diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:55:56 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:55:56 -0700 |
| commit | 50c4421bfdabf21acda7f3266f255c94c3bc92bf (patch) | |
| tree | 397926ac4440d5b94e2f9c8e34cf1e158f7f3d2e /22925-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '22925-h')
19 files changed, 9071 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22925-h/22925-h.htm b/22925-h/22925-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..61ae292 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/22925-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9071 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln, by Wayne Whipple. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .bbox2 {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 30%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: left;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln, by Wayne Whipple + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln + +Author: Wayne Whipple + +Release Date: October 8, 2007 [EBook #22925] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF YOUNG ABRAHAM LINCOLN *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Front Matter"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/cover.jpg" width="253" height="400" alt="Cover" title="Cover" /> +</td><td align='left'><img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="332" height="375" alt="Abraham Lincoln" title="" /> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<h1>The Story of<br /> +Young Abraham Lincoln</h1> + +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>WAYNE WHIPPLE</h2> + +<div class='center'>Author of The Story of the American Flag, The Story of the<br /> +Liberty Bell, The Story of the White House, The Story<br /> +of Young George Washington, the Story of<br /> +Young Benjamin Franklin, etc.<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +Illustrated<br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +P H I L A D E L P H I A<br /> + +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='center'><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1915, <span class="smcap">by Howard E. Altemus</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1918, <span class="smcap">by Howard E. Altemus</span><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class="smcap"><small>Printed in the<br /> +United States of America</small></span></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class="smcap">Chapter</span></td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Page</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Abraham Lincoln's Forefathers</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Abraham Lincoln's Father and Mother</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_24">24</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Boy Lincoln's Best Teacher</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Learning to Work</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Losing His Mother</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">School Days Now and Then</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Abe and the Neighbors</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Moving to Illinois</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Starting Out for Himself</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Clerking and Working</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Politics, War, Storekeeping, and Studying Law</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Buying and Keeping a Store</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Young Legislator in Love</span>.</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Moving to Springfield</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lincoln & Herndon</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">His Kindness of Heart</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">What Made the Difference Between Abraham Lincoln and His Stepbrother</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How Emancipation Came to Pass</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Glory of Gettysburg</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX.</td><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">No End of a Boy</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_234">234</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI.</td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Lieutenant Tad Lincoln, Patriot</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lincoln From New and Unusual Sources</span></h3> + + +<p>The boy or girl who reads to-day may know +more about the real Lincoln than his own children +knew. The greatest President's son, Robert +Lincoln, discussing a certain incident in their +life in the White House, remarked to the writer, +with a smile full of meaning:</p> + +<p>"I believe you know more about our family +matters than I do!"</p> + +<p>This is because "all the world loves a lover"—and +Abraham Lincoln loved everybody. With +all his brain and brawn, his real greatness was +in his heart. He has been called "the Great-Heart +of the White House," and there is little +doubt that more people have heard about him +than there are who have read of the original +"Great-Heart" in "The Pilgrim's Progress."</p> + +<p>Indeed, it is safe to say that more millions in +the modern world are acquainted with the story +of the rise of Abraham Lincoln from a poorly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +built log cabin to the highest place among "the +seats of the mighty," than are familiar with the +Bible story of Joseph who arose and stood next +to the throne of the Pharaohs.</p> + +<p>Nearly every year, especially since the Lincoln +Centennial, 1909, something new has been +added to the universal knowledge of one of the +greatest, if not <i>the</i> greatest man who ever lived +his life in the world. Not only those who "knew +Lincoln," but many who only "saw him once" or +shook hands with him, have been called upon to +tell what they saw him do or heard him say. So +hearty was his kindness toward everybody that +the most casual remark of his seems to be +charged with deep human affection—"the touch +of Nature" which has made "the whole world +kin" to him.</p> + +<p>He knew just how to sympathize with every +one. The people felt this, without knowing why, +and recognized it in every deed or word or touch, +so that those who have once felt the grasp of his +great warm hand seem to have been drawn into +the strong circuit of "Lincoln fellowship," and +were enabled, as if by "the laying on of hands," +to speak of him ever after with a deep and tender +feeling.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>There are many such people who did not rush +into print with their observations and experiences. +Their Lincoln memories seemed too sacred +to scatter far and wide. Some of them have +yielded, with real reluctance, in relating all for +publication in <span class="smcap">The Story of Young Abraham +Lincoln</span> only because they wished their recollections +to benefit the rising generation.</p> + +<p>Several of these modest folk have shed true +light on important phases and events in Lincoln's +life history. For instance, there has been +much discussion concerning Lincoln's Gettysburg +Address—where was it written, and did he +deliver it from notes?</p> + +<p>Now, fifty years after that great occasion, +comes a distinguished college professor who unconsciously +settles the whole dispute, whether +Lincoln held his notes in his right hand or his +left—if he used them at all!—while making his +immortal "little speech." To a group of veterans +of the Grand Army of the Republic he related, +casually, what he saw while a college student +at Gettysburg, after working his way +through the crowd of fifteen thousand people to +the front of the platform on that memorable +day. From this point of vantage he saw and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +heard everything, and there is no gainsaying the +vivid memories of his first impressions—how the +President held the little pages in both hands +straight down before him, swinging his tall form +to right, to left and to the front again as he emphasized +the now familiar closing words, "<i>of</i> the +people—<i>by</i> the people—<i>for</i> the people—shall not +perish from the earth."</p> + +<p>Such data have been gathered from various +sources and are here given for the first time in a +connected life-story. Several corrections of +stories giving rise to popular misconceptions +have been supplied by Robert, Lincoln's only living +son. One of these is the true version of +"Bob's" losing the only copy of his father's first +inaugural address. Others were furnished by +two aged Illinois friends who were acquainted +with "Abe" before he became famous. One of +these explained, without knowing it, a question +which has puzzled several biographers—how a +young man of Lincoln's shrewd intelligence +could have been guilty of such a misdemeanor, +as captain in the Black Hawk War, as to make it +necessary for his superior officer to deprive him +of his sword for a single day.