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101. William G. Greene to William H. Herndon.

Tallula Ills Nov 27th 1865

Dear Sir

Yours of 22nd inst at hand Contents noted &c

(1st) Mr Lincoln read Shakespear Byron & Burns all extensively while he lived at Salem I should say that Burns was his favourite

(2) I have no idea that Mr Lincoln ever participated by eating or otherwise in the Pig Story I suppose that Armstrong & others cooked or roasted a Pig and may have eaten it by way of winding up a Drunken frolick but Mr Lincoln had to much Natal refinement to not have been disgusted with it

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(3) Mr Lincoln while he lived in New Salem was entirely free from the vices mentioned in your 3rd Interrogatory viz running after Women Drinking whiskey or playing Cards for Money

(4) Lincolns customs or habits were not peculiar or striking while he lived in New Salem further than he was fond of company & reading especially in warm weather by Laying down & putting his Feet a gainst a wall or if in the woods up a Tree

Verry Truly your friend
W G Greene

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2392; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:481

nts

Notes.

1. Presumably Jack Armstrong.