973.7L63 Wright, Carrie Douglas 
 
 H4W93L 
 
 1920 Lincoln's First Love 

 
 WRIGHT
 
 LINCOLN ROOM 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
 LIBRARY 
 
 presented by 
 
 Marion D. Pratt Estate 
 
 9T3.
 
 Lincoln's First Love 
 
 j* <By Carrie <Dou&las Wright j* 
 
 Published by 
 
 THE EDW. F. HARTMANN CO. 
 Springfield, 111.
 
 COPYRIGHT 1907 
 
 By CARRIE DOUGLAS WRIGHT 
 
 Second Edition, 1920
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This story of "Lincoln's First Love" is ab- 
 solutely authentic. The facts I obtained from 
 Mrs. Samuel Hill, a close friend and neighbor 
 of the Rutledge family in Old Salem, as she 
 afterwards was, of the Wright family in 
 Petersburg. 
 
 Many hours I have spent listening with 
 greatest interest to Mrs. Hill, as she related 
 incidences of her life in Old Salem. She dwelt 
 upon the pathetic story of Lincoln's love for 
 Ann Rutledge. She spoke of having made a 
 dress and a long cape for Ann. "I can see her 
 now," she said, "As she stood smiling back at 
 me over her shoulder, while I measured the 
 length of her dress. Ann had a sunny dispo- 
 sition and a beautiful smile." I took notes 
 of all Mrs. Hill said, and have woven them 
 into the following story which I hope will 
 touch the hearts of my readers as it touched 
 
 my own. 
 y 
 
 The State of Illinois has recently purchased 
 
 the site of Old Salem, and in replica, will 
 soon stand the little village among the hills 
 overlooking the Sangamon river, just as it 
 stood when Abraham Lincoln wooed and 
 won Ann Rutiedge. 
 
 Carrie Douglas Wright.
 
 LINCOLN'S FIEST LOVE.
 
 WO miles south of Petersburg, 
 in the state of Illinois, are the 
 hills of New Salem, pictur- 
 esque and beautiful; yet with 
 all their picturesqueness and beauty, 
 they would probably never have 
 gained more than local fame had not 
 Abraham Lincoln there spent his 
 early life and met his first love. 
 
 Just west of the Sangamon River 
 is the hill on which the little town of 
 New Salem was built. It is very steep 
 and rugged, until you reach the sum- 
 mit, where it is comparatively level. 
 The view from this hill is one of the 
 most beautiful in Illinois. At its foot 
 stands the old mill, long since still, as 
 are the hands that there changed the 
 golden grain into snowy flakes of flour. 
 The noisy dam rushes and roars, dis- 
 turbing the quiet and peace of the for- 
 saken place. Not a vestige of the little 
 town of New Salem remains. Two
 
 10 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 forest trees spread their protecting 
 arms over the sod where once stood 
 Abraham Lincoln's little store. Upon 
 one of these trees some skillful hand 
 has carved his firm, kind features. 
 
 Lift up your heads, stately trees ; 
 
 Flow on, shining river! 
 Your fame shall live with Lincoln's 
 name, 
 
 In freedom's breast forever. 
 
 Early in the thirties, when Indians 
 roamed the prairies of Illinois, and 
 herds of deer lapped the sparkling 
 water of the rivers, a young man who 
 was destined to become one of the 
 greatest, if not the greatest man this 
 country has produced, came to New 
 Salem to dwell among the hills. He 
 was a most unattractive lad, with 
 trousers of jean and homespun jacket, 
 not well fitted to his lean, lank form. 
 One of the first persons to make 
 friends with Lincoln was Mintor Gra- 
 ham, the village schoolmaster. This
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 11 
 
 man was fond of books and learning, 
 and lie was not long in interesting 
 Abe, who was most grateful for the 
 instruction Mr. Graham freely and 
 gladly gave him. Lincoln was very 
 fond of arithmetic, and to his teacher's 
 delight, mastered the tables and learn- 
 ed to do sums as well as the brightest 
 scholar in his school. Grammar was 
 the next study taken up by the young 
 student, and he was seldom seen with- 
 out a book in his hand. Abe, as he 
 was familiarly called, opened a store 
 of general merchandise and groceries. 
 His genial manner and his honesty 
 won for him many friends, and he was 
 quite successful in his business. 
 * * * * * 
 
 Each morning, with neatly braided 
 hair, a frock of homespun reaching to 
 her ankles, a plain waist of the same 
 brown material buttoned down the 
 back, a little blue sunbonnet tied un- 
 der her chin, Ann Eutledge tripped 
 
 UNIVERSITY nc
 
 12 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 away to school. She was a general 
 favorite, and lucky was the lad who 
 discovered the first wild rose on the 
 hillside to pin on the border of her 
 little bonnet. 
 
