Poem by George W. Wren to Mary White

Poem by George W. Wren to Mary White

John Wilkes Booth writes a poem for Miss Mary C. White of Richmond, Virginia. Booth's poem of two four-line stanzas is an acrostic spelling of "Mary & John". White's Forget-Me-Not Album is made of hand-painted and gilt-decorated boards, with small mother-of-pearl inlays. The album contains additional entries by other members of the Marshall Theatre Company of Richmond, including Samuel K. Chester, whom Booth later invited to join his plot against Lincoln, and W.H. Caskie, an officer of the Richmond Grays, a group to which Booth also belonged.

Booth, John Wilkes; Chester, Samuel K.; Caskie, W.H.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

1860-02-18

pdf

en

300542

T1860.02.18-JWB

Miss Mary C. White

Richmond. Va. December 10th 1859

[illegible marks]

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FORGET ME NOT ALBUM.

NEW YORK

PUBLISHED BY LEAVITT & ALLEN

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Miss White --

"May you be blessed with all that Heaven can send, Long life, long youth, long pleasure & a friend"

Is the sincere wish of your friend

W. H. Caskie

Richmond Decr. 10th 1859

May

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Miss White.

May all good angels guard & bless thee. And from thy heart remove all care. Remember you should ne're distrest be. Youth & hope, can crush dispare.

+

Joy can be found, by all, who seek it. Only be right, the path, we move upon Heaven has marked it: Find & keep it Ne're forget the wish of -- John.

Richmond Feb 18th 1860

He who will ever be your friend

J. Wilkes Booth

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Richmond. Va.

Sunday Feb. 19th 1860.

To Miss Mary White.

Parting; my best wish attend you. In the Journey of thy youth. Pray to know and feel the Axiom That in God. is Love and Truth

Geo. W. Wren

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To Mary!

"Thou art a golden sentence writ by thy Maker."

"Fido"

Richmond Virginia

December 10th

Mifs White --

"Thine eyes in Heaven would thro' the airy region stream So bright, That birds would sing and think it were not Night"

December 2d 1859 'Punius

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To Mifs Mary White --

In leaving friends, so dear to you, Parting oft will bring a tear. Think of the adage, ever true, "Though absent,-still to mem'ry dear."

Yours Sincerely

S. K. Chester

Richmond,

February 19th 1860.

Complete

100

20

paper and ink

7 p

21 x 17 cm