The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-06-14


hers. In short time l again wrote
Mrs. Vineyard to inquire as TO the truth
of story current i'll New Salem that
one day as she and Mrs. Bowlin Greene
were climbing up the hill 10 Able's
house they were joined by Lincoln; that
Mrs. Greene was obliged 20 carry her
child, fat baby boy, TO the summit;
that Lincoln strolled carelessly along,
Offering no assistance to the woman who
bent under the load. Thereupon Miss
Owens. censuring him for his neglect,
reminded him that in her estimation he
would not make a good husband. In
due time came her answer:
WESTON, Mo-, July %, 1896
Mr.. W. II. Herndon:
DEAR SIR-I do not think you are pertina
cous in asking the question relative to old
Mrs. Bowlin Greene, because i wish TO set you
right on that question. Your information no
doubt came through my cousin, Mr.. Gaines
Greene, who visited us last winter. Whilst
here he was laughing at me about Mr.. Lincoln
and among other things spoke about the cir
cumstance in connection with Mrs. Greene and
child. My impression Is now that tacitly adj
mitted IL, for IL was season OF trouble with
me, and gave but little heed TO the matter
other that know of. On no occasion did i say
10 Mr.. Lincoln that did not believe he would
make n kind husband because he did not ten
der his services to Mrs Greene in helping of
her carry her babe. As i said to You in "A for
mer letter, thought him lacking in smaller
attentions. One circumstance presents itself
just now TO my minds eye There was "A com
pany of us going TO Uncle Billy Greene's. Mr..
Lincoln was riding with me, and we had a very
bad branch TO cross. The other gentlemen
We're very otficious in seeing that their partners
got safely over. We were behind, he riding in,
never looking back to see how l got along.
When / rode up beside him, / remarked: "You
are nice fellow! suppose you did not care
whether my neck was broken or not" He
laughingly rcplicd-I suppose by way of COM
plimcnt-that he knew was plenty smart to
take care of myself.
In many things he was sensitive almost To a
fault. He told me of an incident-that he was
crossing prairie one day and saw before him
"a hog mired down, " to use his own language
He was rather fixed up" and he resolved
that he would pass on without looking at the
shoat. After he had gone by he said the feel
ing was irresistible, and he had to look back
and the poor thing seemed 10 say wistfully,
"There now, my last hope is gone" that he
deliberately got down and relieved ii from its
difficulty.
In many things we were congCnial spirits
In politics saw eye TO eye, though since
then we differed as widely rs the south is from
the north. But methinlls hear You say, "Save
me from IA political womanl' So say l.
The last message l ever received from him
was about year after we parted in Illinois
Mrs. Able visited Kentucky, and he said 10 her
in Springfield, "Tell your sister that think
she was great fool because She did not stay
here and marry me-" Characteristic Of the
mani Respectfully yours,
MARY s. VINEYARD.
We have thus been favored with the
lady's side Of this case, and it is but
fair that we should hear the testimony
of her honest but ungainly suitor
Fortunately for us and for history we
have his view of the case in a series of
letters which have been preserved with
Jealous care by the lady's family. The
first letter was written from Vandalia,
Dec. IS, 1886, where the legislature to
which he belonged was in session. After
reciting the progress of legislation and
the fiattering prospect that then existed
for the removal of the seat of govern
ment to Springfield, he gets down TO
personal matters by apprising her of his
illness for few days, coupled with tine
announcement that he Is mortified by
daily trips to the postoffice in quest of
her letter, which it seemed never would
arrive. You see, p" he complains, Il
am mad about that old letter yet. |
don't like TO risk you again. I'll try
you once more anyhow. " Further along
in the course of the missive he says:
"You recollect | mentioned at the outset
of this letter that had been unwell.
That is the fact, though | believe | am
about well now, but that, with other
things | cannot account for, have con-
spired, and have cotton my spirits 20
low that | feel that / would rather be
in any place in the world than here. /
really cannot endure the thought of
staying here ten weeks. Write back as
soon rs you get this, and, if possible,
say something that will please me. for
really have not been pleased since i
left you. "
After the adjournment of the legisla-
ture he returned to Springfield, from
which point he found time to commune
cate with the friend whose case was
constantly uppermostin his mind. Here
is one characteristic letter:
SPRINGFIELD, May Z, 1887.
ERIrNn MARy-I have commenced two Let