The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-19


himself during the periods of gloom
which it appears Speed himself had
when he was counting his wife.
Il know, he says. what the pain
ful point with you is at all times when
you are unhappy. 1t is an apprehension
that you do not love her as you should
What nonsense! How came you to court
her? Did you court her for her wealth!
Why. you say she had none. But you
say you reasoned yourself into it. What
do you mean by that? Was it not that
you found yourself unable to reason
yourself out Of it? Did you not think,
and partly form the purpose, eof court
ing her the first time you ever saw her
or heard of her? What had reason to do
with it at that early stage? There was
nothing at that time for reason to work
upon. Whether she was moral, amiable.
sensible. or even of good character, you
did not nor could then know, except
perhaps you might infer the last from
the company you found her in. Say can
didly, were not those heavenly black
eyes the whole basis of all your reason
ing on the subject? After you and had
once been at the residence, did you not
go and take me all the way to Lexing-
ton and back for no other purpose than
to get to see her again on our return on
that evening to take trip for that ex-
press object?"
The next paragraph is significant as
affording us an idea of how the writer
perhaps viewed Miss Todd's Irritation
with Douglas: "What earthly considera-
tion," he asks. would you take to find
her scouting and despising you and Civ
ing herself up to another? But of this
you need have no apprehension, and
therefore you cannot bring it home to
your feelings "
Feb. he writes again, acknowledge
ing receipt of letter dated Jan. 25.
The object of Speeds affection had been
i'll, and her condition had greatly inten-
sified his gloomy spirits Lincoln prof
fers his sympathy. Il hope and be-
lieve, he continues, that your present
anxiety about her health and her life
must and will forever Danish those hor-
rid doubts which know you sometimes
felt as to the truth of your affection for
her. If they can once and forever be re-
moved (and almost feel presentiment
that the Almighty has sent your present
affection expressly for that object, sure
ly nothing can come III their stead to fill
their immeasurable measure of misery.
More Words of Comfort.
The next letter, Feb. l3, was written
on the eve of Speeds marriage After
assurances of his desire to befriend him
in everything he suggests: but you
will always hereafter be on ground that
l have never occupied and consequent
ly, If advice were needed, | might adj
wise wrong do fondly hope, however,
that you will never again need any
comfort from abroad. / incline to think
it probable that your nerves will occa-
sionally fail you for awhile, but once
you get them firmly graded now that
trouble is over forever. III you went
through the ceremony calmly, or even
with sufficient composure not to excite
alarm in any present, you are safe be-
yond question, and in two or three
months, to say the most, will be the
happiest of men. "
Meanwhile Lincoln had been duly in
formed of Speeds marriage, and on the
25th he responds: Yours of the 10th,
announcing that Miss Fanny and you
are no more twain, but one flesh,
reached me this morning. / have no
way of telling how much happiness
l wish you both, though | believe you
both can conceive it. | feel somewhat
jealous of both of you now. You will be
so exclusively concerned for one another
that | shall be forgotten entirely. l
shall be very lonesome without you.
How miserable things seem to be ar
ranged in this worldl If we have no
friends. we have no pleasure, and if we
have them we are sure to lose them and
be doubly panied by the loss z"
A Bit of Sentiment.
The GOODNESS that existed between
Lincoln and his Mary was gradually
passing away, and with it went all of
Lincoln's resolution never to renew the
engagement. In letter, July 4, he says:
Il must gain confidence in my own abil
ity TO keep my resolves when they are
made. In that ability | once prided my
self as the only chief gem of my charac-
ter. That gem lost, how and where
you know too we'll. have not regained
it, and until do / cannot trust myself
in any matter of much Importance.
believe now that had you understood
my case at the time as we'll al / under
stood yours afterward, by the aid you
would have given me l should have
sailed through clear, but that does not
now afford me sufficient confidence to
begin that or the like of that again.
always was superstitious. believe God
made me one of the instruments Of
bringing Fanny and you together, which
union / have no doubt he had foreor-
dained. Whatever he designs he will do
for me yet. Stand still and see the sal
walton of the Lord, is my text just now.
If, as you say, you have told Fanny all,
l should have no objection to her seeing
this letter. but for its reference to our
friend here let her seeing it depend up
on whether she has ever known anything
of my affairs, and if she has not do not
let her. do not think can come to
l.. II 4