The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-06-28
doorbell himself instead of sending the

merry war because he persisted in
using his own knife in the butter, in
ste ad of the silver handled one intended
for that purpose Such want of social
polish on the part of her husband of
course gave Mrs. Lincoln great offense,
and therefore in commenting on it she
cared neither for time nor place. Her
frequent outbursts of temper precipitat-
ed many an embarrassment from which
Lincoln with great difficulty extricated
himself
Mrs Lincoln ON account of her pecul-
lar nature, could not long retain serv-
ant in her employ. The sea was never
so placid but that a breeze you'd ruff1e
its waters. She loved show and atten-
ton, and if, when she glorified her fam
lily descent or INDUCED in one of he1
strange outbreaks, the servant could
simulate absolute obsequiousness or had
tact enough to encourage her social pre-
tensions, Mrs. Lincoln was for the time
her firmest friend. One servant, who
adjusted herself to suit the lady's capri
cious ways, lived with the family fol
several years. She told me that at the
time of the debate between Douglas and
Lincoln she often heard the latter's
wife boast that she would yet be mistress
of the White House. The secret of he1
ability to endure the eccentricities OF
her mistress came out in the admission
that Mr.. Lincoln gave her an extra dol
lar each week on condition that she
would brave whatever storms might
arise and suffer whatever might befall
her without complaint. 1t was rather
severe condition, but she lived rigidly
up to her part of the contract. The
money was paid secretly and without the
knowledge of Mrs. Lincoln. Frequently
after tempestuous scenes between the
mistress and her servant Lincoln at the
first opportunity would place his hand
encouragingly on the latter's shoulder,
with the admonition, MARY, keep ur
your courage.
A man once called at the house tC
learn why Mrs. Lincoln had so uncere-
moniously discharged his niece from
her employ. Mrs. Lincoln met him at
the door, and being somewhat wrought
up gave vent to her feelings, resorting
to such violent gestures and emphatic
language that the man was glad to beat
a hasty retreat. He at once started out
to find Lincoln, determined to- exact
from him proper satisfaction for his
wife's action. Lincoln was entertaining
a crowd in store at the time. The
man, still laboring under some agita.
oa11n1 him fN tho 1Oo,. onl made |
the demand. Lincoln listened for mo.
ment to his story. 'My FRIEND" he in.
terrupted, II regret to hear this; but,
let me ask you in all candor, can't you
endure for few moments what I have |
had as my daily portion for the last l 5
years?' These words were spoken sc
and with such look of dis
tress that the man was completely dis |
armed. 1t was case that appealed tc |
his feelings. Grasping the unfortunate |
husbands hand, he expressed in no un-
certain terms his sympathy and even
apologized for having approached him.
He said no more about the infatuated |
wife, and Lincoln afterward had no bet
ter friend in Springfield.
In Time of Storm.
Mr.. Lincoln never had confdant,
and therefore never unbosomed himself |
to others. He never spoke of his trials |
to me or, as far as knew, to any of his
friends. 1t was great burden to carry,
but he bore it sadly enough and with
out murmur. | could always realize
when he was in distress without being
told. He was not exactly an early riser
that is, he never usually appeared at
the office till about 9 o'clock in the |
I usually preceded him an
hour. Sometimes, however, he would
come down as early as O. lock-in fact
Oh one occasion I remember he came
down before daylight If, on arriving
at the office, found him in, knew in
stantly that a breeze had sprung up over
the domestic sea, and that the waters
were troubled. He would either be lying
On the lounge looking skyward or dou-
oled up in chair with his feet resting
on the sill of back window. He would
not look up on my entering and only an
'wered my GOOD morning" with a
srunt. at once busted myself with pen
and paper or ran through the leaves of
some book, but the evidence of his mel
ancholy and distress was so plain and
ais silence SO significant that I would
grow restless myself, and finding some
excuse to go to the courthouse or else
where would leave the room.
The door of the Office opening into a
narrow hallway was half glass, with a
curtain on it working on brass rings
strung on wire. AS passed out on these
occasions l would draw the curtain
across the glass, and before I reached
The bottom of the stairs could hear the
Key turn in the lock, and Lincoln was
alone in his gloom An hour in the
clerks office at the courthouse, an hour
onger in a neighboring store having
passed, | would return. By that time
either client had dropped in and Lin
Join was propounding the law, or else
The cloud of dependency had passed
away, and he was busy in the recital of
III Indiana story to whistle off the rec
elections of the mornings gloom. Noon
having arrived, would depart home
ward for my dinner. Returning within
IN hour, would find him still in the
office, although his house stood but a
ew squares away, lunching on slice
If cheese and handful of crackers,
Which, in my absence, he had brought
n sic holn