That Nation Might Live: One Afternoon with Lincoln’s Stepmother Page 10

  “Was warmer than I like for traveling, much the same time a year as now. I prefer to be still in such heat. Can’t be still for too long though or I might just stop moving! Chapman took me into Charleston, after we see the clearing at the fairground where Abe would have his words with Little Doug. Was a fresh platform built, just like they were having a camp meeting, split logs turned flat-side up for setting on, row after row. I ain’t never seen so many rows, even when it seem half a Kaintuck was there.

  “Chapman said there would be folks standing behind them split logs for as far as my eyes could see. I figured my dearest grandson was stretching the matter some. As we approached Charleston, where Chapman lived with Harriet, I seen he may a spoke truth somehows.

  “Billy, I never seen none like it, afore or since. Dog my hide if there weren’t folks of all walks heared and seen all round, full mile still from Charleston. There were folks seeming to appear in every bit of my view. Right then people were paying no attention to an old woman riding along in a buggy. Town was near all get out for Abe and Little Doug. Folks were spilling out of the front of hotels and others were offering their homes if they were all for the same man. They were most jolly to each other, seem, the day before. The square was decorated with all kinds a red, white and blue, with flags and drapes, and banners so big they hung from one building to the next. Biggest of all hung from the courthouse to a building on the west side of the square, must a been eighty feet, with a picture of Abe looking like a boy again, standing in a wagon driving an ox team. Harriet said it read, ‘Old Abe Thirty Years Ago.’ Ate a nice meal at Harriet’s that evening. They give up their feather bed to creeky old Granmarm Lincoln. I try my best not to think on the big-eyed time I was to have that next day.

  “I know’d long ago what the Lord set out for Abe. Couldn’t picture it none back then. I couldn’t a seen it to that very day, til I seen it. Just bedlam the whole gathering was. Little Doug was coming in by the north road, so they send Abe by the old south road to keep the fighting to what they could keep it to. Day was hot, right from dawn it seemed. Chillern saved a place for me so I could rest in the house til they heard a ruckus coming. Lad come to fetch me and drag me off, brung a brother or two for feeble me. Little hands in mine always gives me spring, like they were giving me some a their young through their tiny fingertips. He drug me to the spot alongside the south road. I seen a float drawn by eight horses, decorated with white muslin and silk wildflowers, carrying thirty-two girls in white dresses and blue velvet caps. I know there were thirty-two because Harriet told me there was a girl for each state. She said each girl carried a silver star and was wearing a banner with the name of their state in the Union on it. Was another girl, riding a white horse. She wore a banner for Kansas while holding a flag of sorts. Harriet said it read, “I will Be Free.”

  “Soon enough word run through the crowd that Abe was coming round soon. I stayed right where I was setting, although it was hot and my heart was thumping in my chest like a loose mule. I stood when Chapman said he could see Abe on top of a grand carriage. I could not make out one from the other just yet. Took some time for me to fix my eyes on Abe, and I when I done it I nearly went right home to get cooking! He look too much like the skeleton I found in the wilderness all them years ago, ‘ceptin he was handsome as could be in his black suit and tall hat. Looked tired. Lord a-Mighty, I was wishing I could just bring him back home with me for a few days. I know’d what Abe needed, all the way to a hard ache in my heart. He come even closer and I look round me at the hysteria, as if a fire was offin somewheres. Them folks were seeing Abe as he was, it come off him, seeing him up there. They know’d Abe’s heart, just meeting his eyes. The Lord had no place for my aches with what He was having Abe to do. So it must be, Billy. So it must be.

  “Abe was waving and smiling for all them people dumbstruck for his attention, knowing he carry their hopes to end slavery, just as I know’d it back when he come home from New Orleans. His carriage amble its way upon us, where Abe stood up and speak to his driver. Driver pulled in the reins and begun barking up ahead for the others to stop else the whole parade come apart, which got them barking up ahead a them, and on up the line. Floats behind Abe had to stop a course, and the whole parade come to a halt with no one but Abe figuring what was to be.

  “Folks were cheering themselves purple when Abe stood up in his carriage. He wave them on with great courtesy, not lingering in my view as he disappear into the swarm. I had to set just then with the heat and all; it become too much. There was quite a stir. Folks were waving like wheat, so abundant, and the screams were piercing to a deaf old woman such as myself! I seen the crowd begun to part like Moses scooting off from the Pharaoh. I didn’t even have time to feel a plumb bit embarrassed, as I am now figuring back on it, to have all them people looking my way. Some folk were looking right on me as I never cared for from a stranger, but most were looking away from me, peering off in the opposite direction, whooping and a hollering as though the lot of them dropped a rock on their foot. I was too old for all this excitement; I recall thinking I might just keel over.

  “Round then the crowd cleared aside some, and right in front of me, standing afore a hooting wild crowd, was my son. Brung all them people to their toes fetching a gander at him. There he was, Abraham Lincoln. He stood there with eyes for me only. Somehow, for all the percular challenge the Good Lord saddle him with for looks, he growed into a man to set your eyes on with comfort. His suit was rumpled up and dusty of course. Cared nothing for clothes and fashion cut no figure with him, nor color, nor stuff, nor material. Abe was careless about these things.

