Mrs. Lincoln from her girlhood up had an ambition to become the wife of a President. When a little girl, as I was told by one of her sisters, she was disposed to be a little noisy at times, and was self–willed. One day she was romping about the room, making more noise than the nerves of her grandmother could stand. The old lady looked over her spectacles, and said, in a commanding tone:
"Sit down, Mary. Do be quiet. What on earth do you suppose will become of you if you go on this way?"
"Oh, I will be the wife of a President some day," carelessly answered the petted child.
Mrs. Lincoln, as Miss Mary Todd, was quite a belle in Springfield, Illinois, and from all accounts she was fond of flirting. She generally managed to keep a half–dozen gentlemen biting at the hook that she baited so temptingly for them. The world, if I mistake not, are not aware that the rivalry between Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Stephen A. Douglas commenced over the hand of Miss Mary Todd. The young lady was ambitious, and she smiled more sweetly upon Mr. Douglas and Mr. Lincoln than any of her other admirers, as they were regarded as rising men. She played her part so well that neither of the rivals for a long time could tell who would win the day. Mr. Douglas first proposed for her hand, and she discarded him. The young man urged his suit boldly:
"Mary, you do not know what you are refusing. You have always had an ambition to become the wife of a President of the United States. Pardon the egotism, but I fear that in refusing my hand to–night you have thrown away your best chance to ever rule in the White House."
"I do not understand you, Mr. Douglas."
"Then I will speak more plainly. You know, Mary, that I am ambitious like yourself, and something seems to whisper in my ear, 'You will be President some day.' Depend upon it, I shall make a stubborn fight to win the proud position."
"You have my best wishes, Mr. Douglas; still I cannot consent to be your wife. I shall become Mrs. President, or I am the victim of false prophets, but it will not be as Mrs. Douglas."
I have this little chapter in a romantic history from the lips of Mrs. Lincoln herself.
At one of the receptions at the White House, shortly after the first inauguration, Mrs. Lincoln joined in the promenade with Senator Douglas. He was holding a bouquet that had been presented to her, and as they moved along he said:
"Mary, it reminds me of old times to have you lean upon my arm."
"You refer to the days of our youth. I must do you the credit, Mr. Douglas, to say, that you were a gallant beau."
"Not only a beau, but a lover. Do you remember the night our flirtation was brought to an end?"
"Distinctly. You now see that I was right. I am Mrs. President, but not Mrs. Douglas."
"True, you have reached the goal before me, but I do not despair. Mrs. Douglas—a nobler woman does not live—if I am spared, may possibly succeed you as Mrs. President."
A few evenings after Mr. Douglas had been discarded, Mr. Lincoln made a formal proposal for the hand of Miss Todd, but it appears that the young lady was not willing to capitulate at once. She believed that she could send her lover adrift to–day and win him back to–morrow.
"You are bold, Mr. Lincoln."
"Love makes me bold."
"You honor me, pardon me, but I cannot consent to be your wife."
"Is this your final answer, Miss Todd?" and the suitor rose nervously to his feet.
"I do not often jest, Mr. Lincoln. Why should I reconsider to–morrow my decision of to–day."
"Excuse me. Your answer is sufficient. I was led to hope that I might become dearer to you than a friend, but the hope, it seems, has proved an idle one. I have the honor to say good night, Miss Todd," and pale, yet calm, Mr. Lincoln bowed himself out of the room.
He rushed to his office in a frantic state of mind. Dr. Henry, his most intimate friend, happened to come in, and was surprised to see the young lawyer walking the floor in an agitated manner.
"What is the matter, Lincoln? You look desperate."
"Matter! I am sick of the world. It is a heartless, deceitful world, and I care not how soon I am out of it."
"You rave. What has happened? Have you been quarrelling with your sweetheart?"
"Quarrel! I wish to God it was a quarrel, for then I could look forward to reconciliation; the girl has refused to become my wife, after leading me to believe that she loved me. She is a heartless coquette."
"Don't give up the conquest so easily. Cheer up, man, you may succeed yet. Perhaps she is only testing your love."
"No! I believe that she is going to marry Douglas. If she does I will blow my brains out."
"Nonsense! That would not mend matters. Your brains were given to you for different use. Come, we will go to your room now. Go to bed and sleep on the question, and you will get up feeling stronger to–morrow;" and Dr. Henry took the arm of his friend Lincoln, led him home, and saw him safely in bed.
The next morning the doctor called at Mr. Lincoln's room, and found that his friend had passed a restless night. Excitement had brought on fever, which threatened to assume a violent form, as the cause of the excitement still remained. Several days passed, and Mr. Lincoln was confined to his bed. Dr. Henry at once determined to call on Miss Todd, and find out how desperate the case was. Miss Todd was glad to see him, and she was deeply distressed to learn that Mr. Lincoln was ill. She wished to go to him at once, but the Doctor reminded her that she was the cause of his illness. She frankly acknowledged her folly, saying that she only desired to test the sincerity of Mr. Lincoln's love, that he was the idol of her heart, and that she would become his wife.
The Doctor returned with joyful news to his patient. The intelligence proved the best remedy for the disease. Mutual explanations followed, and in a few months Mr. Lincoln led Miss Todd to the altar in triumph.
I learned these facts from Dr. Henry and Mrs. Lincoln. I believe them to be facts, and as such have recorded them. They do not agree with Mr. Herndon's story, that Mr. Lincoln never loved but one woman, and that woman was Ann Rutledge; but then Mr. Herndon's story must be looked upon as a pleasant piece of fiction. When it appeared, Mrs. Lincoln felt shocked that one who pretended to be the friend of her dead husband should deliberately seek to blacken his memory. Mr. Lincoln was far too honest a man to marry a woman that he did not love. He was a kind and an indulgent husband, and when he saw faults in his wife he excused them as he would excuse the impulsive acts of a child. In fact, Mrs. Lincoln was never more pleased than when the President called her his child–wife.
