Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd Lincoln, March 4, 1860

Exeter, N. H. March 4. 1860

 

Dear Wife:

When I wrote you before I was just starting on a little speech-making tour, taking the boys with me-- On Thursday they went with me to Concord, where I spoke in day-light, and back to Manchester where I spoke at night-- Friday we came down to Lawrence -- the place of the Pemberton Mill  tragedy --where we remained four hours awaiting the train back to Exeter-- When it came, we went upon it to Exeter where the boys got off, and I went on to Dover and spoke there Friday evening-- Saturday I came back to Exeter, reaching here about noon, and finding the boys all right, having caught up with their lessons-- Bob had a letter from you saying Willie and Taddy were very sick the Saturday night after I left-- Having no despatch from you, and having one from Springfield, of Wednesday, from Mr. Fitzhugh,  saying nothing about our family, I trust the dear little fellows are well again--

This is Sunday morning; and according to Bob's orders, I am to go to church once to-day-- Tomorrow I bid farewell to the boys, go to Hartford, Conn. and speak there in the evening; Tuesday at Menden,  Wednesday at New-Haven -- and Thursday at Woonsocket, R. I-- Then I start home, and think I will not stop-- I may be delayed in New-York City an hour or two-- I have been unable to escape this toil-- If I had foreseen it I think I would not have come East at all. The speech at New-York, being within my calculation before I started, went off passably well, and gave me no trouble whatever. The difficulty was to make nine others, before reading audiences, who have already seen all my ideas in print--

If the trains do not lie over Sunday, of which I do not know, I hope to be home to-morrow week-- Once started I shall come as quick as possible--

Kiss the dear boys for Father--

Affectionately

A. Lincoln