tification of looking in the
post-office for your letter, and not finding it, the better.
You see I am mad about that old letter yet. I don't like
very well to risk you again. I'll try you once more,
anyhow."

The remainder of the letter deals with political matters and is signed
simply "Your Friend Lincoln."

In another letter written the following year he says to her:

"I am often thinking about what we said of your coming to
live at Springfield. I am afraid you would not be satisfied.
There is a great deal of flourishing about in carriages
here, which it would be your doom to see without sharing it.
You would have to be poor without the means of hiding your
poverty. Do you believe you could bear that patiently?

"Whatever woman may cast her lot with mine, should any ever
do so, it is my intention to do all in my power to make her
happy and contented; and there is nothing I can imagine that
would make me more unhappy than to fail in the effort.

"I know I should be much happier with you than the way I am,
provided I saw no signs of discontent in you. What you have
said to me may have been in the way of jest, or I may have
misunderstood it.

"If so, then let it be forgotten; if otherwise I much wish
you would think seriously before you decide. For my part, I
have already decided.

"What I have said I will most positively abide by, provided
you wish it. My opinion is that you would better not do it.
You have not been accustomed to hardship, and it may be more
severe than you now imagine.

"I know you are capable of thinking correctly upon any
subject and if you deliberate maturely upon this before you
decide, then I am willing to abide by your decision."

Matters went on in this way for about three months; then they met
again, seemingly without making any progress. On the day they parted,
Lincoln wrote her another letter, evidently to make his own position
clear and put the burden of decision upon her.

"If you feel yourself in any degree bound to me [he said], I
am now willing to release you, provided you wish it; while,
on the other hand, I am willing and even anxious, to bind
you faster, if I can be convinced that it will in any
considerable degree add to your happiness. This, indeed, is
the whole question with me. Nothing would make me