</p> + +<p>A new story is told by a dear old lady, who did<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +not wish her name given, about herself when she +was a little girl, when a "drove of lawyers riding +the old Eighth Judicial District of Illinois," +came to drink from a famous cold spring on her +father's premises. She described the uncouth +dress of a tall young man, asking her father who +he was, and he replied with a laugh, "Oh, that's +Abe Lincoln."</p> + +<p>One day in their rounds, as the lawyers came +through the front gate, a certain judge, whose +name the narrator refused to divulge, knocked +down with his cane her pet doll, which was leaning +against the fence. The little girl cried over +this contemptuous treatment of her "child."</p> + +<p>Young Lawyer Lincoln, seeing it all, sprang in +and quickly picked up the fallen doll. Brushing +off the dust with his great awkward hand he +said, soothingly, to the wounded little mother-heart:</p> + +<p>"There now, little Black Eyes, don't cry. +Your baby's alive. See, she isn't hurt a bit!"</p> + +<p>That tall young man never looked uncouth to +her after that. It was this same old lady who +told the writer that Lawyer Lincoln wore a new +suit of clothes for the first time on the very day +that he performed the oft-described feat of rescuing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +a helpless hog from a great deep hole in +the road, and plastered his new clothes with mud +to the great merriment of his legal friends. This +well-known incident occurred not far from her +father's place near Paris, Illinois.</p> + +<p>These and many other new and corrected incidents +are now collected for <span class="smcap">The Story Of +Young Abraham Lincoln</span>, in addition to the +best of everything suitable that was known before—as +the highest patriotic service which the +writer can render to the young people of the +United States of America.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span class="smcap">Wayne Whipple</span>.<br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE STORY OF<br /> +YOUNG ABRAHAM LINCOLN</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Abraham Lincoln's Forefathers</span></h3> + + +<p>Lincoln's grandfather, for whom he was +named Abraham, was a distant cousin to Daniel +Boone. The Boones and the Lincolns had intermarried +for generations. The Lincolns were of +good old English stock. When he was President, +Abraham Lincoln, who had never given +much attention to the family pedigree, said that +the history of his family was well described by +a single line in Gray's "Elegy":</p> + +<p>"The short and simple annals of the poor."</p> + +<p>Yet Grandfather Abraham was wealthy for +his day. He accompanied Boone from Virginia +to Kentucky and lost his life there. He had sacrificed +part of his property to the pioneer spirit +within him, and, with the killing of their father, +his family lost the rest. They were "land poor"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +in the wilderness of the "Dark-and-Bloody-Ground"—the +meaning of the Indian name, +"Ken-tuc-kee."</p> + +<p>Grandfather Lincoln had built a solid log +cabin and cleared a field or two around it, near +the Falls of the Ohio, about where Louisville +now stands. But, in the Summer of 1784, the +tragic day dawned upon the Lincolns which has +come to many a pioneer family in Kentucky and +elsewhere. His son Thomas told this story to his +children:</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW INDIANS KILLED "GRANDFATHER LINCOLN"</div> + +<p>"My father—your grandfather, Abraham +Lincoln—come over the mountains from Virginia +with his cousin, Dan'l Boone. He was +rich for them times, as he had property worth +seventeen thousand dollars; but Mr. Boone he +told Father he could make a good deal more +by trappin' and tradin' with the Injuns for valuable +pelts, or fur skins.</p> + +<p>"You know, Dan'l Boone he had lived among +the Injuns. He was a sure shot with the rifle +so's he could beat the redskins at their own game. +They took him a prisoner oncet, and instead of +killin' him, they was about ready to make him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +chief—he pretended all the while as how he'd +like that—when he got away from 'em. He was +such a good fellow that them Injuns admired +his shrewdness, and they let him do about what +he pleased. So he thought they'd let Father +alone.</p> + +<p>"Well, your grandfather was a Quaker, you +see, and believed in treatin' them red devils well—like +William Penn done, you know. He was a +man for peace and quiet, and everything was +goin' smooth with the tribes of what we called +the Beargrass Country, till one day, when he +and my brothers, Mordecai—'Mord' was a big +fellow for his age—and Josiah, a few years +younger—was out in the clearin' with the oxen, +haulin' logs down to the crick. I went along too, +but I didn't help much—for I was only six.</p> + +<p>"Young as I was, I remember what happened +that day like it was only yesterday. It come like +a bolt out of the blue. We see Father drop like +he was shot—for he <i>was</i> shot! Then I heard the +crack of a rifle and I saw a puff of smoke floatin' +out o' the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Injuns!" gasps Mord, and starts on the run +for the house—to get his gun. Josiah, he starts +right off in the opposite direction to the Beargrass<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +fort—we called it a fort, but it was nothin' +but a stockade. The way we boys scattered was +like a brood o' young turkeys, or pa'tridges, +strikin' for cover when the old one is shot. I +knowed I'd ought to run too, but I didn't want +to leave my father layin' there on the ground. +Seemed like I'd ought to woke him up so he +could run too. Yet I didn't feel like touchin' +him. I think I must 'a' knowed he was dead.</p> + +<p>"While I was standin' still, starin' like the +oxen, not knowin' what to do, a big Injun come +out o' the brush, with a big knife in his hand. +I knowed what he was goin' to do—skelp my +father! I braced up to 'im to keep 'im away, +an' he jist laffed at me. I never think what the +devil looks like without seein' that red demon +with his snaky black eyes, grinnin' at me!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />TOM LINCOLN CHASED BY INDIANS</div> + +<p>"He picked me up like I was a baby an set +me on the sawlog, an' was turnin' back to skelp +Father, when—biff!—another gun-crack—and +Mr. Big Indian he drops jist like your grandfather +did, only he wriggles and squirms around, +bitin' the dust—like a big snake for all the +world!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I was standin' there, kind o' dazed, watchin' +another puff o' white smoke, comin' out between +two logs in the side of our house. Then +I knowed 'Mord' had shot my Injun. He had +run in, got the gun down off'n the wall, an' +peekin' out through a crack, he sees that Injun +takin' hold o' me. Waitin' till the ol' demon +turns away, so's not to hit me, 'Mord' he aims +at a silver dangler on Mr. Injun's breast and +makes him drop in his tracks like I said. Your +Uncle 'Mord' he was a sure shot—like Cousin +Dan'l Boone.</p> + +<p>"Then I hears the most blood-curdlin' yells, +and a lot o' red devils jump out o' the bushes +an' come for me brandishin' their tomahawks +an' skelpin' knives. It was like hell broke +loose. They had been watchin' an', of course, +'twas all right to kill Father, but when 'Mord' +killed one o' their bucks, that made a big difference. +I had sense enough left to run for the +house with them Injuns after me. Seemed like +I couldn't run half as fast as usual, but I must +'a' made purty good time, from what 'Mord' an' +Mother said afterward.</p> + +<p>"He said one was ahead o' the rest an' had +his tomahawk raised to brain me with it when—bing!—an'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +'Mord' fetches <i>him</i> down like he +did the fellow that was goin' to skelp Father. +That made the others mad an' they took after +me, but 'Mord' he drops the head one jist when +he's goin' to hit me. But all I knowed at the +time was that them red devils was a-chasin' me, +and I'd got to 'leg it' for dear life!</p> + +<p>"When I gits near enough to the house, I +hears Mother and 'Mord' hollerin' to make me +run faster and go to the door, for Mother had it +open jist wide enough to reach out an' snatch +me in—when the third Injun was stoopin' to +grab me, but 'Mord' makes him bite the dust +like the others.</p> + +<p>"My, but wasn't them Injuns mad! Some +of 'em sneaked around behind the house—they +had to give 'Mord's' gun a wide berth to git +there!—but he could only protect the front—and +was a-settin' fire to our cabin to smoke us out +or roast us alive, jist when the soldiers come +with Josiah from the fort and saved our lives. +Then the Injuns made 'emselves scurce—but +they druv off the oxen and all our other stock.