As the winter wore away, and the time for Lincoln’s inauguration as President drew near, he began making preparation for leaving the familiar scenes where his life had thus far been spent.  Early in February he made a parting visit to his relatives in Coles County, to whom in this hour of grave trial and anxiety his heart turned with fresh yearning.  He spent a night at Charleston, where his cousin Dennis Hanks, and Mrs. Colonel Chapman, a daughter of Dennis, resided.  We are told that “the people crowded by hundreds to see him; and he was serenaded by ’both the string and brass bands of the town, but declined making a speech.”  The following morning he passed on to Farmington, to the home of his beloved step-mother, who was living with her daughter, Mrs. Moore.  Mr. Lamon relates that “the meeting between him and the old lady was of a most affectionate and tender character.  She fondled him as her own ‘Abe,’ and he her as his own mother.  Then Lincoln and Colonel Chapman drove to the house of John Hall, who lived on the old ’Lincoln farm’ where Abe split the celebrated rails and fenced in the little clearing in 1830.  Thence they went to the spot where Lincoln’s father was buried.  The grave was unmarked and utterly neglected.  Lincoln said he wanted to ‘have it enclosed, and a suitable tombstone erected,’” and gave the necessary instructions for this purpose.  “We then returned,” says Colonel Chapman, “to Farmington, where we found a large crowd of citizens—­nearly all old acquaintances—­waiting to see him.  His reception was very enthusiastic, and seemed to gratify him very much.  After taking dinner at his stepsister’s (Mrs. Moore’s), he returned to Charleston.  Our conversation during the trip was mostly concerning family affairs.  On the way down to Farmington Mr. Lincoln spoke to me of his step-mother in the most affectionate manner; said she had been his best friend, and that no son could love a mother more than he loved her.  He also told me of the condition of his father’s family at the time he married his step-mother, and of the change she made in the family, and of the encouragement he had received from her....  He spoke of his father, and related some amusing incidents of the bull-dog’s biting the old man on his return from New Orleans; of the old man’s escape, when a boy, from an Indian who was shot by his uncle Mordecai, etc.  He spoke of his uncle Mordecai as being a man of very great natural gifts.  At Charleston we found the house crowded by people wishing to see him.  The crowd finally became so great that it was decided to hold a public reception at the Town Hall that evening at seven o’clock; until then Lincoln wished to be left with relatives and friends.  At the Town Hall large numbers of people from the town and surrounding country, irrespective of party, called to see him.  His reception by his old acquaintances was very gratifying to him.”