  “It happened so fast, too fast. He climbed down off that wagon and come right to me and said, ‘Thanks for coming, Ma.’ He give me a big kiss on the cheek and told me he was glad I was there. Knowing it was so, he said, was gonna help him a lot. That was about all we could manage with all them people waiting, ‘ceptin to promise to see me after it was all over. I could not take in my breath long after Abe walked off through all them cheering folks, and climb back up into his carriage. He was moving with the parade afore I could freely breath again.

  “Round noon when we pick up and head off for the fairgrounds clearing. Chapman was weaving his buggy in and out amongst folks to get to me. I become more than just another old lady in a bonnet, I become Abraham Lincoln’s mama. Folk I ain’t ever seen afore or since sprung on me that day to say nice things about Abe, which wasn’t much a problem til we come closer to the clearing and begun to encounter Little Doug’s folks. What we seen the day afore wasn’t half a what was coming in on wagon load. People as far as I could see. All of them coming to see Abe and Little Doug get back around the tavern stove to argue slavery.

  “Ammunition and whiskey were enormously cheap it seem, and the crowd was fixin’ to settle it themselves. All the jolly cooked off yesterday. Today it seem as soon as one battle was over, some other man would take it up. I was taunted by some that were in for Little Doug, them that were leaving their good sense in a whiskey barrel. The big platform I seen the day afore was an island barely visible in a restless sea, so great was the gathering. Above this swarm a people were giant banners with words on them. Harriet read all the signs a waving above the crowd a folks to us:

  This Government Made for White Men – Douglas for Life!

  Abe the Giant Killer

  I like this’n that Harriet read to me:

  Our Girls Link-on to Lincoln.

  Their Mothers were for Clay

  “Chapman took me right up to them split log benches where Tildy was setting. Between the folk we seen yesterday spilling out of every doorway, and all them wagonloads from the morning, people were a hundred and more deep standing in all directions, and dressed for gathering. Behind them a ways off were more still, standing in their wagons. Never seen anything like it afore or since, the stage was done up in red white and blue drapes. Abe sat up there with a few other men. I never once set eyes on Little Doug afore Chapman pointed him out to me.


  “Lord a-Mighty! I was ready to turn around right then, for he seemed cunning and give a sense that he know’d what to do. Appeared to me he had a big head generally, and a face with the expression of a man who swallered something sour. But his hair was fancy as any woman’s and his eyebrows were massive. By the very looks of him, strong looking jaw, here was a lion, master of himself and of others. He was dressed to a T in a lavender check suit. Made a silk it seemed. By then Abe and his suit were wilted and he looked a bit rough and uncouth. My poor boy. I felt sorry for him as the two stood up to greet the crowd afore they went to yippin at each other like hounds frisky for a hunt.

  “Abe spoke first while Little Doug set and took it. Abe’s voice was clear without being strong. Time Abe was done it was Little Doug stepping up to talk. Now I felt sorry for him, seeing as how the way Abe’d said it there didn’t seem to be no other way. Little Doug done his best a course, saying states should settle their slaving preferences like they were squatters, with squatters’ rights. Spoke a the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and some lavender suit nonsense about Popular Sovereignty. Didn’t seem none too popular with the folks that were assembled. Abe said Little Doug’s arguments were as thin as soup made from the shadow of a pigeon that starved to death.

  “Crowd was a whooping and hollering then, just roaring with laughter. Was the show they come for and Abe was given it to them! But then he quiet us all down, make it still, and get everbody’s full attention. I seen Little Doug up there, waiting his chance as Abe made his points. His body sort a slumped whilst Abe deliver his thumping. You’d a thought we were gonna hang him on that stage stead a let him speak. Abe turn serious and we were all set still.

  “He raised his hand in the air, finger to a point, and he said to the hushed crowd, ‘Slavery. That is the real issue and would be, after our poor tongues shall be silent. That it was the eternal struggle between two principles that stood face-to-face since the beginning of time—right and wrong!’ Abe said some other things I was a bit surprised by, as for Negros being jurors. I meant to ask him about later. Course I could not. So many unasked questions, Billy.

  “Come a time in the speaking when Abe become angry. Abe never could tolerate foolishness well. Little Doug said Abe voted not to supply our soldiers during the warring with Mexico back when Abe was in the Congress. Abe stopped the Little Giant right then, couldn’t have that for people’s ears for the love of truth. So Abe went and plucked a man out a the crowd, a man who was there in Washington City with Abe. Democrat too, I believe. (Writer confirms, it was Democratic Congressman, Orlando B. Ficklin). He was a larger man and the crowd seen Abe’s strength as he brung that man up to the stage. When he got him there, Abe asked him to speak how Abe voted when it come to supplying our troops. Well sir, the man said right then how Abe done so, making Douglas’ words false. Folks were a whooping ever which way, veins bulging from their necks for what Abe done to Little Doug.

