much. I'm discour-
aged Il bit | fear my tilt with Doug
las was not very successful"
''Nonsense, Abe remarked nv IA
ther. 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 so? Well, | hope
you're right" Then the future Presi-
dent stalked out into the night looking
more cheerful than wnen he entered.
l 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
postot1ice late in the afternoon for our
mail. Sometimes 200 people would
gather in and near the postotlicp. The
evening after he was chosen presi-
dental candidate by his party Abe
came to the postotfice as usual for his
letters. He was dressed in the homely
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.
Tfis 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 ap-
peared at the postoffice with a basket
on his arm. He 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, and
we saw but little of the great man.
Whenever he appeared in public, how
ever, we noticed that he wore what
gossip called ''his Sunday best"
Those were lively times in Spring
field. The town was ovcrrun 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 lot in his manner the slightest in
dication of what is now called 1.-The
big head.n Mrs. Lincoln was very
gracious and made a fine impression
that night. | heard Abe say to my ia
ther in the hallway as we were about
to leave:
II 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 handsome
house just across the street from the
Lincolns. Mrs. Lincoln did not feel
pleased that Il tailor should live in
fine residence than that occupied by
a leading lawyer. When Abe was off
on circuit, therefore, she had a story
added to their house. The job was
nearly finished when Abe returned.
He strobe down the street gazed at
his house in surprise, and then crossed
to the tailorS 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. You're
Lotto