Inscription in the Autograph Album of Mary Delahay1Jump to section
With pleasure I write my name in your Album. Ere long some younger man will be more happy to confer his name upon you.
Dont allow it, Mary, until fully assured that he is worthy of the happiness. Dec. 7- 1859 Your friend A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ADS, ORB. Mary was the daughter of Lincoln's old friend Mark W. Delahay, in whose home he had been a guest during his stay at Leavenworth, Kansas. The inscription was written on the day of his departure for Springfield.