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"MORD" LINCOLN, INDIAN FIGHTER</div> + +<p>"That was the breaking up of our family.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +None of us boys was old enough to take Father's +place, an' Mother she was afraid to live there +alone. Accordin' to the laws o' Virginia—Kentucky +belonged to Virginia then—the oldest son +got all the proputty, so 'Mord' he gets it all. He +was welcome to it too, for he was the only one +of us that could take care of it. 'Mord' he +wasn't satisfied with killin' a few Injuns that +day to revenge Father's death. He made a business +of shootin' 'em on sight—a reg'lar Injun +stalker! He couldn't see that he was jist as +savage as the worst Injun, to murder 'em without +waitin' to see whether Mr. Injun was a +friend or a foe.</p> + +<p>"Oncet when I told 'im there was good an' +bad red men like they wuz good an' bad white +men, he said I might jist as well say 'good <i>devil</i>' +as 'good Injun!' He says 'the only good Injun's +the dead Injun!'</p> + +<p>"Well, the settlers must 'a' 'greed with +'Mord,' for they made him sheriff o' the county—he +was sech a good shot, too—an' they +'lected him to the Legislatur' after Kentucky +come in as a State. He stood high in the county. +Folks didn't mind his shootin' an' Injun or two, +more or less, when he got the chancet. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +all looked on redskins like they was catamounts +an' other pesky varmints.</p> + +<p>"Your grandmother Lincoln an' Josiah an' +me moved over into Washington County, but +she had hard scrabblin' to git a livin'. Josiah +he stayed with her, an' between him an' 'Mord,' +they helped her along, but I had to git out and +scratch for a livin'. From the time I was ten +I was hired out to work for my 'keep,' an' anything +else I could git. I knocked aroun' the +country, doin' this, that an' t'other thing till I +picked up carpenterin' o' Joseph Hanks, a +cousin o' mine, an' there I met his sister Nancy, +an' that's how she come to be your mother—an' +'bout how I come to be your father, too!"</p> + +<p>Little is known today of Mordecai Lincoln, +and there would be less interest in poor Thomas +if he had not become the father of Abraham +Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United +States. Mordecai Lincoln was a joker and humorist. +One who knew him well said of him:</p> + +<p>"He was a man of great drollery, and it would +almost make you laugh to look at him. I never +saw but one other man whose quiet, droll look +excited in me the disposition to laugh, and that +was 'Artemus Ward.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mordecai was quite a story-teller, and in +this Abe resembled his 'Uncle Mord,' as we +called him. He was an honest man, as tender-hearted +as a woman, and to the last degree charitable +and benevolent.</p> + +<p>"Abe Lincoln had a very high opinion of his +uncle, and on one occasion remarked, 'I have +often said that Uncle Mord had run off with all +the talents of the family.'"</p> + +<p>In a letter about his family history, just before +he was nominated for the presidency, Abraham +Lincoln wrote:</p> + +<p>"My parents were both born in Virginia, of +undistinguished families—second families, perhaps +I should say. My mother was of a family +of the name of Hanks. My paternal grandfather, +Abraham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockingham +County, Virginia, to Kentucky about +1781 or 2, where, a year or two later, he was +killed by Indians—not in battle, but by stealth, +when he was laboring to open a farm in the +forest. His ancestors, who were Quakers, went +to Virginia from Berks County, Pennsylvania. +An effort to identify them with the New England +family of the same name ended in nothing +more definite than a similarity of Christian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +names in both families, such as Enoch, Levi, +Mordecai, Solomon, Abraham, and the like.</p> + +<p>"My father, at the death of his father, was but +six years of age; and he grew up, literally without +education."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Abraham Lincoln's Father and Mother</span></h3> + + +<p>While Thomas Lincoln was living with a +farmer and doing odd jobs of carpentering, he +met Nancy Hanks, a tall, slender woman, with +dark skin, dark brown hair and small, deep-set +gray eyes. She had a full forehead, a sharp, +angular face and a sad expression. Yet her disposition +was generally cheerful. For her backwoods +advantages she was considered well educated. +She read well and could write, too. It is +stated that Nancy Hanks taught Thomas Lincoln +to write his own name. Thomas was twenty-eight +and Nancy twenty-three when their wedding +day came. Christopher Columbus Graham, +when almost one hundred years old, gave the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +following description of the marriage feast of +the Lincoln bride and groom:</p> + +<p>"I am one of the two living men who can +prove that Abraham Lincoln, or Linkhorn, as +the family was miscalled, was born in lawful +wedlock, for I saw Thomas Lincoln marry +Nancy Hanks on the 12th day of June, 1806. I +was hunting roots for my medicine and just went +to the wedding to get a good supper and got it.</p> + +<p>"Tom Lincoln was a carpenter, and a good +one for those days, when a cabin was built +mainly with the ax, and not a nail or a bolt or +hinge in it, only leathers and pins to the doors, +and no glass, except in watches and spectacles +and bottles. Tom had the best set of tools in +what was then and is now Washington County.</p> + +<p>"Jesse Head, the good Methodist minister +that married them, was also a carpenter or cabinet +maker by trade, and as he was then a neighbor, +they were good friends.</p> + +<p>"While you pin me down to facts, I will say +that I saw Nancy Hanks Lincoln at her wedding, +a fresh-looking girl, I should say over twenty. +Tom was a respectable mechanic and could +choose, and she was treated with respect.</p> + +<p>"I was at the infare, too, given by John H.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +Parrott, her guardian, and only girls with +money had guardians appointed by the court. +We had bear meat; venison; wild turkey and +ducks' eggs, wild and tame—so common that +you could buy them at two bits a bushel; maple +sugar, swung on a string, to bite off for coffee; +syrup in big gourds, peach and honey; a sheep +that the two families barbecued whole over coals +of wood burned in a pit, and covered with green +boughs to keep the juices in. Our table was of +the puncheons cut from solid logs, and the next +day they were the floor of the new cabin."</p> + +<p>Thomas Lincoln took his bride to live in a +little log cabin in a Kentucky settlement—not a +village or hardly a hamlet—called Elizabethtown. +He evidently thought this place would be +less lonesome for his wife, while he was away +hunting and carpentering, than the lonely farm +he had purchased in Hardin County, about fourteen +miles away. There was so little carpentering +or cabinet making to do that he could make +a better living by farming or hunting. Thomas +was very fond of shooting and as he was a fine +marksman he could provide game for the table, +and other things which are considered luxuries +to-day, such as furs and skins needed for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +primitive wearing apparel of the pioneers. A +daughter was born to the young couple at Elizabethtown, +whom they named Sarah.</p> + +<p>Dennis Hanks, a cousin of Nancy, lived near +the Lincolns in the early days of their married +life, and gave Mrs. Eleanor Atkinson this description +of their early life together:</p> + +<p>"Looks didn't count them days, nohow. It +was stren'th an' work an' daredevil. A lazy +man or a coward was jist pizen, an' a spindlin' +feller had to stay in the settlemints. The +clearin's hadn't no use fur him. Tom was +strong, an' he wasn't lazy nor afeer'd o' nothin', +but he was kind o' shif'less—couldn't git nothin' +ahead, an' didn't keer putickalar. Lots o' them +kind o' fellers in 'arly days, 'druther hunt and +fish, an' I reckon they had their use. They +killed off the varmints an' made it safe fur other +fellers to go into the woods with an ax.</p> + +<p>"When Nancy married Tom he was workin' +in a carpenter shop. It wasn't Tom's fault he +couldn't make a livin' by his trade. Thar was +sca'cely any money in that kentry. Every man +had to do his own tinkerin', an' keep everlastin'ly +at work to git enough to eat. So Tom tuk +up some land. It was mighty ornery land, but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +was the best Tom could git, when he hadn't +much to trade fur it.