Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Speed, Joshua F. 'Joshua F. Speed to William H. Herndon' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon156.html

that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow —

Such is the recital of the interview you ask — The finishing touch to a portrait by Wilson[ERROR: no link 2:2] was given just after this interview — John Williams[ERROR: no link 3:3] has a copy of it —

There are some traits of character for which Lincoln was peculiar above all men I have ever known — He never forgot any thing espically any personal kindness — As an instance of this When he was in Ky in 1841 he was moody & hypochondriac — He was staying at the house of my Mother — She observed him and one morning when they were alone presented him with a Bible — Years rolled round & he was President — The old lady sent him word that she wanted his Photograph

He sent it with this sentence

"To my very good friend Mrs Lucy G Speed who gave me an Oxford Bible Twenty years ago

A. Lincoln"

It had faded from my Mothers memory — Till she was thus reminded of it — He was not a selfish man — But upon this point you understand him as well as I do —

Your friend &c
J. F. Speed

Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2424 — 26; Huntington Library: LN2408, 2:188 — 93