In January 1861, after her husband’s election, Mary Lincoln went on a trip East. As she made her way through Buffalo and Cleveland, she basked in the attention given a new First Lady — and the gifts.
One of her gifts was an ornate sewing machine with a richly silver-plated solid rosewood case inlaid with pearl. Similar machines were owned by British and Russian duchesses.
She was enjoying herself so much that Mary arrived back in Illinois later than expected. Her husband’s political friends may have been glad she was gone, but he wasn’t.
He went to meet incoming trains two days in a row before his wife finally arrived on January 25.
Source: Mrs. Lincoln: A Life by Catherine Clinton