</p> + +<p>"Pore? We was all pore, them days, but the +Lincolns was porer than anybody. Choppin' +trees an' grubbin' roots an' splittin' rails an' +huntin' an' trappin' didn't leave Tom no time. +It was all he could do to git his fambly enough +to eat and to kiver 'em. Nancy was turrible +ashamed o' the way they lived, but she knowed +Tom was doin' his best, an' she wa'n't the pesterin' +kind. She was purty as a pictur' an' smart +as you'd find 'em anywhere. She could read an' +write. The Hankses was some smarter'n the +Lincolns. Tom thought a heap o' Nancy, an' he +was as good to her as he knowed how. He didn't +drink or swear or play cyards or fight, an' them +was drinkin', cussin', quarrelsome days. Tom +was popylar, an' he could lick a bully if he had +to. He jist couldn't git ahead, somehow."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"NANCY'S BOY BABY"</div> + +<p>Evidently Elizabethtown failed to furnish +Thomas Lincoln a living wage from carpentering, +for he moved with his young wife and his +baby girl to a farm on Nolen Creek, fourteen +miles away. The chief attraction of the so-called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +farm was a fine spring of water bubbling up in +the shade of a small grove. From this spring +the place came to be known as "Rock Spring +Farm." It was a barren spot and the cabin on +it was a rude and primitive sort of home for a +carpenter and joiner to occupy. It contained +but a single room, with only one window and +one door. There was a wide fireplace in the big +chimney which was built outside. But that rude +hut became the home of "the greatest American."</p> + +<p>Abraham Lincoln was born to poverty and +privation, but he was never a pauper. His hardships +were those of many other pioneers, the +wealthiest of whom suffered greater privations +than the poorest laboring man has to endure to-day.</p> + +<p>After his nomination to the presidency, Mr. +Lincoln gave to Mr. Hicks, a portrait painter, +this memorandum of his birth:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I was born February 12, 1809, in +then Hardin County, Kentucky, at a +point within the now county of Larue, a +mile or a mile and a half from where +Hodgen's mill now is. My parents being +dead, and my memory not serving, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +know no means of identifying the precise +locality. It was on Nolen Creek.</p> + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">A. Lincoln.</span><br /></div> +"<span class="smcap">June</span> 14, 1860."<br /> +</div> + +<p>The exact spot was identified after his death, +and the house was found standing many years +later. The logs were removed to Chicago, for +the World's Columbian Exposition, in 1893, and +the cabin was reconstructed and exhibited there +and elsewhere in the United States. The materials +were taken back to their original site, +and a fine marble structure now encloses the +precious relics of the birthplace of "the first +American," as Lowell calls Lincoln in his great +"Commemoration Ode."</p> + +<p>Cousin Dennis Hanks gives the following +quaint description of "Nancy's boy baby," as +reported by Mrs. Eleanor Atkinson in her little +book on "Lincoln's Boyhood."</p> + +<p>"Tom an' Nancy lived on a farm about two +miles from us, when Abe was born. I ricollect +Tom comin' over to our house one cold mornin' +in Feb'uary an' sayin' kind o' slow, 'Nancy's +got a boy baby.'</p> + +<p>"Mother got flustered an' hurried up 'er work<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +to go over to look after the little feller, but I +didn't have nothin' to wait fur, so I cut an' run +the hull two mile to see my new cousin.</p> + +<p>"You bet I was tickled to death. Babies +wasn't as common as blackberries in the woods +o' Kaintucky. Mother come over an' washed him +an' put a yaller flannel petticoat on him, an' +cooked some dried berries with wild honey fur +Nancy, an' slicked things up an' went home. +An' that's all the nuss'n either of 'em got.</p> + +<p>"I rolled up in a b'ar skin an' slep' by the fireplace +that night, so's I could see the little feller +when he cried an' Tom had to get up an' tend +to him. Nancy let me hold him purty soon. +Folks often ask me if Abe was a good lookin' +baby. Well, now, he looked just like any other +baby, at fust—like red cherry pulp squeezed dry. +An' he didn't improve none as he growed older. +Abe never was much fur looks. I ricollect how +Tom joked about Abe's long legs when he was +toddlin' round the cabin. He growed out o' his +clothes faster'n Nancy could make 'em.</p> + +<p>"But he was mighty good comp'ny, solemn as +a papoose, but interested in everything. An' he +always did have fits o' cuttin' up. I've seen him +when he was a little feller, settin' on a stool,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +starin' at a visitor. All of a sudden he'd bu'st +out laughin' fit to kill. If he told us what he +was laughin' at, half the time we couldn't see no +joke.</p> + +<p>"Abe never give Nancy no trouble after he +could walk excep' to keep him in clothes. Most +o' the time he went bar'foot. Ever wear a wet +buckskin glove? Them moccasins wasn't no +putection ag'inst the wet. Birch bark with hickory +bark soles, strapped on over yarn socks, +beat buckskin all holler, fur snow. Abe'n me +got purty handy contrivin' things that way. An' +Abe was right out in the woods about as soon's +he was weaned, fishin' in the creek, settin' traps +fur rabbits an' muskrats, goin' on coon-hunts +with Tom an' me an' the dogs, follerin' up bees +to find bee-trees, an' drappin' corn fur his +pappy. Mighty interestin' life fur a boy, but +thar was a good many chances he wouldn't live +to grow up."</p> + +<p>When little Abe was four years old his father +and mother moved from Rock Spring Farm to +a better place on Knob Creek, a few miles to +the northeast of the farm where he was born.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Boy Lincoln's Best Teacher</span></h3> + + +<p>At Knob Creek the boy began to go to an +"A B C" school. His first teacher was Zachariah +Riney. Of course, there were no regular +schools in the backwoods then. When a man +who "knew enough" happened to come along, +especially if he had nothing else to do, he tried +to teach the children of the pioneers in a poor +log schoolhouse. It is not likely that little Abe +went to school more than a few weeks at this +time, for he never had a year's schooling in his +life. There was another teacher afterward at +Knob Creek—a man named Caleb Hazel. Little +is known of either of these teachers except that +he taught little Abe Lincoln. If their pupil had +not become famous the men and their schools +would never have been mentioned in history.</p> + +<p>An old man, named Austin Gollaher, used to +like to tell of the days when he and little Abe +went to school together. He said:</p> + +<p>"Abe was an unusually bright boy at school,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +and made splendid progress in his studies. Indeed, +he learned faster than any of his schoolmates. +Though so young, he studied very +hard."</p> + +<p>Although Nancy Lincoln insisted on sending +the children to school, when there was any, she +had a large share in Abe's early education, just +as she had taught his father to write his own +name. She told them Bible stories and such +others as she had picked up in her barren, backwoods +life. She and her husband were too religious +to believe in telling their children fairy +tales.</p> + +<p>The best thing of all was the reading of "The +Pilgrim's Progress" during the long Winter +evenings, after the wood was brought in and +Father Tom had set his traps and done his other +work for the night. Nancy's voice was low, with +soft, southern tones and accents. Tom and the +children enjoyed the story of Christian's pilgrimage +from the City of Destruction to the Celestial +City the more because of her love for the +story she was reading to them, as they lay on +bearskin rugs before the blazing fire.</p> + +<p>Abe was only six, but he was a thoughtful +boy. He tried to think of some way to show his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +gratitude to his mother for giving them so much +pleasure. While out gathering sticks and cutting +wood for the big fireplace, a happy thought +came to him—he would cut off some spicewood +branches, hack them up on a log, and secrete +them behind the cabin. Then, when the mother +was ready to read again, and Sarah and the +father were sitting and lying before the fire, he +brought in the hidden branches and threw them +on, a few twigs at a time, to the surprise of the +others. It worked like a charm; the spicewood +boughs not only added to the brightness of the +scene but filled the whole house with the "sweet +smelling savour" of a little boy's love and gratitude.</p> + +<p>No one can fathom the pleasure of that precious +memory throughout those four lives, as the +story of Great Heart and Christiana followed +Christian along the path that "shineth more and +more unto the perfect day." While the father +and sister were delighted with the crackle, sparkle +and pleasant aroma of the bits of spicewood, +as Abe tossed them upon the fire, no one could +appreciate the thoughtful act of the boy so much +as his mother. It would be strange if her eyes +did not fill, as she read to her fascinated family,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +but that was not the sort of thing the fondest +mother could speak of.