154 years

154 years ago, as Good Friday turned into Holy Saturday, the entire city of Washington stood vigil as Abraham Lincoln lay dying in a bed too small for his body. He lay diagonally on the bed. Even then his feet hung over the edge. Those attending him changed out the pillow beneath his head as each became soaked with his blood. Edwin Stanton sat in the back parlor conducting interviews of eyewitnesses. At one point, he banished “that woman” to the front parlor, and Mary was barred from her husband’s bedside as he died. It is said that her screams could be heard at least a block away. Robert split his time between his parents and was at his father’s side at 7:22am when Abraham released his final breath. Edwin Stanton solemnly declared, “Now he belongs to the ages.”