Things Lincoln never said

[L Verge]

Ninabeth,

I haven't met you or talked with you, but I like you already! I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Mary - from childhood on. It was tragic to lose a mother, not like a stepmother, be educated in the world of men's politics and then not allowed to use the knowledge, grow accustomed to the better things in life and then step down to a lower economic level as a young wife, be shunned by men and women of the "social life of Washington," recognized for extravagance but not for visiting the wounded and sick soldiers, etc. We won't even touch the loss of children and a husband.

Touching on the extravagance, one of the books I read (maybe Crowns of Thorns and Glory) suggested that merchants in D.C. and on her excursions to New York appeared to shower her with "gifts" as First Lady of the Land, but then send bills for these gifts. Has anyone any knowledge of this?