Authoring, Researching, Reporting and other Work

William Herndon:  Pageant Master of Ceremonies

Welcome to the Lincoln Family Reunion. 
I would like to introduce the folks in our reunion pageant. 
First, I would like to tell you about myself.  I am the partner of Abraham Lincoln in the law office across from the State Capitol.  I have been practicing law with Mr. Lincoln since 1841.  Mr. Lincoln has been practicing law longer than I have, so I am the junior lawyer in the practice.

Abraham and I agree that slavery is an evil, and after much discussion, I think my friend and partner have finally joined in with my feelings.  The problem is that slavery is allowed in our federal Constitution.  It is legal in states where it is allowed.  We both belong to the new Republican Party, and would like to see slavery expansion stopped.

The Lincoln children are very lively, and Abraham (he doesn't like to be called Abe!) just does not make them mind.  They get very loud, and often will disrupt our legal meetings.  He enjoys them so much, that he doesn't say a lot to them.  Mary is much stricter at home.

One other thing about Abraham is that he reads everything aloud.  Every morning he sits on the bench in the office and reads the newspaper from cover to cover out-loud.  I usually run errands during this time.

I really admire and respect Abraham, and enjoy the spirit of his children.  I would now like to take the time to introduce Mr. Lincoln and the members of his family.

First of all, I will take the time to introduce Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln -------

After Mary, we now will meet the Lincoln children.  First is Robert--------

Next is Thomas, or called Tad --------

Eddy is the next of the four sons for you to meet --------

Willie is the last son ---------

Visiting the Lincolns today is Mary's sister, Elizabeth ---------

 

Frances or Fanny, another of Mary's sisters -------

 

Harriet Hanks is a guest in the Lincoln home ----------

Other non-human members of the Lincoln household, are Fido, the family dog ---------

Old Bob, Mr. Lincoln's horse ----------

Now the Todd sisters, Mary, Frances and Elizabeth are in the high society of Springfield.  They would like to demonstrate their use of the "fancy fan" in communicating to others at their big society balls. 

Since, Abraham Lincoln is known as the rail-splitter candidate, we would to have some of his friends from New Salem tell about the process of splitting rails and building a log cabin.

 

The boys liked to play marbles, so we will see a marbles demonstration.

Lastly, at our Reunion/Pageant, we will hear representatives of Abraham Lincoln recite some of his most famous speeches.  They would also like to read his "Farewell Speech" in which we all saw him leave on the train to Washington.