544

432. Elizabeth Abell to William H. Herndon.

January the 13th 67

Dear Sir

Some time back I received a very friendly letter from you asking me a great many questions with regard to our lamented President Abraham Lincoln. I am truly ashamed to say to you that your letter is misplaced and I do not recollect the questions you ask me only one and that was what broke of the engagement between Mr Lincoln and my Sister so suddenly when Mr Lincoln was paying his respects to my sister he lived in old Salem but in the mean time he remooved to Springfield after he had been there some little time he wrote my Sister a letter and in it he told her the subject they had been talking uppon he wanted her to consider and reconsider it that he was poore and there was a great deal of splashing and dashing in Buggys here and she would have to be a silent looker on and not a percipitant but he said I rather have you then any woman living it stoped at that, what man on earth would have done such a thing but Abraham Lincoln he was two honest a man for this world he run his race and finished his work and the Lord remooved him to himself if this much will do you any good make use of it as you please in the mean time if I come across your letter I will write you again give my best respects to your most estimable wife with respect

I remain your friend
Mrs Elizabeth Abell

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2944

nts

Notes.

1. AL to Mary S. Owens, May 7, 1837, CW 1:78 — 79.