your specks_, and what you can't read, just guess at. I
enclose a very poor likeness of Hugh taken last spring; don't
show it to anybody, for I assure you there is scarcely the
faintest resemblance to him now in it.

"N. R. G. M."

I give only a few extracts from the pleasant letter from Miss Maggie
Garland. The reader will observe that she signs herself "Your child,
Mag," an expression of love warmly appreciated by me:

"SEDDES, Dec. 17, 1867.

"So many months have passed, my dear Lizzie, since I was
cheered by a sight of your welcome handwriting, that I must
find out what is the matter, and see if I can't persuade you
to write me a few lines. Whatever comes, 'weal or woe,' you
know I shall always love you, and I have no idea of letting
you forget me; so just make up your mind to write me a nice
long letter, and tell me what you are doing with yourself
this cold weather. I am buried in the wilds of Amherst, and
the cold, chilling blasts of December come whistling around,
and tell us plainly that the reign of the snow-king has begun
in good earnest. Since October I have been teaching for my
cousin, Mr. Claiborne, and although I am very happy, and
every one is so kind to me, I shall not be sorry when the day
comes when I shall shut up school-books forever. None of
'Miss Ann[e]'s' children were cut out for 'school-marms,'
were they, Yiddie? I am sure I was only made to ride in my
carriage, and play on the piano. Don't you think so? * * *
You must write me where you are, so I can stop and see you on
my way North; for you know, dear Lizzie, no one can take your
place in my heart. I expect to spend the Christmas holidays
in Lynchburg. It will be very gay there, and I will be glad
enough to take a good dance. This is a short letter to send
you after such a long silence, but 'tis too cold to write.
Let me hear from you very soon.

"Your child MAG.

"Please write, for I long to hear from you."

CHAPTER XV

THE SECRET HISTORY OF MRS. LINCOLN'S WARDROBE IN NEW YORK

In March, 1867, Mrs. Lincoln wrote to me from Chicago that, as her
income was insufficient to meet her expenses, she would be obliged to
give up her house in the city, and return to boarding. She said that she
had struggled long enough to keep up appearances, and that the mask must
be thrown aside. "I have not the mea