The times., 1899-05-12
STORIES OF LINCOLN.
An Old Lndy in Illinois Who Knew
Him in Youth.
From the Chicago Inter-ocean.)


From the Chicago Inter Ocean.)
Mrs. Nancy Rutledge Prewitt. to whose
sister, Annie Rutledge. the great emanci-
pator, Abraham Lincoln. was engaged TO
be married. gives an interesting account
of the latter's first love affair and court
ship.
Mrs. Prewitt. now well preserved wo-
man of sixty-fye, visited relatives who
still live in the vicinity OF New Salem, ILL.,,
last summer. There were picnic parties
and excursions formed to take her 10 the
many places Of interest. There is no
town where New Salem once stood, it
having been moved to Petersburg, few
miles away, but she visited the very spot
where her fathers house stood. the old mill
site, and the many well-remembered
places. Only few crumbling logs mark
the spot where Lincoln kept store" She
also visited the Lincoln monument at
Springfield and saw the relics gathered
there, among which she mentions the old
saddle bags and surveying instruments.
Il was only a child when he boarded at
our house in New Salem" she said. land
yet j remember just how he looked and
talked as well as if ii were only last year.
''Homely? Yes, l suppose he was. | re-
member his tall, lank, ungainly figure and
his big ears and mouth. but when he
talked one never thought of that. He was
so good -natured and full OF life that no
one ever thought of his looks. | can see
him now. Just as he looked, sitting by the
big fireplace, absorbed in a book or chat
ting merrily with Annie or one of my
brothers. He always came and went Just
as one of the family.
"Ouce when | was sitting alone before
the fire. the rest of the family being at
supper, Mr.. Lincoln came stalking in. and
seizing chair as he came sat down by
me, and, looking at me teasingly. sang;
When in death | shall calm recline.
Oh. bear my heart to my mistress dear;
Tell her il lived smiles and wine,
OF brightest hue while it fingered here.
Bid her not shed one tear OF sorrow.
To sully a heart so brilliant and light.
But balmy drops OF the red grape borrow.
To battle the relict from morn till night.
.It was the only time ever felt offended
at him. and although l did not Just under
stand what he meant by the words. his
| ouizzical look and all distressed me so that
T, | got I'D and left the room, feeling very
much embarrassed.
..What a queer song I said. II do not
wonder that 1t puzzled and annoyed you"
Yes, it is queer, but that is 1t. word
for word I have the very book he and
| Annie used to sing that and many other
! songs from together" and Mrs. Prewitt
showed me an old green-back singing book.
called The Missouri Harmony" from
! which copied the words The song Is en-
/ titled Legacy" The book was used in
singing schools fifty or sixty years ago. and
has many of our old familiar hymns and
anthems, such as The Beautiful City OF
Zion and When Shepherds Watched Their
Flocks by Night" but that was the only
quaint love ditty that | noticed.
| What funny notes" | remarked. Some
were SQUARE. some round some triangular,
and some diamond-shaped.
Yes" continued Mrs. Prewitt. they
! were called patent notes"
/ Having observed that she habitually
spoke of him as Mr.. Lincoln. said: Il
suppose you called him Abe them
mo, we did not. though most OF our
nelghbors did. Father and mother always
insisted that we must not address anyone
outside of our own family so familiarity.
| They considered it disrespectful." and any
one seeing her delicate face and manner
! and hearing her say this would conclude
at once that Lincoln's first love was OF a
! refined, Intelligent. and well-hred family.
Sister ANNIE continued Mrs. Prewitt,
was small, with dark blue eyes. light
brown hair, and very fair complexion.
Everyone said she was pretty. She was
the Oldest girl in our family and very
housewifely and domestic. / have seen
Lincoln help her about her household
! tasks when there was lifting or something
requiring strength to do. He went at ii
awkwardly One incident will never for
get because of the tragedy connected with
it. My mother has since told me that in
| romp and scuffie the night before MIR.
Lincoln and my oldest brother. who.
suppose. occupied the same bed. had bro
ken the BEDFORD, and the former said he
must help Annie when she went to fix
It the next morning. They were engaged
! in repairing damages when they found they
needed a wrench and sent me to Row
Herndon's. our nearest neighbor. to bor-
row one. When I arrived there Mr.. Hern-
don was loading his gun to go hunting