Iron County news. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1890-189?, 1891-01-03
soz LINCOLN IN SPRINGFIELD.
How the Presidential Candidate Got Ills
Msii-IIh wife'a Ambition.

Yes. ms you say, new yarns about
Linculn are hard to lind. Neverihu-
less. his was such striking PERSONAL
Ivy that 1t is not easy to exhaust the
material he offered to the story-teler."
So spoke middle-aged man few
nights ago to the writer.
You see." continued my friend. II
was born in Springfield, III, 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 MS
melancholy as man whose hens won't
lay.
Whats the matter, Lncolnp" my
father asked.
aged II 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 1t is
national"
do you think SOP Well, / hope
you're right" Then the future Presi-
dent stalked out into the night looking
more cheerful than when he entered.
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
postoflice late In tho afternoon for our
mail. Sometimes 200 people would
gather In and near the postotfice. The
evening after he was chosen presi-
Dental candidate by his party Abe
came to the postofficc as usual for his
fashion Of the time and place aud
greeted his neighbors in his usual dem
ocratic way. He found bis box full OF
letters and newspapers.
The next afternoon he came again.
This time the mail filled threp boxes.
Tie was dressed with more care than
he had been the day before. On the
third day after his nomination he APP
peared ut the postofiice with basket
on his arm. He went away with his
basket, pockets and hat overlooking
with envelopes, newspapers, CAM
paigi 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 Ibis Sunday best"
Those were lively times in SPRING
field. The town was overrun with
all arlo <xf h<,
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 1.-THE
big head" Mrs. Lincoln was very
gracious and made a fine impression
that night. heard Abe say to my ia
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 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 tailor should live in q
finer residence than that occupied by
a leading lawyer. When Abe was off
ON circuit, therefore, she had story
added to their house. Tho job was
nearly finished when Abe returned.
He strobe down tho street, gazed at
his house in surprise, and then crossed
to the tailor's side Of the road.
who lives in that palatial mansion
over therep" he asked of his neighbor.
Tile 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"
IL dx.te al