 Ann was full of sentiment; in the 
 wild flowers that grew on the hillside, 
 in the song of the thrush, in the gold 
 of the sunset, she read lessons that 
 afforded her delights of which her 
 companions knew nothing. 
 
 Mintor Graham was a tall, sinewy 
 man, with sandy hair, and small, 
 sharp features. He was rather stem; 
 any scholar who was guilty of idleness 
 or levity was recalled to a sense of 
 duty by a single glance of the master 's 
 eye. 
 
 The schoolhouse was a primitive 
 structure of logs and mud plaster, 
 with a huge chimney and a great fire- 
 place. Often when the hickory logs 
 burned bright, fantastic shadows of 
 the master were reflected on the walls,
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 13 
 
 causing the smaller boys to nudge each 
 other in great merriment. Each win- 
 dow contained but four small panes 
 of glass, the seats were slabs sup- 
 ported by four wooden pegs, the only 
 desk was the teacher's one, a rudely 
 constructed affair, at which the pupils 
 took turns at writing. Abe Lincoln 
 was greatly interested in Mr. Gra- 
 ham's school and in one scholar in 
 particular, Ann Rutledge. She had 
 not passed his store twice a day, to and 
 from school, unnoticed. Often he 
 would catch himself glancing a.t the 
 clock, wondering if it was not time for 
 school to be out, and he would listen 
 for the footsteps of the little maid, 
 who was slowly, but surely, creeping 
 into his heart. 
 
 He saw the face of Ann Rutledge in 
 everything that grew. Were not the 
 nuts on the hillside the same brown as 
 her soulful eyes, the cardinal flower 
 the red of her lips, the haw blossoms
 
 14 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 like her fair brow, and the sunlight on 
 the stream was it not as Ann's bright 
 smile? Little wonder the young man 
 thought of her all day, and dreamed of 
 her by night. 
 
 Yet this man, who in after years 
 faced unflinchingly the greatest dan- 
 gers, had not the courage to tell this 
 child, who belonged to nature, just as 
 the violet or anemone, that he loved 
 her. 
 
 One day, as Abe sat musing in his 
 store, his thoughts turned to Ann. 
 Oh, if he could only protect her in the 
 years to come from the storms of life, 
 as the great oak protects the little 
 flower that grows so closely by it. His 
 reveries were abruptly disturbed by a 
 lad, who thrust his head in at the door, 
 with: "Say, Abe, thar's a boat a-sink- 
 in' down thar in the river nigh the 
 dam. ' ' 
 
 Lincoln, taking his hat, locked the 
 store, and went to the scene of trouble.
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 15 
 
 He found the boat about to sink, but 
 with his unusual strength, he managed 
 to get it over the dam ; then, by boring 
 a hole, and tipping the boat back, he 
 let the water out. On hearing of the 
 excitement, Mr. Graham considered 
 the event of sufficient importance to 
 make him dismiss school. 
 
 The pupils were not long in reach- 
 ing the scene. Ann trembled with f ear 
 when she saw Abe in what she con- 
 sidered a most dangerous position. 
 
 She waited anxiously until he WHS 
 safe ashore. The shadows were now 
 gathering, and together the two walk- 
 ed slowly up the hill. 
 
 "I thought sure you would be 
 drowned, Abe," said Ann. 
 
 1 1 Would you have cared if I had 
 been?" replied he. 
 
 "Oh, Abe, I should feel dreadful to 
 see any one drowned. ' ' 
 
 Mrs. Eutledge was in a state of
 
 16 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 great excitement when they reached 
 the house. 
 
 "Why, Ann, you're mighty late, 
 'pears like; where hev you bin, 
 honey?" 
 
 "Down to the river, ma, watching 
 Abe let the water out of a flatboat, and 
 it in danger of sinking all the time. ' ' 
 
 * * I hain 't got no time to hear tell of 
 flatboats nor nuthin' now, Ann. Dad's 
 goin' to St. Louis to-morrie, and we 
 got a heap to do. Sit down, Abe, I 
 forgot my manners, I'm so stirred up 
 over dad's goin'." 
 
 "I'll go back to the store, I guess," 
 said Abe; "you're all so busy. I'll 
 come to-morrow evening, Ann, at five 
 o'clock. Will you borrow Mr. Gra- 
 ham's grammar? then we can study 
 together. ' ' 
 
 "I'm glad dad's going to St. 
 Louis, ' ' she said, * * for he will get me a 
 Kirham's grammar, so we won't have 
 to borrow any more. We can write
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 17 
 
 our lessons to-morrow evening. Jim 
 Armstrong climbed a big oak tree, got 
 some ink galls, and made me as much 
 as a pint of ink, I guess. Don't you 
 think that was kind of Jim I ' ' 
 
 Abe thought so ; in fact, he thought 
 it too kind of Jim. 
 