</p> + +<p>Little did Nancy dream that, in reading to her +son of the devotion of Great Heart to his +charges, she was fostering a spirit in her little +son that would help him make the noble pilgrimage +from their hovel to the highest home in +the land, where another President of the United +States would refer to him as "the Great Heart +of the White House." If any one could have +looked ahead fifty years to see all this, and could +have told Nancy Hanks Lincoln, she would not +have believed it. After her own life of toil and +hardship it would have seemed to her "too good +to be true." But in the centuries following the +humble yet beautiful career of "the Backwoods +Boy" from the hut to the White House, history +keeps the whole world saying with bated breath, +"the half was never told!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />AN OLD MAN'S STORY OF SAVING ABRAHAM +LINCOLN'S LIFE</div> + +<p>Austin Gollaher, grown to manhood, still +living in his old log cabin near the Lincoln +house in Knob Creek nearly twenty years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +after Lincoln's assassination, and gave the following +account of an adventure he had with the +little Lincoln boy:</p> + +<p>"I once saved Lincoln's life. We had been +going to school together one year; but the next +year we had no school, because there were so few +scholars to attend, there being only about twenty +in the school the year before.</p> + +<p>"Consequently Abe and I had not much to do; +but, as we did not go to school and our mothers +were strict with us, we did not get to see each +other very often. One Sunday morning my +mother waked me up early, saying she was going +to see Mrs. Lincoln, and that I could go along. +Glad of the chance, I was soon dressed and ready +to go. After my mother and I got there, Abe and +I played all through the day.</p> + +<p>"While we were wandering up and down the +little stream called Knob Creek, Abe said: 'Right +up there'—pointing to the east—'we saw a covey +of partridges yesterday. Let's go over.' The +stream was too wide for us to jump across. +Finally we saw a foot-log, and decided to try it. +It was narrow, but Abe said, 'Let's coon it.'</p> + +<p>"I went first and reached the other side all +right. Abe went about half way across, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +he got scared and began trembling. I hollered +to him, 'Don't look down nor up nor sideways, +but look right at me and hold on tight!' But he +fell off into the creek, and, as the water was about +seven or eight feet deep (I could not swim, and +neither could Abe), I knew it would do no good +for me to go in after him.</p> + +<p>"So I got a stick—a long water sprout—and +held it out to him. He came up, grabbing with +both hands, and I put the stick into his hands. +He clung to it, and I pulled him out on the bank, +almost dead. I got him by the arms and shook +him well, and then I rolled him on the ground, +when the water poured out of his mouth.</p> + +<p>"He was all right very soon. We promised +each other that we would never tell anybody +about it, and never did for years. I never told +any one of it till after Lincoln was killed."</p> + +<p>Abraham Lincoln's parents were religious in +their simple way. The boy was brought up to +believe in the care of the Father in Heaven over +the affairs of this life. The family attended +camp meetings and preaching services, which +were great events, because few and far between, +in those primitive days. Abe used afterward to +get his playmates together and preach to them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +in a way that sometimes frightened them and +made them cry.</p> + +<p>No doubt young Lincoln learned more that was +useful to him in after life from the wandering +preachers of his day than he did of his teachers +during the few months that he was permitted to +go to school. But his best teacher was his +mother. She would have been proud to have her +boy grow up to be a traveling minister or exhorter, +like Peter Cartwright, "the backwoods +preacher."</p> + +<p>Nancy Hanks Lincoln "builded better than +she knew." She would have been satisfied with +a cabin life for her son. She little knew that by +her own life and teaching she was raising up the +greatest man of his age, and one of the grandest +men in all history, to become the ruler of the +greatest nation that the world has ever seen. She +did her duty by her little boy and he honored her +always during her life and afterward. No wonder +he once exclaimed when he thought of her:</p> + +<p>"All I am or hope to be I owe to my sainted +mother."</p> + +<p>And out of her poor, humble life, that devoted +woman</p> + +<p>"Gave us Lincoln and never knew!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Learning to Work</span></h3> + + +<p>The little Lincoln boy learned to help his +father and mother as soon as he could, picking +berries, dropping seeds and carrying water for +the men to drink. The farm at Knob Creek +seems to have been a little more fertile than the +other two places on which his father had chosen +to live.</p> + +<p>Once while living in the White House, President +Lincoln was asked if he could remember his +"old Kentucky home." He replied with considerable +feeling:</p> + +<p>"I remember that old home very well. Our +farm was composed of three fields. It lay in the +valley, surrounded by high hills and deep gorges. +Sometimes, when there came a big rain in the +hills, the water would come down through the +gorges and spread all over the farm. The last +thing I remember of doing there was one Saturday +afternoon; the other boys planted the corn +in what we called the big field—it contained<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +seven acres—and I dropped the pumpkin seed. +I dropped two seeds in every other row and every +other hill. The next Sunday morning there +came a big rain in the hills—it did not rain a +drop in the valley, but the water, coming through +the gorges, washed the ground, corn, pumpkin +seeds and all, clear off the field!"</p> + +<p>Although this was the last thing Lincoln could +remember doing on that farm, it is not at all +likely that it was the last thing he did there, for +Thomas Lincoln was not the man to plant corn +in a field he was about to leave. (The Lincolns +moved away in the fall.)</p> + +<p>Another baby boy was born at Knob Creek +farm; a puny, pathetic little stranger. When +this baby was about three years old, the father +had to use his skill as a cabinet maker in making +a tiny coffin, and the Lincoln family wept over a +lonely little grave in the wilderness.</p> + +<p>About this time Abe began to learn lessons in +practical patriotism. Once when Mr. Lincoln +was asked what he could remember of the War +of 1812, he replied:</p> + +<p>"Nothing but this: I had been fishing one day +and caught a little fish which I was taking home. +I met a soldier on the road, and, having been told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +at home that we must be good to the soldiers, I +gave him my fish."</p> + +<p>An old man, Major Alexander Sympson, who +lived not far from the Lincolns at this period, +left this description of "a mere spindle of a +boy," in one of his earliest attempts to defend +himself against odds, while waiting at the neighboring +mill while a grist was being ground.</p> + +<p>"He was the shyest, most reticent, most uncouth +and awkward-appearing, homeliest and +worst-dressed of any in the crowd. So superlatively +wretched a butt could not hope to look on +long unmolested. He was attacked one day as he +stood near a tree by a larger boy with others at +his back. But the crowd was greatly astonished +when little Lincoln soundly thrashed the first, +the second, and third boy in succession; and then, +placing his back against the tree, he defied the +whole crowd, and told them they were a lot of +cowards."</p> + +<p>Evidently Father Tom, who enjoyed quite a +reputation as a wrestler, had give the small boy +a few lessons in "the manly art of self-defense."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the little brother and sister were +learning still better things at their mother's +knee, alternately hearing and reading stories<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +from the Bible, "The Pilgrim's Progress," +"Æsop's Fables," "Robinson Crusoe," and +other books, common now, but rare enough in the +backwoods in those days.</p> + +<p>There were hard times, even in the wilderness +of Kentucky, after the War of 1812. Slavery +was spreading, and Thomas and Nancy Lincoln +heartily hated that "relic of barbarism." To +avoid witnessing its wrongs which made it +harder for self-respecting white men to rise +above the class referred to with contempt in the +South as "poor white trash," Tom Lincoln determined +to move farther north and west—and +deeper into the wilds.