Before closing this rambling chapter I desire to refer to another incident.
After the death of my son, Miss Mary Welsh, a dear friend, one of my old St. Louis patrons, called to see me, and on broaching the cause of my grief, she condoled with me. She knew that I had looked forward to the day when my son would be a support to me—knew that he was to become the prop and main–stay of my old age, and knowing this, she advised me to apply for a pension. I disliked the idea very much, and told her so—told her that I did not want to make money out of his death. She explained away all of my objections—argued that Congress had made an appropriation for the specific purpose of giving a pension to every widow who should lose an only son in the war, and insisted that I should have my rights. She was so enthusiastic in the matter that she went to see Hon. Owen Lovejoy, then a member of the House from Illinois, and laid my case before him. Mr. Lovejoy was very kind, and said as I was entitled to the pension, I should have it, even if he had to bring the subject before Congress. I did not desire public agitation, and Mr. Lovejoy prepared my claim and laid it before the Commissioners. In the meantime he left Washington, and Mr. Joseph Lovejoy, his brother, prosecuted the claim for me, and finally succeeded in securing me a pension of eight dollars per month. Mr. Joseph Lovejoy was inclined to the Democratic party, and he pressed my claim with great earnestness; he hoped that the claim would not be allowed, as he said the rejection of it would make capital for his party. Nevertheless the pension was granted, and I am none the less thankful to Mr. Joseph Lovejoy for his kindness to me, and interest in my welfare.
背景和作者介紹
這個故事讓我們得以一窺美國第16任總統亞伯拉罕·林肯的妻子瑪麗·托德·林肯的早期生活和浪漫經歷。這個故事取材於個人記述和回憶，包括林肯夫人本人和她親密朋友的回憶。它反映了19世紀中葉美國的社會和政治環境，突出了後來在國家歷史上扮演重要角色的個人所面臨的抱負、求愛和個人挑戰。
作者的身份在這裡沒有明確說明，但似乎是從第一手資料中收集了這些軼事，例如林肯的密友亨利博士和林肯夫人。這個故事與其他歷史記載形成對比，例如林肯的法律合夥人赫恩登先生的記載，這表明歷史往往有多種視角。
詳細闡釋和意義
這個故事揭示了幾個重要的主題：抱負、愛情、毅力和人際關係的複雜性。瑪麗·托德渴望成為總統夫人的雄心壯志，表明了她的決心和自信，這些特質將深刻地塑造她的一生。亞伯拉罕·林肯和史蒂芬·A·道格拉斯爭奪她愛情的競爭，象徵著個人抱負與政治抱負的交織。
林肯最初的拒絕和隨後的疾病表明，即使是最堅強的人，個人情感也會受到多大的影響。亨利博士這樣的友人以及洛夫喬伊兄弟這樣的支持者，突出了在困難時期支持系統的重要性。
此外，這個故事還觸及了婚姻中的寬恕和理解的主題。林肯對妻子缺點的寬容和體諒，反映了親密關係中必要的耐心和同情心。關於兒子去世後撫恤金申領的軼事，也揭示了內戰期間和之後家庭所面臨的社會現實和掙扎。
給學生的教訓和見解
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**抱負和目標：**瑪麗·托德·林肯早期的抱負教導學生擁有明確目標和願望的價值。它提醒年輕人要敢於夢想，並充滿信心朝著自己的目標努力。
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**人際關係中的毅力：**林肯和瑪麗·托德的故事表明，人際關係可能很複雜，需要耐心、理解和寬恕。學生可以學到挫折並不意味著失敗，真誠的溝通是關鍵。
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**情感韌性：**林肯對拒絕的反應以及在朋友的幫助下康復，說明了情感韌性的重要性，以及在面臨困難時尋求支持的重要性。
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**友誼的作用：**亨利博士的支持表明了真正的朋友如何幫助我們度過難關。學生應該珍惜和培養真誠的友誼。
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**歷史觀點：**關於林肯愛情生活的不同描述，提醒學生歷史往往是複雜和多方面的。批判性思維和檢查多個來源是必不可少的技能。
在日常生活中運用這些教訓
- **在學習中：**設定明確的學術目標，即使面臨挑戰也要保持決心。
- **在社交場合：**對朋友和家人表現出善良、耐心和寬恕，理解每個人都有缺點。
- **在情緒健康方面：**認識到何時向值得信賴的人尋求幫助，以及如何回饋支持他人。
- **在批判性思維方面：**在學習歷史或任何科目時，考慮各種觀點和來源，以獲得全面的理解。
從故事中培養積極的品質
- **抱負：**鼓勵學生找出自己的熱情，並專注地追求它們。
- **耐心和寬恕：**教導錯誤和誤解是人際關係的一部分，同情心可以加強聯繫。
- **勇氣：**林肯在愛情和政治上的勇敢表明，勇氣對於追求重要的事情至關重要。
- **同情心：**林肯對妻子缺點的寬容是無條件地愛別人的教訓。
結論
瑪麗·托德·林肯和亞伯拉罕·林肯的故事不僅僅是一個歷史軼事；對於年輕讀者來說，它是一個豐富的靈感和學習的來源。它鼓勵抱負、韌性和同情心——這些品質不僅在個人成長中很有價值，而且在積極貢獻社會方面也很有價值。通過反思這些教訓，學生可以更好地應對自己的人生旅程，從過去的經驗中學習，以建立更美好的未來。