 Mr. Butledge was up at daybreak 
 next morning, and with "prairie 
 schooner" filled with deer pelts, start- 
 ed at snail's pace for St. Louis. 
 
 All day Abe was busy in his store, 
 drawing molasses, measuring calico, 
 or weighing carpet chain, but not for a 
 moment did he forget the hazel eyes 
 of Ann Rutledge. More than once he 
 stopped to listen to the thrush, which 
 seemed to sing her praises ; while the 
 robin's sweet song expressed his 
 heart's love so tenderly, he tried to 
 form into words its tremulous notes. 
 At last the hands of the little wooden 
 clock on the wall, with its weight hang- 
 ing down, pointed to the hour of five.
 
 18 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 Abe stepped to the mirror and looked 
 at his plain, honest face ; for the first 
 time in his life, he wished he were a 
 different looking man. He brushed 
 his stubborn locks from his broad fore- 
 head, picked up his slouch hat, and 
 sauntered out, leaving store, business, 
 and care behind. Ann met him at her 
 mother's door. 
 
 ' < Come in, Abe, and be careful that 
 you don't fall; the floor is pretty slick, 
 ma's just finished scrubbing it." 
 
 The floor was clean and white, hav- 
 ing been scrubbed with soft soap and 
 hickory ashes. Ann handed him a 
 gourd of cold spring water from the 
 piggin on the bench. 
 
 ''Did you get the grammar, Ann?", 
 asked Abe. 
 
 ' * Of course I did ; I knew you were 
 coming to study. ' ' 
 
 They were soon in the midst of the 
 intricacies of the verb "to love." 
 
 "First person, I love."
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 19 
 
 "You love who, Ann?" asked he. 
 
 "Not Jim Armstrong," said Ann, 
 as she glanced mischievously from her 
 book. 
 
 Time passed rapidly, and they were 
 in the midst of their lesson when Mrs. 
 Rutledge called: 
 
 "Honey, you must come and help 
 ma now. Set the table for supper. ' ' 
 
 Reluctantly she pushed back her 
 chair and began her task. On the 
 hearth glowed the bright hickory em- 
 bers ; to the right on the trevet was a 
 pot of aromatic coffee, a Dutch oven 
 to the left, in which two canvasback 
 ducks were simmering in savory gravy 
 and rich dressing. Swinging on the 
 crane over the blazing logs was a 
 kettle of jowl and hominy. On a board 
 in front of the fire was a row of brown- 
 ing johnnycakes. Ann spread the 
 homespun cloth, white as snow, and 
 put in its place each blue plate, cup, 
 saucer, and pewter spoon. When she
 
 20 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 opened the cupboard she was surpris- 
 ed to find a large gourd of wild honey. 
 
 I 'Why, ma, where did you get this 
 honey?" 
 
 "Uncle Lige Watkins robbed a bee 
 tree this mornin', and Betsey brung 
 that over," her mother answered. 
 "Put it on fer supper. I 'low Abe 
 would like some with his johnny- 
 cake." 
 
 "Supper's ready now, isn't it, 
 ma?" asked Ann. 
 
 "Yes, but Dave hain't come yit. I 
 wonder what diviltry he's up to." 
 
 I l He 's coming up the hill now, ' ' said 
 Ann ; ' ' and what is that he has ? Why 
 ma, it's a wild turkey!" 
 
 "Bless my heart, if it ain't!" 
 
 As he entered, Dave threw the bird 
 down at the door, saying: "Ma, 
 there's a present fer ye. Bob Clary 
 went out huntin ' and shot six ; he sent
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 21 
 
 this one to you. Guess he had an eye 
 to Ann." 
 
 "Ah, hurry up thar, Dave! Quit 
 your foolin' and git ready for sup- 
 per," said his mother. 
 
 He washed his hands in a basin that 
 stood on a bench just outside the door, 
 and came in bringing 'a few small 
 sticks, which he threw on the fire. 
 
 "Hullo, Abe! I spose you're so 
 taken up with that book you can't 
 speak to a body ; you and Ann will be 
 such scholards, common folks will be 
 af eared to speak to ye." 
 
 All did ample justice to the supper, 
 after which the young students re- 
 turned to their book, and studied un- 
 til nine o 'clock, when Abe arose to go. 
 
 "I've stayed too late," said he. "I 
 hope I haven't kept you up, Mrs. 
 Rutledge," as he noticed she was doz- 
 ing over her knitting in the chimney 
 corner. 
 
 "Oh, no! I hain't sleepy," she re-
 
 22 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 plied, with a yawn. ' ' I 'se just think T 
 in' uv him, wonderin' if he's getting 
 along with them thar hides all right. ' ' 
 
 "Don't worry," said Abe; "Mr. 
 Rutledge can take care of himself. 
 Good night, all, ' ' and he lazily strolled 
 down to his lonely quarters. Not a 
 sound could he hear but the beating of 
 his own heart, and the calling of a 
 whippoor-will to his mate from the 
 willows which fringed the river banks. 
 