</p> + +<p>It is sometimes stated that Abraham Lincoln +belonged to the indolent class known as "poor +whites," but this is not true. Shiftless and improvident +though his father was, he had no use +for that class of white slaves, who seemed to fall +even lower than the blacks.</p> + +<p>There was trouble, too, about the title to much +of the land in Kentucky, while Indiana offered +special inducements to settlers in that new territory.</p> + +<p>In his carpenter work, Thomas Lincoln had +learned how to build a flatboat, and had made at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +least one trip to New Orleans on a craft which +he himself had put together. So, when he finally +decided in the fall of 1816 to emigrate to Indiana, +he at once began to build another boat, which he +launched on the Rolling Fork, at the mouth of +Knob Creek, about half a mile from his own +cabin. He traded his farm for what movable +property he could get, and loaded his raft with +that and his carpenter tools. Waving good-bye +to his wife and two children, he floated down the +Rolling Fork, Salt River, and out into the Ohio +River, which proved too rough for his shaky +craft, and it soon went to pieces.</p> + +<p>After fishing up the carpenter tools and most +of his other effects, he put together a crazy raft +which held till he landed at Thompson's Ferry, +Perry County, in Southern Indiana. Here he +unloaded his raft, left his valuables in the care of +a settler named Posey and journeyed on foot +through the woods to find a good location. After +trudging about sixteen miles, blazing a trail, he +found a situation which suited him well enough, +he thought. Then he walked all the way back to +the Kentucky home they were about to leave.</p> + +<p>He found his wife, with Sarah, aged nine, and +Abraham, aged seven, ready to migrate with him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +to a newer wilderness. The last thing Nancy +Lincoln had done before leaving their old home +was to take the brother and sister for a farewell +visit to the grave of "the little boy that died."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />OVER IN INDIANA</div> + +<p>The place the father had selected for their +home was a beautiful spot. They could build +their cabin on a little hill, sloping gently down +on all sides. The soil was excellent, but there +was one serious drawback—there was no water +fit to drink within a mile! Thomas Lincoln had +neglected to observe this most important point +while he was prospecting. His wife, or even little +Abe, would have had more common sense. That +was one reason why Thomas Lincoln, though a +good man, who tried hard enough at times, was +always poor and looked down upon by his thrifty +neighbors.</p> + +<p>Instead of taking his wife and children down +the three streams by boat, as he had gone, the +father borrowed two horses of a neighbor and +"packed through to Posey's," where he had left +his carpenter tools and the other property he +had saved from the wreck of his raft. Abe and +Sarah must have enjoyed the journey, especially<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +camping out every night on the way. The +father's skill as a marksman furnished them +with tempting suppers and breakfasts of wild +game.</p> + +<p>On the horses they packed their bedding and +the cooking utensils they needed while on the +journey, and for use after their arrival at the +new home. This stock was not large, for it consisted +only of "one oven and lid, one skillet and +lid, and some tinware."</p> + +<p>After they came to Posey's, Thomas Lincoln +hired a wagon and loaded it with the effects he +had left there, as well as the bedding and the +cooking things they had brought with them on +the two horses. It was a rough wagon ride, jolting +over stumps, logs, and roots of trees. An +earlier settler had cut out a path for a few miles, +but the rest of the way required many days, for +the father had to cut down trees to make a rough +road wide enough for the wagon to pass. It is +not likely that Abe and Sarah minded the delays, +for children generally enjoy new experiences of +that sort. As for their mother, she was accustomed +to all such hardships; she had learned to +take life as it came and make the best of it.</p> + +<p>Nancy Lincoln needed all her Christian fortitude<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +in that Indiana home—if such a place could +be called a home. At last they reached the +chosen place, in the "fork" made by Little +Pigeon Creek emptying into Big Pigeon Creek, +about a mile and a half from a settlement which +was afterward called Gentryville.</p> + +<p>As it was late in the fall, Thomas Lincoln decided +not to wait to cut down big trees and hew +logs for a cabin, so he built a "half-faced camp," +or shed enclosed on three sides, for his family to +live in that winter. As this shed was made of +saplings and poles, he put an ax in Abe's hands, +and the seven-year-old boy helped his father +build their first "home" in Indiana. It was +Abe's first experience in the work that afterward +made him famous as "the rail splitter." It was +with the ax, as it were, that he hewed his way to +the White House and became President of the +United States.</p> + +<p>Of course, little Abe Lincoln had no idea of the +White House then. He may never have heard of +"the President's Palace," as it used to be called—for +the White House was then a gruesome, +blackened ruin, burned by the British in the War +of 1812. President Madison was living in a +rented house nearby, while the Executive Mansion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +was being restored. The blackened stone +walls, left standing after the fire, were <i>painted +white</i>, and on that account the President's mansion +came to be known as "the White House."</p> + +<p>Little Abe, without a thought of his great future, +was getting ready for it by hacking away +at poles and little trees and helping his father in +the very best way he knew. It was not long, then, +before the "half-faced camp" was ready for his +mother and sister to move into.</p> + +<p>Then there was the water question. Dennis +Hanks afterward said: "Tom Lincoln riddled his +land like a honeycomb" trying to find good +water. In the fall and winter they caught rainwater +or melted snow and strained it, but that +was not very healthful at best. So Abe and Sarah +had to go a mile to a spring and carry all the +water they needed to drink, and, when there had +been no rain for a long time, all the water they +used for cooking and washing had to be brought +from there, too.</p> + +<p>When warmer weather came, after their "long +and dreary winter" of shivering in that poor +shed, the "camp" did not seem so bad. Thomas +Lincoln soon set about building a warmer and +more substantial cabin. Abe was now eight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +years old, and had had some practice in the use +of the ax, so he was able to help his father still +more by cutting and hewing larger logs for the +new cabin. They got it ready for the family to +move into before cold weather set in again.</p> + +<p>They had to make their own furniture also. +The table and chairs were made of "puncheon," +or slabs of wood, with holes bored under each +corner to stick the legs in. Their bedsteads were +poles fitted into holes bored in logs in the walls +of the cabin, and the protruding ends supported +by poles or stakes driven into the ground, for +Tom Lincoln had not yet laid the puncheon floor +of their cabin. Abe's bed was a pile of dry +leaves laid in one corner of the loft to which he +climbed by means of a ladder of pegs driven into +the wall, instead of stairs.</p> + +<p>Their surroundings were such as to delight +the heart of a couple of care-free children. The +forest was filled with oaks, beeches, walnuts and +sugar-maple trees, growing close together and +free from underbrush. Now and then there was +an open glade called a prairie or "lick," where +the wild animals came to drink and disport +themselves. Game was plentiful—deer, bears, +pheasants, wild turkeys, ducks and birds of all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +kinds. This, with Tom Lincoln's passion for +hunting, promised good things for the family to +eat, as well as bearskin rugs for the bare earth +floor, and deerskin curtains for the still open +door and window. There were fish in the +streams and wild fruits and nuts of many kinds +to be found in the woods during the summer and +fall. For a long time the corn for the "corndodgers" +which they baked in the ashes, had to +be ground by pounding, or in primitive hand-mills. +Potatoes were about the only vegetable +raised in large quantities, and pioneer families +often made the whole meal of roasted potatoes. +Once when his father had "asked the blessing" +over an ashy heap of this staple, Abe remarked +that they were "mighty poor blessings!"