The Life of Abraham Lincoln

own. In the years on both sides of 1840, it maintained as large an amount of such social activity as was possible in a new frontier city. In this lif

im. In the intervals of work, at nooning or in the evening, he was always the center of an interested group, and his unparalleled flow of humor, wit, and good nature was the life of the

hough he had great dignity and nobility of soul, he did not have that polish of manners which counts for so much with ladies. His ungainly physique accented this lack. He was not, he never could be, what is known as a ladies' man. While his friendly nature respond

was that he monopolized the attention of the men. This was natural to him, it had been confirmed by years of habit,

said that she could trace the family genealogy back many centuries. She may have been haughty-she was said to be so- and she may have been exacting in those

them in thought. For Lincoln was the most popular man and Miss Todd was the most popular young lady in Springfield. It was simp

d eddies and counter-currents in the course of this love, it was in nowise exceptional. It i

y they know all about it, they are grievously mistaken. No love story (outside of novels) is ever told truly. In the first place, the parties themselves do not tell all. They may sa

ood, there could be no _mis_understanding. It is, then, presumptive for even the confida

he broke the engagement on January 1, 1841. It is certain that about that time he had a horrible attack of melancholy. And we have seen that he never outgrew his attachment to his early love, Ann R

up in a climate noted for its malaria. Excepting for the facts that he spent much time in the open air, had abundant exercise, and ate plain food, the laws of sanitation were not thought of. It would be strange if his system were not full of malaria, or, what

ewed, and, in the company of a third person, Miss Jayne, they continued to meet at frequent intervals. Among the admirers of Miss Todd were two young men who came to be widely known. These were Douglas and Shields. With the latter only we are concerned now. He was a red-headed little Irishman, with a peppery temper, the whole being set off with an inordinate vanit

d the currency was nearly worthless. At the same time, it was the only money current, and it was the money of the state. These being the circumstances, the governor,

Journal. The letter was written in the style of Josh Billings, and purported to come from a widow residing in the "Lost Townships." It was an attempt to laugh down the unjust measure, and in pursuance of t

tter in which Aunt Rebecca proposed to soothe his injured feelings by accepting S

he author of the letters. Francis consulted with Lincoln. The latter was unwilling to permit any odium

n Lincoln became convinced that a duel was necessary, he exercised his right, as the challenged party, of choosing the weapons. He selected "broadswords of the largest size." This was another trium

around, and they returned home in good spirits. For some reason Lincoln was always ashamed of this farce. Why, we do not know. It may have been because he was drawn int

r, Mrs. Edwards, November 4th, 1842. Lincoln made a loyal, true, indulgent husband. Mrs. Lincoln made a home that was ho

was on the staff of General Grant. He was Secretary of War under Garfield and retained the office through the administration of Arthur. Under President Harrison, from 1889 to 1893, he was minister to England. He is