 Nearly four weeks had passed, and 
 Mr. Eutledge had not returned. Ann 
 and her mother were anxious, since 
 they knew the dangers to which a lone 
 traveler was subject on that perilous 
 route. The barking of wolves was a 
 familiar sound, and these ferocious 
 animals had been known to pursue 
 travelers. And while Dave related 
 thrilling stories of wild cats and pan- 
 thers, he generally ended by laughing 
 at his mother and sister for feeling 
 anxious.
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 23 
 
 "Now, you bet dad's all right; there 
 hain't nuthin' goin' to hurt him." 
 
 "Ma, the Clarys have invited Dave 
 and me over to-morrow night," said 
 Ann ; ' ' they are going to have a party. 
 The Potters, Armstrongs, and Greens 
 will all be there. May I go ? " 
 
 "Wai, I hain't no objections," said 
 her mother, "if you git that spinnin' 
 done. I 'lowed you'd git right smart 
 done afore a-Saturday night." 
 
 "Well, so I will, ma. You know I 
 can work fast when I once get at it." 
 
 The next morning Ann was at her 
 wheel bright and early. She never 
 looked prettier ; her face wore a happy 
 smile, her slender form bending grace- 
 fully as she stepped forward and back- 
 ward, while from the distaff in her 
 hand she spun yards and yards of flax. 
 The low hum of the wheel made a most 
 harmonious accompaniment to the 
 serious, happy thoughts woven into 
 the threads she was spinning. She
 
 24 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 was thinking of Abe, wondering if he 
 cared for her very much, wondering 
 if he was going to Springfield, not to 
 return, as the neighbors said. "I 
 shall ask him, ' ' she thought to herself, 
 "and shall not let him know that I 
 care, if he does say he is going. Abe 
 isn't as good-looking as Jim Arm- 
 strong or Bob Clary, either. I like 
 him, though, a great deal better than 
 any of the other boys. But no one 
 shall ever, ever know it. I should n't 
 care for the new white dress, with blue 
 ribbons, ma promised me ; no, I should 
 n't care for anything, if he went 
 away!" Just then her mother came 
 in, and Ann began to sing merrily. 
 
 "I'm working fast; don't you think 
 I am, ma?" 
 
 "Yes, honey; you've done a heap 
 to-day. ' ' 
 
 Four weeks from the day Mr. Rut- 
 ledge left home, just as the sun was 
 sinking, and the tinkle of old Brindle 's
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 25 
 
 bell came closer and closer, as she 
 slowly wended her way up the hill, 
 Mrs. Eutledge stepped to the door 
 with the milk-pail in her hand. In the 
 dim distance she saw a team slowly 
 advancing. 
 
 "Come here, Dave!" said she. 
 ' l Hain 't that your dad I Them horses 
 look powerful like Bob and Sam." 
 
 "Wai, if it hain't," said Dave, and 
 grabbing his hat he hurried out to 
 meet his father. It was not long be- 
 fore they drove up the hill, and no one 
 ever received a heartier welcome than 
 did Mr. Rutledge on this home-coming. 
 He related many wonderful things 
 that he had seen in the great town of 
 St. Louis. 
 
 "Why, ma, there wus hundreds of 
 people in the streets." 
 
 "Law, dad, you might have got run 
 over and killed," said his wife. 
 
 "I went to a circus, and seen a ele- 
 phant with a snout longer than my
 
 26 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 arm. I give it some gingerbread, and 
 be durned of the fool thing didn't 
 know me next day when they had it on 
 the street! Now, here's your book, 
 Ann ; this here eddication costs a heap 
 o' money. I paid a whole dollar fer 
 that, and you must learn every word 
 in it." 
 
 Several months elapsed; it was the 
 day before Christmas; the Rutledge 
 family, except Ann, were up very 
 early, as there was much to be done. 
 Mrs. Rutledge's sister, Aunt Nancy 
 Black, with her son and daughter, was 
 coming to spend a week with them. 
 Company was a rare thing, and they 
 had looked forward to this visit with 
 much pleasure. On waking, Ann 
 looked out to see the condition of the 
 weather; nothing was ever more 
 peaceful than the scene before her. 
 The Sangamon Valley and its sur- 
 rounding hills, all white with a mantle 
 of new-fallen snow, sparkled and
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 27 
 
 gleamed in the first rays of the rising 
 sun. The little houses on the hillside 
 were as so many white altars, the 
 smoke rising from the chimneys like 
 incense. 
 