</p> + +<p>But there were few complaints. They were +all accustomed to that way of living, and they +enjoyed the free and easy life of the forest. +Their only reason for complaint was because +they had been compelled to live in an open shed +all winter, and because there was no floor to +cover the damp ground in their new cabin—no +oiled paper for their one window, and no door +swinging in the single doorway—yet the father +was carpenter and cabinet maker! There is no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +record that Nancy Lincoln, weak and ailing +though she was, demurred even at such needless +privations.</p> + +<p>About the only reference to this period of +their life that has been preserved for us was in +an odd little sketch in which Mr. Lincoln wrote +of himself as "he."</p> + +<p>"A few days before the completion of his +eighth year, in the absence of his father, a flock +of wild turkeys approached the new log cabin, +and Abraham, with a rifle gun, standing inside, +shot through a crack and killed one of them. He +has never since pulled a trigger on any larger +game."</p> + +<p>Though shooting was the principal sport of +the youth and their fathers in Lincoln's younger +days, Abe was too kind to inflict needless suffering +upon any of God's creatures. He had real +religion in his loving heart. Even as a boy he +seemed to know that</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"He prayeth best who loveth best<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">All things both great and small;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">For the dear God that loveth us,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">He made and loveth all."</span><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Losing his Mother</span></h3> + + +<p>In the fall of 1817, when the Lincoln family +had moved from the shed into the rough log +cabin, Thomas and Betsy Sparrow came and occupied +the "darned little half-faced camp," as +Dennis Hanks called it. Betsy Sparrow was +the aunt who had brought up Nancy Hanks, and +she was now a foster-mother to Dennis, her +nephew. Dennis became the constant companion +of the two Lincoln children. He has told +most of the stories that are known of this sad +time in the Lincoln boy's life.</p> + +<p>The two families had lived there for nearly a +year when Thomas and Betsy Sparrow were +both seized with a terrible disease known to the +settlers as the "milk-sick" because it attacked +the cattle. The stricken uncle and aunt died, +early in October, within a few days of each +other. While his wife was ill with the same dread +disease, Thomas Lincoln was at work, cutting +down trees and ripping boards out of the logs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +with a long whipsaw with a handle at each end, +which little Abe had to help him use. It was a +sorrowful task for the young lad, for Abe must +have known that he would soon be helping his +father make his mother's coffin. They buried the +Sparrows under the trees "without benefit of +clergy," for ministers came seldom to that remote +region.</p> + +<p>Nancy Lincoln did not long survive the devoted +aunt and uncle. She had suffered too +much from exposure and privation to recover +her strength when she was seized by the strange +malady. One who was near her during her last +illness wrote, long afterward:</p> + +<p>"She struggled on, day by day, like the patient +Christian woman she was. Abe and his +sister Sarah waited on their mother, and did the +little jobs and errands required of them. There +was no physician nearer than thirty-five miles.</p> + +<p>"The mother knew that she was going to die, +and called the children to her bedside. She was +very weak and the boy and girl leaned over her +while she gave them her dying message. Placing +her feeble hand on little Abe's head, she told +him to be kind and good to his father and sister.</p> + +<p>"'Be good to one another,' she said to them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +both. While expressing her hope that they +might live, as she had taught them to live, in the +love of their kindred and the service of God, +Nancy Hanks Lincoln passed from the miserable +surroundings of her poor life on earth to +the brightness of the Beyond, on the seventh day +after she was taken sick."</p> + +<p>To the motherless boy the thought of his +blessed mother being buried without any religious +service whatever added a keen pang to +the bitterness of his lot. Dennis Hanks once +told how eagerly Abe learned to write:</p> + +<p>"Sometimes he would write with a piece of +charcoal, or the p'int of a burnt stick, on the +fence or floor. We got a little paper at the +country town, and I made ink out of blackberry +juice, briar root and a little copperas in it. It +was black, but the copperas would eat the paper +after a while. I made his first pen out of a turkey-buzzard +feather. We hadn't no geese them +days—to make good pens of goose quills."</p> + +<p>As soon as he was able Abe Lincoln wrote his +first letter. It was addressed to Parson Elkin, +the Baptist preacher, who had sometimes stayed +over night with the family when they lived in +Kentucky, to ask that elder to come and preach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +a sermon over his mother's grave. It had been +a long struggle to learn to write "good enough +for a preacher"—especially for a small boy who +is asking such a favor of a man as "high and +mighty" as a minister of the Gospel seemed to +him.</p> + +<p>It was a heartbroken plea, but the lad did not +realize it. It was a short, straightforward note, +but the good preacher's eyes filled with tears as +he read it.</p> + +<p>The great undertaking was not finished when +the letter was written. The postage was a large +matter for a little boy. It cost sixpence (equal +to twelve-and-a-half cents today) to send a letter +a short distance—up to thirty miles. Some +letters required twenty-five cents—equal to fifty +in modern money. Sometimes, when the sender +could not advance the postage, the receiver had +to pay it before the letter could be opened and +read. On this account letters were almost as +rare and as expensive as telegrams are today. +When the person getting a letter could not pay +the postage, it was returned to the writer, who +had to pay double to get it back.</p> + +<p>In those days one person could annoy another +and put him to expense by writing him and forcing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +him to pay the postage—then when the letter +was opened, it was found to be full of abuse, thus +making a man pay for insults to himself!</p> + +<p>There was a great general who had suffered +in this way, so he made a rule that he would +receive no letters unless the postage was prepaid. +One day there came to his address a long +envelope containing what seemed to be an important +document. But it was not stamped, and +the servant had been instructed not to receive +that kind of mail. So it was returned to the +sender. When it came back it was discovered +that it had been mailed by mistake without a +stamp. That letter announced to General Zachary +Taylor that he had been nominated by a +great convention as candidate for President of +the United States!</p> + +<p>All this seems very strange now that a letter +can be sent around the world for a few cents. +Besides, the mails did not go often and were carried +on horseback. For a long time one half-sick +old man carried the mail on a good-for-nothing +horse, once a week, between New York and +Philadelphia, though they were the largest cities +in the country.</p> + +<p>So it was many months before Abe received an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +answer to his letter. Elder Elkin may have been +away from home on one of the long circuits covered +by pioneer preachers. As the days and +weeks went by without the lad's receiving any +reply he was filled with misgivings lest he had +imposed upon the good man's former friendship.</p> + +<p>At last the answer came and poor Abe's anxiety +was turned to joy. The kind elder not only +said he would come, but he also named the Sunday +when it would be, so that the Lincoln family +could invite all their friends from far and near +to the postponed service—for it often happened +in this new country that the funeral could not +take place for months after the burial.</p> + +<p>It was late in the following Summer, nearly +a year after Nancy's death, that the devoted +minister came. The word had gone out to all +the region round about. It was the religious +event of the season. Hundreds of people of all +ages came from twenty miles around on horseback—a father, +mother and two children on one +horse—also in oxcarts, and on foot. They sat in +groups in the wagons, and on the green grass, as +at the feeding of the multitudes in the time of +the Christ. But these people brought their own +refreshments as if it were a picnic.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> + +<p>They talked together in low, solemn tones +while waiting for the poor little funeral procession +to march out from the Lincoln cabin to +the grass-covered grave. Pioneer etiquette required +the formalities of a funeral. Elder Elkin +was followed by the widowed husband, with +Abraham and Sarah and poor Cousin Dennis, +also bereaved of his foster-parents, and now a +member of the Lincoln family.