s
paper publishing such an article. * * * Pray for me, dear Lizzie, for I
am very miserable and broken-hearted. Since writing this, I have just
received a letter from Mr. Keyes, begging and pleading with me to allow
them to use my name for donations. I think I will consent. * *

"Truly yours,
M. L."

"CHICAGO, Sunday, Oct. 13.

"MY DEAR LIZZIE:--I am greatly disappointed, having only received one
letter from you since we parted, which was dated the day after. Day
after day I sent to Mrs. F. for letters. After your promise of writing
to me every other day, I can scarcely understand it. I hope to-morrow
will bring me a letter from you. How much I miss you cannot be
expressed. I hope you have arrived safely in Washington, and will tell
me everything. * * * Was there ever such cruel newspaper abuse lavished
upon an unoffending woman as has been showered upon my devoted head? The
people of this ungrateful country are like the 'dogs in the manger;'
will neither do anything themselves, nor allow me to improve my own
condition. What a Government we have! All their abuse lavished upon me
only lowers themselves in the estimation of all true-hearted people. The
Springfield _Journal_ had an editorial a few days since, with the
important information that Mrs. Lincoln had been known to be _deranged_
for years, and should be _pitied_ for all her _strange acts_. I should
have been _all right_ if I had allowed _them_ to take possession of the
White House. In the comfortable stealings by contracts from the
Government, these low creatures are allowed to hurl their malicious
wrath at me, with no one to defend me or protect me, if I should starve.
These people injure themselves far more than they could do me, by their
lies and villany. Their aim is to prevent my goods being sold, or
anything being done for me. _In this_, I very much fear, they have
succeeded.

"Write me, my dear friend, your candid opinion about everything. I
wished to be made better off, quite as much to improve your condition as
well as for myself. * * * Two weeks ago, dear Lizzie, we were in that
_den_ of discomfort and dirt. _Now_ we are far asunder. Every other day,
for the past week, I have had a chill, brought on by excitement and
suffering of mind. In the midst of it I have moved into my winter
quarters, and am now very comfortably situated. My parlor and bedroom
are very sweetly furnished. I am lodged in a handsome house, a very
kind, good, _quiet_ fam