 Ann dressed in a hurry, for she 
 knew it was late, and that her mother 
 had been up a long time. "Dear, un- 
 selfish ma," she said to herself; "how 
 lazy I am to lie in bed and let her get 
 breakfast alone, expecting company, 
 too, this very day. Ma will be all worn 
 out by the time Aunt Nancy comes." 
 
 "Well, Ann," said her father, "did 
 you sleep good? Your ma hain't let 
 me and Dave speak, hardly, feared 
 we 'd wake you. ' ' 
 
 Soon Mr. Eutledge and Dave went 
 out to feed and milk the cows, and 
 Mjrs. Rutledge and Ann busied them- 
 selves about the house, planning for 
 their visitors. About four o'clock in 
 the afternoon a bob-sled, drawn by
 
 28 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 two gray horses, came briskly up the 
 road. 
 
 "They are coming," said Ann. 
 
 By the time her mother reached the 
 door they had arrived. 
 
 "Well, Nancy, I'm powerful glad 
 to see you, ' ' said Mrs. Butledge ; * ' and 
 is this here Johnny? Well, well, and 
 Becky, honey; I would n't ha' know'd 
 you. This is my Ann." Mrs. Black 
 gave her a hearty kiss on the lips. 
 Ann had not seen her cousins since 
 they were quite small. Mr. Rutledge 
 and Dave came in soon and greetings 
 were exchanged. As the Blacks lived 
 in Canton, they were looked on as city 
 folks. Becky was very pretty, fair, 
 with blue eyes and light hair. 
 
 On Christmas day, Dave and John- 
 ny hitched up the bob-sled, gathered 
 up the young folks of the neighbor- 
 hood, about sixteen in all, and started 
 off for a jolly time. They were pack- 
 ed in snugly. Abe sat by Ann and her
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 29 
 
 fair cousin. Becky had never looked 
 so pretty to Ann as she did then. 
 When the sun shone through her light 
 curls on her white face, Ann thought 
 she was really beautiful, and wondered 
 if Abe thought so, too. 
 
 Mrs. Rutledge and Mrs. Black were 
 left alone to enjoy a talk over old 
 times, as they sat by the bright, cheer- 
 ful fire. 
 
 "Say, Nancy, what ever becum of 
 them Joneses that used to live down in 
 the holler near us?" 
 
 "Law, Becky, they hain't been thar 
 this long time; Manthy and Eachel 
 and Bob are all dead, and the house is 
 well-nigh gone to pieces; it is nuthin' 
 like it used to be, 'ceptin' the little 
 brook and the ellum trees. I could 
 name our old friends that's livin' in 
 shorter time than 't would take me to 
 tell you of all them as is gone, Becky. 
 There hain't nuthin' sure in this 
 world, and I don't care much fer nuth-
 
 30 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 in' since he's gone," she said, wiping 
 away a tear with the corner of her 
 apron. "If 't weren't fer Becky and 
 Johnny I'd just as soon fold my hands 
 in rest as not." 
 
 "Yes, Nancy; but it is fer Johnny 
 and Becky that you ought to cheer up. 
 God knows what is best fer us. ' ' 
 
 "But you've got your man, Becky, 
 so you've the whole world." 
 
 "Well, I must say, Rutledge is 
 powerful good to me. I believe I hear 
 the children a-comin'. Law, Nancy! 
 Come and see 'em! We can kinder 
 live our lives over through them. I'm 
 glad they 're havin ' such a good time ; 
 they seem awful happy." 
 
 The Christmas week was one round 
 of pleasure, and the Blacks were loth 
 to go when it was over. Mrs. Rut- 
 ledge was very sad when her sister 
 left, as she thought it would probably
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 31 
 
 be a long time before they would meet 
 again. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 Time went on. Lincoln made rapid 
 progress in his studies. Mr. J. T. 
 Stuart, of Springfield, had given him 
 free use of his law books, and Abe 
 would often walk there, a distance of 
 some twenty miles, after one. Many 
 times, removing his shoes to save 
 wear, he would tie them together by 
 the leather strings and carry them 
 over his arm. 
 
 Doctor Allen, who was the only 
 physician for miles around, was look- 
 ed upon as a sage : 
 
 ''And still the wonder grew 
 That one small head could carry all he 
 knew." 
 
 This reputation the doctor greatly 
 enjoyed. 
 
 It was he who organized the first 
 Sunday school in New Salem. The 
 young folks looked forward to the
 
 32 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 Sunday meetings with much pleasure. 
 
 Ann had charge of a class in Sun- 
 day school over which she presided 
 with grace and dignity. Quaint in- 
 deed did she appear in the dunstable 
 her mother and grandmother had 
 worn. It was customary in those days 
 for these bonnets to pass from one 
 generation to another. 
 
 In clear tones her contralto voice 
 filled the little church, as she led in 
 the singing, and moved more than one 
 young man to devotion. 
 
