Lincoln's Promise to His Mother
Poem★★★★While a member of Congress, Abraham Lincoln was once criticized by a friend for his “seeming rudeness in declining to test the rare wines provided by their host.” The friend said to him: ““There is certainly no danger of a man of your years and habits becoming addicted to the use of wine.” “IT mean no disrespect, John,” answered Lincoln, “but I promised my precious mother only a few days be- fore she died that I would never use anything intoxicating as a beverage, and I consider that promise as binding today as it was the day I gave it.”
“But,” the friend continued, “‘there is a great differ- ence between a child surrounded by a rough class of drinkers and a man in a home of refinement.” THE LORD’S SUPPER 255 “A promise is a promise forever,” answered Lincoln, “and when made to a mother, it is doubly binding.”
The point
Abraham Lincoln, as a congressman, refused wine and explained his mother's deathbed promise to abstain. When pressed, he affirmed: 'A promise is a promise forever,' especially to one's mother.