IN THESE DAYS - ONE HAS TO LOOK AHEAD

(One just never knows what lies ahead) Now that's a common
 saying I have often heard. And, who hasn't?   NOTE: The following essay on
 Abraham Lincoln is almost totally made up . . . other than Lincoln was assassinated
 on the 15th of April. (A true thing includes inventing the floating dry dock.)
                                        ).

                            *   *   *   *   *   *

    An Envelope Belonging to Abraham Lincoln?

 April, 3, 2011

 Dear Keepers of Official U.S. Documents, 

 I believe I have uncovered something of historic value and that it should
 be archived somewhere in Washington, DC. I can't believe what I am
 about to share with you.

 I found a very old envelope in a side pocked of an ancient storage trunk in
 Wanamingo, Minnesota.  I almost paid no heed to it. On the front of the
 envelope was a "to do" list which, at first, didn't catch my eye. That was . . .
 until I read it! 

 Does what I found have any value? What should I do with it?

 Respectfully submitted, 

         Clem J. Nagel

                              (The "To Do" List)
            
                                        To Do Soon
                         -Finish the speech of Gettysburg
                         -Give more thought to the idea of a floating dry dock
                         -Empty garbage as soon as I get home
                         -    ?  ?     (I was unable to decipher the 4th entry)
                         -Decide what to do about the problem in Mankato, Minnesota.

 What really triggered things for me were the words "Gettysburg", "dry dock"*, and
 "Mankato." It could only mean one thing. Abraham Lincoln must have scribbled the
 list on the envelope while somewhere away from home.

                        *(Note: This part about the dry dock is true). On 5/22/1849, Lincoln
                          received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift boats over shoals. It was
                          an invention that never got manufactured.

 I then turned the envelope over and couldn't believe my eyes!  Whoever had written
 on the backside of the envelope was obviously confused in trying to come up with
 a phrase to begin some kind of a speech. There were crossed out words, here and there
 notations in parentheses, comments clearly added by someone else who must have
 known the writer. Just who was that ghost-writer traveling with Lincoln at the time?
 His wife? . . . or someone else? Mysteries abound! Fascinating, to say the least.

             (THE WRITING FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE ENVELOPE)

                                          The Talk at Gettysburg
                                  (years?)
                   Fourscore and seven days ago  (three score and 27 years ago?) our country . . . 
                   2 x 2 score and (fore?) four (4) years ago, our country . . . 

                           Abe, that doesn't add up. Just take my word for it!

                   OK.  Just possibly, use "A long time ago?"  (not sure)
                   31,755 days ago, our country . . .

                           Abe, do not use this ! ! !

                    One score, 7 years and 21,900 days ago, our country . . .

                           Abe Dear, keep it simple! Just use 87, believe me!  Love,  Mary

                     87 years ago (or maybe, just fourscore and seven years ago?) I'll have to
                     give it more consideration . . .

     It's a little early, but need to check with Mary to see if those tickets for the
                     theatre have arrived yet?