AN EXTRAORDINARY COUPLE: ABRAHAM AND MARY TODD LINCOLN
by Heather S. French
for grades 5-6
This story is an account of the courting time and marriage of Abraham Lincon and Mary Todd Lincoln. It is told from the viewpoint of Mary Todd Lincon's sister, Elizabeth Todd Edwards.
The story of my younger sister, Mary, and her husband, Abraham Lincoln, is a very interesting one. It all started in 1840, when I invited Mary to come live with my husband, Ninian, and myself in Springfield, Illinois. Abe used to come over and visit with us frequently, and for some reason, the visits became even more frequent after he met Mary.
Mary was a beautiful girl, who had the brains to go along with her good looks. She was well-educated and could speak both English and French fluently. Mary was very interested in frill, and knew more about cosmetics and the clothing of that day than any other girl that I've ever met. And what's more, she was a very ambitious girl and knew exactly what she wanted. I remember when we were little girls growing up in Kentucky, mary used to insist that it was her destiny to be married to a President. She never let go of that dream.
At one of our parties in Springfield, she met Abe, who told her that he wanted to dance with her. Although she wasn't impressed with his dancing, she told me later that she had her eye on him, as well as on another guest, Mr. Stephen Arnold Douglas. Mr. Douglas had a body opposite that of Abe, who was tall and skinny. The stout Mr. Douglas was a lawyer from Vermont. Abe and Mr. Douglas had actually held many debates over various issues. When I asked Mary which one she was going to marry, she said,"The one who has the best chance of being President."
By that fall, it was pretty much a known fact that Abe and Mary were engaged. It was apparent that they both had doubts about the marriage, but this did not stop them from pursuing it. Mary was interested in Abe's politics, and started to support the Republican's views in the local newspaper. She almost got Abe in trouble one time when she wrote an anonymous letter which ridiculed Mr. James Shields, who was the Auditor of the State of Illinois. Abe took responsibility for the letters and Shields was so angry he challenged Abe to a duel. Since the choice of weapons belonged to Abe, he said,"How about cow-dung at five paces?" Abe was always coming up with funny lines! Well, Mr. Shields ended up just leaving without any fight. This suited Abe just fine since he never was one to fight.
Things went on this way with Abe and Mary for about two years before they got married on November 4, 1842. After their wedding, we all thought they'd move into a nice big house, but they started out at the Globe Tavern, where they only had to pay four dollars a week for room and board. These humble quarters sure didn't hinder their hospitality though. They were always a very generous couple, and everyone loved them both.
**The primary source for this story was The Humorous Mr. Lincoln by Keith W. Jennison.
Suggested Props: Pictures of the different characters, clothing from those days, an old newspaper
Worksheet "An Extraordinary Couple: Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln" by Heather S. French
Questions:
1. In what year did Abraham Lincoln meet Mary Todd?
2. How do we know that Mary never let go of her dream to marry a President?
3. What did Abe and Mary do together the first time they met?
4. How did Mary almost get Abe in a lot of trouble?
5. Who got mad at Abe and challenged him to a duel?
6. From the story, infer whaat kind of a home Abe and Mary lived in after they were married.
Answers:
1. 1840
2. She married Abraham Lincoln, who became President.
3. danced
4. She wrote a letter that offended James Shields.
5. James Shields.
6. small, not very nice or fancy
Outline
I. Sister telling story
A. Mary moves in
B. Abe visits more
II. Mary
A. Beatiful
B. Smart
C. Ambitious
D. Wanted to marry a President
III. Abe meets Mary
A. They dance at the party
B. Mary sees Stephen Douglas
IV. Abe and Mary are engaged
A. Mary writes letter
B. Duel with Shields
V. Abe and Mary get married