Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN • 119broad land, will swell the chorus of the Union when againtouched, as surely they will be, by the better angel of ournature.Before leaving Illinoishe traveled seventy miles to Charleston,in that State,to say farewell to his stepmother. He calledher "Mamma," as he had always done; and she clung to him,saying between her sobs:"I didn't want you to run for President,Abe, and I didn't want to see you elected. My heart tellsme that something will happen to you, and that I'll never seeyou again till we meet in heaven."During those last days in Springfield, he thought often of thepast and New Salem and Ann Rutledge, dreaming once againthe dreams that had proved to be far beyond all earthly realities.A few days before he left for Washington he talked at lengthabout Ann, to a New Salem pioneer who had come to Springfieldto reminisce and say farewell. "I loved her deeply," Lincolnconfessed, "and I think of her now very, very often."The night before he left Springfield forever Lincoln visitedhis dingy law office for the last time and settled a few businessdetails. Herndon tells us:After these things were all disposed of, he crossed tothe opposite side of the room and threw himself down onthe old office sofa, which, after many years of service, hadbeen moved against the wall for support. He lay for somemoments, his face toward the ceiling, without either of usspeaking. Presendy he inquired, "Billy, how long have webeen together?""Over sixteen years," I answered."We've never had a cross word during all that time, havewe?" to which I returned a vehement, "No, indeed we havenot."He then recalled some incidents of his early practice andtook great pleasure in delineating the ludicrous features ofmany a lawsuit on the circuit. ... He gathered a bundleof books and papers he wished to take with him and startedto go; but before leaving he made the strange request thatthe sign-board which swung on its rusty hinges at the footof the stairway should remain. "Let it hang there undisturbed,"he said, with a significant lowering of his voice."Give our clients to understand that the election of a Presidentmakes no change in the firm of Lincoln and Herndon.