Mary Lincoln could be as tightfisted as her husband was generous. Herndon maintained that Lincoln could “never say ‘No’ to any one who puts up a poor mouth, but will hand out the last dollar he has, sometimes when he needs it himself, and needs it badly.” The Lincolns quarreled about the wages of servants, including a young woman who wanted a raise from $1.25 per week to $1.50. Mary refused, telling the girl to leave if she could not accept the smaller salary. Lincoln very much wanted the servant to stay, so when he failed to persuade Mary, he tried to make a clandestine deal with the girl to feign accepting the $1.25 on the condition that he would surreptitiously make up the difference. Mary overheard this and barged in, exclaiming, “What are you doing—I heard Some Conversation—Couldn’t understand it—I’m not going to be deceived—Miss[,] you Can leave[,] and as for you Mr L[,] I’d be ashamed of myself.’ ” Lincoln himself hired Margaret Ryan, promising her a 75¢ bonus and instructing her “not to fuss with Mrs. L.”
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