  “For the longest time Illinois shine on Douglas, he was our great man. He knew all the big bugs all over the country and sort a looked and talked like he was one of them. Abe was such that even the real old-fashioned Jackson Democrats voted for him, for they liked him and how he was so all-fired smart, mostly from the stories he tell. People know’d goodness off him strong as sugar sap set to boil in the backwoods of Kaintuck.

  “There were more rallies after they speak themselves quiet. Democrats in the Courthouse, Republicans at the Square. Abe came to Chapman’s house just as soon as he could. Between the yarns he fire and the jokes, I done my best to feed him hearty food while he set jack-knifed in a chair, feet propped against the wall higher than his head. Chillern of all ages gathered round Abe, and he wasn’t too shy to fun with them while Denny was speeching, to Abe’s great amusement, about how he run off to see Little Doug after we seen Abe that morning at the parade. Denny said there was a painted sign above the crowd that showed Abe holding a club and just about to slay the Little Giant. So Douglas stuck his big gray hat outta the carriage and said he’d get out of the procession if he couldn’t be treated with respect! Folks just laughed mostly, and Little Doug tucked himself back in and keep on a riding.

  “Round about then a local band of supporters come by to serenade Abe. He said they were gonna keep up till he spoke, so he promised to return soon as he satisfied them with a few words. Billy, I have the newspaper writing if you wish to scrawl his words. I believe it’s time for me to tend to my needs.”

  Writer assures Mrs. Lincoln that he does indeed wish to copy the newspaper article. She called to her granddaughter to assist her to the privy.

  “Upon her return, Mrs. L. requested I read the article to her, saying, “It always does my heart good to hear it.” And so, Writer was happy to oblige and read those granite-carved words to the dear lady:

  “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.

  Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new — North as well as South.

  Two years ago the Republicans of the nation mustered over thirteen hundred thousand strong. We did this under the single impulse of resistance to a common danger, with every external circumstance against us. Of strange, discordant, and even, hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy.

  Did we brave all then to falter now? — now — when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered and belligerent? The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail — if we stand firm, we shall not fail.

  Wise councils may accelerate or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later the victory is sure to come.

  Friends, it would be my great honor to greet each and every one of you. I invite you all for a gathering on the square at nine tonight. Until then I wish to be left with family.’

  With that, Abe returned inside the residence of Augustus and Harriet Chapman.

  Mrs. Lincoln returned soon after the above transcription was completed. She took up her story again:

  “Abe come back that night after the last rally finally ended, and with the little ones around me, one of my grown babes climb in too, scooching a couple of the tots aside so he could lay next to his Mama. I fear I would cut a deal with the devil, Billy, to have them moments back again.

  “I told Abe how I weep sometimes when I think of his little Eddie being gone. Abe let out his grief with his Mama, just as I know’d he was wishing to do. Done my all to seep up his tears like them sponges he brung from New Orleans. After a while he moved his weeping on to his Mama and Sairy. My boy had a heavy heart. There he was again, curled up aside his Mama, and soon enough he breathe deep. He rested his head on my shoulder for a peace that was too short, a peace he didn’t git near enough. Railroad was to depart at four the next morning. I slept not a’tall, instead clinging to every minute left to breathe his scent and hold it, and feel his slow and steady breath, and squeeze my son tight as I could, so long as I didn’t stir him awake. Abe’s friend, a Mr. Whitney I recall, tapped on Chapman’s door to fetch Abe. Durn near impossible for me to let go of him, but the time had come for it.

  “Wasn’t enough for Abe to win the arguing that time. Little Doug went back to the Senate. The rest seen how Abe made his way against their Little Giant, and they were going to lean on it when the time come to pick their man for President two years later. Right make might, Abe went on to say on behalf of the Good Lord Himself. I did not want Abe to run for President — did not want him Elected — was afraid somehow or other. I felt it in my heart that something would happen to him.” />
  I saw him every year or two.

  He was here

  after he was elected

  President of the U.S.

  (Here the old lady stopped,

  turned around and cried –

  wiped her eyes

  and then proceeded.)

  9

  Here the Old Lady Stopped

  Writer notes the President-Elect left Springfield, Illinois, twice over the ten month span from his dark horse nomination to his departure as future President. He travelled to Chicago to introduce himself to his Vice President, Sen. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine. Mr. Lincoln’s final destination was this very hearthside. Col. Augustus H. Chapman, who stands in our presence, was his escort that day from Charleston Station to Goosenest Prairie.

  Herein is the deposition of Colonel. Augustus H. Chapman, Husband of Harriet Hanks Chapman, the maternal granddaughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln. He began:

  “It was evening when Abe arrived at the Charleston Depot. Folks put out in the cold to glimpse at him. Seemed the only way Abe was to get in that night was by freight train. They stopped a ways back from the platform. Quite a site to see the President-Elect in a pea coat and faded plug hat making his way through the long expanse of slush and ice beside the track. His baggage was comprised only of a well-worn carpetbag, quite collapsed. Word of our arrival spread. By the time Abe arrived at his overnight location at Senator Marshall’s house on Washington Street, the town’s brass band was awaiting us there to serenade him. He wasn’t for speeching, more keen to swap stories with friends. Granmarm Lincoln kept the newspaper story if you wish to transcribe it.