 One morning Mrs. Eutledge was 
 churning, and she and Ann were so 
 busily talking they did not hear a rap 
 at the door. Susan Yardly walked in. 
 
 "You'll excuse me, but I knocked 
 several times, and you didn't hear me, 
 so I just walked right in." 
 
 "Glad to see you," said Ann; "let 
 me take your bonnet." 
 
 "No," said Susan; "I must get 
 back home. I got to help ma with the
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 33 
 
 ironing. I've come to see if you 
 wouldn't like to go with us all 
 a-blackberryin' to-morrow.'* 
 
 "Who all?" said Ann. 
 
 "Why, the Potters, Clarys, Arm- 
 strongs, and Watkins; then there's 
 some folks a-visitin' the Clarys, a 
 young fellow and his sister, from way 
 up north of here. They say he's 
 mighty good-lookin'. I ain't seen 
 neither of 'em yet." 
 
 "Looks don't count for anything," 
 said Ann. 
 
 "Well, will you go?" said Sue. 
 
 "Yes, and I thank you for your 
 trouble. ' ' 
 
 "Trouble! Why, blackberryin' or 
 nuthin' would be no fun without you. 
 The boys always say, first thing, 'Is 
 Ann Eutledge goinT The berries 
 are largest and thickest in Uncle Lige 
 Potter's meadow, and that's such a 
 pretty place. You know the old grape- 
 vine swing there, near the spring, and
 
 34 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 then there 's lots of pretty flowers that 
 we don't have around here. Them 
 lady's slippers grow thick down there. 
 Well, I must go home. We'll meet 
 you at the mill. Good-bye." 
 
 " Good-bye, Sue. I'll be there at 
 eight o'clock." 
 
 The next morning Ann was off on 
 time, with a little splint basket her 
 mother had woven, swinging on her 
 arm. She heard the merry voices of 
 her companions as she neared the old 
 mill, and soon joined them. 
 
 "Ann, this is Harry Blunt and his 
 sister, Tillie," said Bob Clary, who 
 felt a secret satisfaction in having so 
 well performed the ceremony of intro- 
 duction, which he had many times re- 
 hearsed in his mind. He thought Ann 
 must surely admire his self-possession 
 and dignity. 
 
 The picnickers did not mind the 
 dust and hot sun, nor the long walk, 
 for when they reached the meadow
 
 LINCOLN'S FTR8T LOVE 35 
 
 they found the bushes heavily laden 
 with rich, luscious fruit, and they soon 
 filled their baskets. After resting 
 awhile under the shade of the old 
 trees, " Let's have a game of fox and 
 goose," said Susan. This was no 
 sooner proposed than the ring was 
 formed, and the young folks began 
 merrily chasing each other around the 
 trees. Harry Blunt asked Ann if she 
 wouldn't like a swing in the grape- 
 vine. 
 
 " Grapevines don't grow as big 
 here," he said, "as on our place. 
 Why, I've seen 'em bigger round than 
 my arm." 
 
 Bob Clary and Dorothy Armstrong 
 were strolling along, when suddenly, 
 at the cry of "Snake! snake!" the 
 girls began to scream and the boys to 
 scamper for sticks, stones, and other 
 weapons. Jim Armstrong became the 
 hero of the day, by his bravery and 
 skill in killing the rattlesnake. He
 
 36 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 slung it on a pole and carried it quite a 
 distance, much to the dismay of the 
 girls. 
 
 "It's pretty dusty. I guess I'll 
 hang it on this here rail fence and 
 bring rain." 
 
 "Oh, what a tall fence," said Tillie 
 Blunt. 
 
 "Yes, and Abe Lincoln split every 
 rail in it," said Bile Potter; "he's so 
 big and strong he can split a heap in a 
 day." 
 
 "They ought to call him the rail 
 
 splitter," said Tillie Blunt. 
 
 ***** 
 
 One day in May, nearly a year later, 
 as Ann sat by the door stemming 
 strawberries, a hand was laid on hers, 
 and looking up she saw a tall figure 
 standing by her. 
 
 ' ' Why, Abe, how you frightened me ! 
 I thought you were in Springfield. 
 They told me that you had gone there 
 to live ; that you were not coming back
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 37 
 
 here. I thought I should never see 
 you fishing at the old mill again; and 
 somehow, Abe, it made me made me 
 well, feel kind of sorry, you know, 
 for you and I have always had such 
 good times together." 
 
 "Don't you think, Ann, that I will 
 ever go to Springfield, or anywhere 
 else to stay, as long as you are among 
 the dear old hills of Salem. For, dar- 
 ling, do you not know that I love you? 
 And Ann, dear, won 't you be my wife f 
 Don't you love me?" 
 
