words

[RJNorton]

What is the source that Tarbell uses?

Although this sounds like something Mary may have written, I believe the actual source is not in writing. It came out of a conversation Mary had with Isaac Arnold in October 1874. Arnold then included what Mary told him in his Lincoln biography. I have a paperback reprint of Arnold's book, and the quote and footnote are on p. 435. Mary told Arnold that the quote came during a carriage ride the Lincolns took along the banks of the James River. This was during the visit to City Point. During the carriage ride the couple came upon an old country graveyard, shaded with trees. The Lincolns disembarked from the carriage and walked through the quiet graveyard. During this walk Lincoln spoke the words Kees asked about. Tarbell credited Arnold's account as the source in her book.