Are those stories about Mary abusive to Abraham overstated???

[RJNorton]

Thank you Rob and Scott for your input. Another factor I thought of may have occupied Lincoln's mind at this time. The Pomeroy Circular had just come out, and possibly Lincoln's mind was on that, and he was simply void of motivation to prepare a speech for the opening of the Patent Office Fair. This is just speculation on my part, but I think an outside possibility anyway. (Yes, I realize Lincoln was under the assumption he would not have to speak.)