 She stood with her head leaning 
 against the door jamb, looking look- 
 ing she knew not where. But to her 
 it seemed straight into heaven. Abe 
 put his arm about her, and as she an- 
 swered, "Yes, I love you, and always 
 shall," he kissed her lips, her brown 
 hair, and her little brown hands, 
 stained with strawberries. The two 
 stood silent for some moments. The 
 hills were pink with crab-apple bios-
 
 38 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 soms, and their perfume filled all the 
 air. 
 
 ' ' What must Heaven be, Ann, when 
 this world is so beautiful? I know 
 that the angels are like you, and since 
 I have your love I will be a better and 
 happier man." 
 
 Mrs. Rutledge, who had been in the 
 garden gathering lettuce and radishes, 
 was surprised to see Abe, aj$vknew 
 from his and Ann 's manner that some- 
 thing unusual had occurred, but said 
 nothing about it. 
 
 "Well, so it hain't so that you've 
 gone to Springfield to live, then, 
 Abe?" 
 
 "No, not gone, but going. I have 
 a chance to study law there, so I think 
 I'll try it. I shall miss the click of the 
 old mill, the rippling of the Sangamon, 
 the song of the thrush, but most of 
 all my dear friends ; and though I shall 
 be in Springfield, my heart will be in 
 Salem."
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 39 
 
 "Here comes dad and Dave, and 
 supper ain't nigh ready. Have you 
 got them berries stemmed?" 
 
 "Just about, ma," replied Ann. 
 
 "I will help you," said Abe. 
 
 "Set the table fer five, Ann, fer 
 Abe's got to stay; he ain't et here this 
 long time." 
 
 "Yes," said Mr. Rutledge, who had 
 just ci^e in, "and I'll beat him at 
 a game of checkers." 
 
 An invitation, as it were, which 
 could not be declined. Abe won the 
 first game; and thereafter, Mr. Rut- 
 ledge, having won the next two games, 
 thought it time to quit. The evening 
 was perfect. Abe and Ann walked by 
 the light of the pale moon down by the 
 river. He picked up from the sand a 
 flat stone, about eight inches square, 
 and laid it aside, saying, ' ' To-morrow 
 I'll carve upon this stone the date of 
 our betrothal." 
 
 A few days later Lincoln bade fare-
 
 40 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 well to the woman to whom he had 
 plighted his troth, and to the scenes 
 where were spent his happiest days; 
 and returned to his studies. 
 
 Ann found her mother and father 
 alone next morning. 
 
 "Did Abe get off, Ann!" 
 
 "Yes, dada; and some day I am go- 
 ing with him, for yesterday he told me 
 he loved me better than all the world, 
 and asked me to be his wife. There, 
 ma, don't cry, I will come often to see 
 you and dada." 
 
 "Oh, Ann! your dad and me loves 
 you so. Abe's a good fellow, and I 
 know he '11 be kind to you. I hain't no 
 objections to him, but it's hard to give 
 you up. Thar won't be no more sing- 
 in' about the house; and all day, while 
 dad and Dave are in the field, I will be 
 alone." 
 
 Ann glanced over at her father just 
 as he brushed a tear away with his 
 sleeve. She went to him, put her arms
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 41 
 
 around his neck, and said: "Dada, 
 you and ma will come to see us ; I will 
 have one room just for you, and we 
 shall have your visits to look forward 
 to." 
 
 1 * Yes, Ann. I must not act this here 
 way ; I know now how your ma 's folks 
 felt when I took her. Abe, I know, 
 is a mighty honest feller, and I've 
 knowed fer a long time he loved you. 
 All I can say is, he is a lucky man." 
 
 After Lincoln left Salem, Ann was 
 never the same. She missed him, and 
 longed to hear his footstep on the old 
 walk leading to the house. 
 
 She would often stand on the brow 
 of the hill, from where she could see 
 the cattle feding in the green, shady 
 pastures, and hear the birds sing. 
 There was little beauty in the scene, or 
 sweetness in the robin's song. 
 
 And she would sing over and over 
 again the old song
 
 42 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 "Ye banks and braes o' bonnie Boon, 
 How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair? 
 
 How can ye chant, ye little birds, 
 And I sae weary, fu ' o ' care ? ' ' 
 
 Lincoln's business kept him closely 
 confined ; but a few days before Ann 's 
 twentieth birthday she received a let- 
 ter containing the happy news of her 
 lover's coming. He would be with her 
 on the fifteenth day of July, her birth- 
 day. The hot summer days seemed to 
 exhaust Ann, and she was unable to 
 attend to the duties her mother had 
 always required of her, but she 
 brightened up a little at the thought of 
 Abe's coming. 
 
 The long-expected day arrived. But 
 the tender heart of Lincoln sank with- 
 in him when he noted Ann's languid 
 air and sad eyes. She hoped that he 
 wouldn't notice that she was ill, but 
 he knew it all too well. 
 
