I incline to think
it probable that your nerves will fail you occasionally for a
while; but once you get them firmly guarded now, that trouble
is over forever. I think, if I were you, in case my mind
were not exactly right, I would avoid being idle. I
would immediately engage in some business or go to making
preparations for it, which would be the same thing."
Mr. Speed's marriage occurred in February, and to the letter
announcing it Lincoln replied:
"I tell you, Speed, our forebodings (for which you and I are
peculiar) are all the worst sort of nonsense. I fancied, from
the time I received your letter of Saturday, that the one of
Wednesday was never to come, and yet it did come, and what
is more, it is perfectly clear, both from its tone and
handwriting, that you were much happier, or, if you think the
term preferable, less miserable, when you wrote it than when
you wrote the last one before. You had so obviously improved
at the very time I so much fancied you would have grown worse.
You say that something indescribably horrible and alarming
still haunts you. You will not say that three months from
now, I will venture. When your nerves once get steady now,
the whole trouble will be over forever.
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