Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN•83Southern State. The people with whom she had been broughtup, back in Lexington, did not put up with any impudencefrom their servants. If a Negro did not mind, he was sent forthwithto the whipping-post in the public square, to be flogged.One of the Todds' neighbors flogged six of his Negroes untilthey died."Long Jake" was a well-known character in Springfield atthat time. He had a span of mules and an old dilapidated wagon,and he ran what he vaingloriously described as an "expressservice." His niece, unfortunately, went to work for Mrs. Lincoln.A few days later,the servant and mistress quarreled; thegirl threw off her apron, packed her trunk, and walked out ofthe house, slamming the (joor behind her.That afternoon, Long Jake drove his mules down to the cornerof Eighth and Jackson streets and told Mrs. Lincoln thathe had come for his niece's baggage. Mrs. Lincoln flew into arage, abused him and his niece in bitter language, and threatenedto strike him if he entered her house. Indignant, he rusheddown to Lincoln's office and demanded that the poor manmake his wife apologize.Lincoln listened to his story, and then said sadly:"I regret to hear this, but let me ask you in all candor, can'tyou endure for a few moments what I have had as my dailyportion for the last fifteen years?"The interview ended in Long Jake's extending his sympathyto Lincoln and apologizing for having troubled him.Once Mrs. Lincoln kept a maid for more than two years, andthe neighbors marveled; they could not understand it. The explanationwas very simple: Lincoln had made a secret bargainwith this one. When she first came, he took her aside and toldher very frankly what she would have to endure; that he wassorry, but it couldn't be helped. The girl must ignore it. Lincolnpromised her an extra dollar a week, himself, if she woulddo so.The outbursts went on as usual; but with her secret moraland monetary backing, Maria persisted. After Mrs. Lincolnhad given her a tongue-lashing, Lincoln would watch his chanceand steal out into the kitchen while the maid was alone andpat her on the shoulder, admonishing her:"That's right. Keep up your courage, Maria. Stay with her.Stay with her."This servant afterward married, and her husband fought