 "Tell me, dear," he said, as they sat
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 43 
 
 on an old log by the river, "do you 
 regret the vow you made me?" 
 
 "Oh, Abe! how can you speak so? 
 I should die if it were not for your 
 love for me ; it is all I live for. I am 
 thinking of you all day, and every 
 night I dream of you. But, Abe, some- 
 times I dream that in in that great 
 place where you now live, you have 
 forgotten poor me and don't care to 
 come to see me any more. Then when 
 I awake, I feel so heavy-hearted. ' ' 
 
 "Look into my eyes, dearest, and 
 let me tell you that as God is my 
 judge, my love is all yours. My only 
 thought is of the happy time when I 
 can take you with me, transplant my 
 little wild rose of Salem to the city, 
 where she will still be the fariest of 
 the fair." 
 
 1 * Now, dear Abe, I shall try never to 
 feel sad again, and not let that wretch- 
 ed feeling, that soon we are to part 
 forever, come near me again. ' '
 
 44 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 "Do you remember the stone, Ann, 
 I told you I would engrave? Well, I 
 carved upon it 'Ann Rutledge and 
 Abraham Lincoln were betrothed May 
 5th, 1835.' I buried it at the corner 
 of the old store. There it shall stay 
 until our heads are silver-white, and 
 we together will then unearth it, and 
 you will say to me, 'Abe, you have 
 kept your vow.' 
 
 "I must go bak to Springfield to- 
 night, Ann, but before I leave you, 
 you must tell me when I may come for 
 you. Make it soon, dear. Shall it be 
 next month, in August?" 
 
 "Oh, not so soon as that, Abe; 
 think how lonely poor ma and dada 
 would be." 
 
 "If you should wait a year they 
 would be just as loth to part from 
 you," he said. "You can come to see 
 them often, Ann." 
 
 "Well, when the maple leaves are 
 crimson, and the sunlight 's hazy, too ;
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 45 
 
 when the cardinal flower's in blossom, 
 and the goldenrod hangs in rich yellow 
 plumes, I will go with you to our new 
 home ; but I shall never feel strange or 
 lonely, because I shall have you. I 
 shall be your wife." 
 
 ''That means that I may come for 
 you in October. Uncle Peter Cart- 
 wright will marry us, and all will be 
 joy and happiness. Good night, dear 
 girl. When I come again, let me find 
 your eyes bright and your heart 
 light." 
 
 He left Ann at her door, and mount- 
 ing his horse, rode away. She listened 
 to the sound of the horse 's hoofs until 
 it died away in the distance, then went 
 to her little bedroom and knelt in 
 prayer, thanking God for the many 
 blessings she had received She 
 tucked the little patch-work quilt 
 about her aching form, and sank down 
 in her bed, never to leave it. 
 
 For two long weeks she suffered.
 
 46 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 
 
 Doctor Allen was summoned, but his 
 bitter doses were of no avail. Nothing 
 could assuage the high fever. She 
 called for Abe repeatedly, and they 
 thought best to send for him. Dave, 
 riding one horse and leading another, 
 hurried off to Springfield. 
 
 - Just at ten o 'clock the next morning 
 Abe and Dave entered Salem; and 
 Abe, in his anxiety, was not long in 
 reaching Ann's bedside. 
 
 "Oh, Abe, I am so glad you have 
 come, dear ! ' ' said Ann. ' ' I thought I 
 must die without seeing you. I 
 wanted so to tell you not to grieve for 
 me, and to comfort ma and dada when 
 I am gone. ' ' 
 
 "Dear, you are not going to leave 
 me! Why, I could not live without 
 you ! ' ' 
 
 "God knows better than we," she 
 said. * * Sing to me, dear. ' ' 
 
 He knelt by her bed, and with trem-
 
 LINCOLN'S FIRST LOVE 47 
 
 bling voice sang her favorite hymn, 
 
 ' ' God moves in a mysterious way, 
 His wonders to perform." 
 
 Lincoln sat by her all day, holding 
 her feverish hand. He would not 
 leave her a moment, nor did he eat 
 anything. 
 
 Just at twilight, when the young 
 moon hung low and bright o'er the 
 western hills, and all nature seemed 
 hushed by the wonderful spell; when 
 father, mother, brother, and lover 
 were at her side, Ann Rutledge, with a 
 long, sad look into the eyes of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, passed into the spiritual 
 world. 
 
 She was buried beneath an old elm- 
 tree in Concord churchyard, but the 
 body was afterwards removed to Oak- 
 land cemetery at Petersburg. After 
 the burial, Lincoln threw himself up- 
 on the grave, saying these words : 
 
 "Here lies the body of Ann Rut- 
 ledge, and the heart of Abe Lincoln."