Herndon Remembers Lincoln

William H. Herndon, Abraham Lincoln's last law partner and future biographer, described Lincoln's changing moods at the office: "First Mr. Lincoln would come down to the office about 8 a.m., sometimes in a good-natured, cheerful mood, speak pleasantly, tell a good story, and thus he would continue till twelve o'clock; about 2 p.m. he would return to the office, on the same day, in a sad, terribly gloomy state, pick up a pen, sit down by the table, and write a moment of two, and then become abstracted and wholly absorbed on some question; he would often put his chin in the palm of his left hand. I have often watched Mr. Lincoln in this state while he was lost in the world of his thoughts, gazing in the distance."

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