The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-19
SKETCHES OF LINCOLN.
The Missing Bridegroom---Dis-
appointed Bride.
THE UNTOUCHED WEDDING SUPPER.

Speed Takes Lincoln To His Home In Ken
tucky-His Correspondence with Speed
Restored spirits-Coldness with Mary
Passing Awsy-Gaining Confidence.
From "The Life of Lincoln" by william Fl.
Herndon and Jesse W. Weik. Copyright. 1888.
by Jesse ". Weik. Copyright 1892. by ID. APP
pleton & Co..
The time fixed for the marriage was
the LIST day in January, lS4l. Careful
preparations for the happy occasion were
made at the Edwards mansion. The
house underwent the customary renova-
ton, the furniture was properly arrang-
ed, the rooms neatly decorated, the sup
per prepared and the guests invited.
The latter assembled on the evening in
question and awaited in expectant
pleasure the interesting ceremony Of
marriage The bride, bedecked in veil
and silken gown and nervously toying
with the flowers in her hair. sat in the
adjoining room. Nothing was lacking
but the groom. For some strange reason
he had been delayed. An hour passed,
and the guests as we'll as the bride were
becoming restless. But they were all
doomed to disappointment. Another
hour passed, messengers were sent out
over town, and, each returning with
the same report, it became apparent
that Lincoln, the principal in this little
drama, had purposely failed to appear!
The bride, in grief, disappeared to her
room, the wedding supper was left un-
touched, the guests quietly and wonder
ingly withdrew, the lights in the Ed
wards mansion were blown out, and
darkness settled over all for the night.
What the feelings of lady as sensitive,
passionate and proud as Miss Todd were
we can only imagine-no one can ever
describe them. BY daybreak, after per-
sistent search, Lincoln's friends found
him. Restless, gloomy, miserable, des-
perate, he seemed an object of pity His
friends, Speed among the number, fear
ing tragic termination, watched him
closely in their rooms day and night.
; KNIVES and razors and all the in
struments that could be used for self
destruction were removed from his
reach" Mrs. Edwards did not hesitate
to regard him as insane, and of course
her sister Mary shared in that view.
But the case was hardly so desperate.
His condition began to improve after a
few weeks, and a letter written to his
partner Stuart on the 23d of January,
1871, three weeks after the scene at
Edwards house, reveals more perfectly
how he felt He says: Il am now the
most miserable man living. If what l
feel were equally distributed to the
whole human family, there would not
be one cheerful face on earth. Whether
| shall ever be better | cannot tell.
awfully forebode / shall not. To remain
as | am is impossible. | must die or be
better, as it appears TO me- | fear l
shall be unable to attend to any business
here, and change of scene might help
me. If | could be myself, / would rath-
er remain at home with Judge Logan.
] can write no more. y
Taken to- Kentucky.
During all this time the legislature
to which Lincoln belonged was in spe-
cial session, but for a time he was un-
able TO attend. Toward the close of the
session, however, he resumed his seat.
He took little if any part in the pro-
ceedings, made no speeches and con-
tented himself with answers TO the mo-
notonous roll call and votes OIL few Of
the principal measures After the adj
journment of the Legislature his warm
friend Speed, who had disposed of his
interests in Springfield, induced Lin
coin TO accompany him to Kentucky.
Speeds parents lived in a magnificent
place few miles from Louisville. Their
farm was we'll stocked, and they. in the
current phrase, lived well. " Thither
he was taken, and there amid the quiet
surroundings he found the 'change Of
scene" which he told Stuart might help
him. He was living under the cloud of
melancholia, and sent to the Sangamon
Journal a few lines under the gloomy
title of Suicide. They were publish
ed in the paper, and a few years since
hunted over the files, and coming across
the number containing them was aston
ished TO find that some one had cut them
out. / have always supposed it was done
by Lincoln or by some one at his insti-
CATION.
Speeds mother was much impressed
with the tall and swarthy stranger her
son had brought with him. She was a
God fearing mother, and besides aiding
to tighten his spirits gave him Bible
advising him TO read it and by adopting
its precepts obtain release from,his
troubles which no other agency, in her
Judgment, could bring him. He was
much depressed At first he almost con-
templated suicide F" But the congenial
associations at the Speed farm, the free
dom from unpleasant reminders the
company of his stanch friend, and,
above all, the motherly care and deli
cate attentions of Mrs. Speed, exerted
marked influence over him. He improv-
ed gradually, day by day gaining
strength and confidence in himself, un-
til at last the great cloud lifted and
passed away. In the fall he and Speed