</p> + +<p>There were tender hearts behind those hardened +faces, and tears glistened on the tanned +cheeks of many in that motley assemblage of +eager listeners, while the good elder was paying +the last tribute of earth to the sweet and patient +memory of his departed friend of other days.</p> + +<p>The words of the man of God, telling that assembled +multitude what a lovely and devoted +girl and woman his mother had been, gave sweet +and solemn joy to the soul of the little Lincoln +boy. It was all for her dear sake, and she was, +of all women, worthy of this sacred respect. As +he gazed around on the weeping people, he +thought of the hopes and fears of the months +that had passed since he wrote his first letter +to bring this about.</p> + +<p>"God bless my angel mother!" burst from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +lonely lips—"how glad I am I've learned to +write!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE COMING OF ANOTHER MOTHER</div> + +<p>All that a young girl of twelve could do, assisted +by a willing brother of ten, was done by +Sarah and Abraham Lincoln to make that desolate +cabin a home for their lonesome father, and +for cousin Dennis Hanks, whose young life had +been twice darkened by a double bereavement. +But "what is home without a mother?" +Thomas Lincoln, missing the balance and inspiration +of a patient wife, became more and +more restless, and, after a year, wandered back +again to his former homes and haunts in Kentucky.</p> + +<p>While visiting Elizabethtown he saw a former +sweetheart, the Sally Bush of younger days, +now Mrs. Daniel Johnston, widow of the county +jailer who had recently died, leaving three children +and considerable property, for that time +and place. Thomas renewed his suit and won +the pitying heart of Sarah Johnston, and according +to the story of the county clerk:</p> + +<p>"The next morning, December 2, 1819, I issued +the license, and the same day they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +married, bundled up, and started for home."</p> + +<p>Imagine the glad surprise of the three children +who had been left at home for weeks, when +they saw a smart, covered wagon, drawn by four +horses, driven up before the cabin door one +bright winter day, and their father, active and +alert, spring out and assist a pleasant-looking +woman and three children to alight! Then +they were told that this woman was to be their +mother and they had two more sisters and another +brother!</p> + +<p>To the poor forlorn Lincoln children and their +still more desolate cousin, it seemed too good to +be true. They quickly learned the names of +their new brother and sisters. The Johnston +children were called John, Sarah and Matilda, +so Sarah Lincoln's name was promptly changed +to Nancy for her dead mother, as there were two +Sarahs already in the combined family.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sarah Bush Johnston Lincoln lost no +time in taking poor Abe and Nancy Lincoln to +her great motherly heart, as if they were her +own. They were dirty, for they had been +neglected, ill-used and deserted. She washed +their wasted bodies clean and dressed them in +nice warm clothing provided for her own children,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +till she, as she expressed it, "made them +look more human."</p> + +<p>Dennis Hanks told afterward of the great +difference the stepmother made in their young +lives:</p> + +<p>"In fact, in a few weeks all had changed; and +where everything had been wanting, all was +snug and comfortable. She was a woman of +great energy, of remarkable good sense, very industrious +and saving, also very neat and tidy in +her person and manners. She took an especial +liking for young Abe. Her love for him was +warmly returned, and continued to the day of +his death. But few children love their parents +as he loved his stepmother. She dressed him up +in entire new clothes, and from that time on he +appeared to lead a new life. He was encouraged +by her to study, and a wish on his part was +gratified when it could be done. The two sets of +children got along finely together, as if they all +had been the children of the same parents."</p> + +<p>Dennis also referred to the "large supply of +household goods" the new mother brought with +her:</p> + +<p>"One fine bureau (worth $40), one table, one +set of chairs, one large clothes chest, cooking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +utensils, knives, forks, bedding and other +articles."</p> + +<p>It must have been a glorious day when such a +splendid array of household furniture was carried +into the rude cabin of Thomas Lincoln. +But best of all, the new wife had sufficient tact +and force of will to induce her good-hearted but +shiftless husband to lay a floor, put in a window, +and hang a door to protect his doubled family +from the cold. It was about Christmas time, +and the Lincoln children, as they nestled in +warm beds for the first time in their lives, must +have thanked their second mother from the bottoms +of their grateful hearts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">School Days Now and Then</span></h3> + + +<p>Lincoln once wrote, in a letter to a friend, +about his early teachers in Indiana:</p> + +<p>"He (father) removed from Kentucky to what +is now Spencer County, Indiana, in my eighth +year. We reached our new home about the time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +the State came into the Union. It was a wild +region with many bears and other wild animals +still in the woods. There I grew up. There +were some schools, so-called; but no qualification +was ever required of a teacher beside +readin', writin', and cipherin' to the Rule of +Three (simple proportion). If a straggler supposed +to understand Latin happened to sojourn +in the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a +wizard. There was absolutely nothing to excite +ambition for education."</p> + +<p>Abe's first teacher in Indiana, however, was +Hazel Dorsey. The school house was built of +rough, round logs. The chimney was made of +poles well covered with clay. The windows were +spaces cut in the logs, and covered with greased +paper. But Abe was determined to learn. He +and his sister thought nothing of walking four +miles a day through snow, rain and mud. "Nat" +Grigsby, who afterward married the sister, +spoke in glowing terms of Abe's few school +days:</p> + +<p>"He was always at school early, and attended +to his studies. He lost no time at home, and +when not at work was at his books. He kept up +his studies on Sunday, and carried his books<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +with him to work, so that he might read when +he rested from labor."</p> + +<p>Thomas Lincoln had no use for "eddication," +as he called it. "It will spile the boy," he kept +saying. He—the father—had got along better +without going to school, and why should Abe +have a better education than his father? He +thought Abe's studious habits were due to "pure +laziness, jest to git shet o' workin'." So, whenever +there was the slightest excuse, he took Abe +out of school and set him to work at home or for +one of the neighbors, while he himself went +hunting or loafed about the house.</p> + +<p>This must have been very trying to a boy as +hungry to learn as Abe Lincoln was. His new +mother saw and sympathized with him, and in +her quiet way, managed to get the boy started +to school, for a few weeks at most. For some +reason Hazel Dorsey stopped "keeping" the +school, and there was a long "vacation" for all +the children. But a new man, Andrew Crawford, +came and settled near Gentryville. Having +nothing better to do at first, he was urged to +reopen the school.</p> + +<p>One evening Abe came in from his work and +his stepmother greeted him with:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Another chance for you to go to school."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"That man Crawford that moved in a while +ago is to begin school next week, and two miles +and back every day will be just about enough +for you to walk to keep your legs limber."</p> + +<p>The tactful wife accomplished it somehow and +Abe started off to school with Nancy, and a light +heart. A neighbor described him as he appeared +in Crawford's school, as "long, wiry and +strong, while his big feet and hands, and the +length of his legs and arms, were out of all +proportion to his small trunk and head. His complexion +was swarthy, and his skin shriveled and +yellow even then. He wore low shoes, buckskin +breeches, linsey-woolsey shirt, and a coonskin +cap. The breeches hung close to his legs, but +were far from meeting the tops of his shoes, +exposing 'twelve inches of shinbone, sharp, blue +and narrow.'"</p> + +<p>"Yet," said Nat Grigsby, "he was always in +good health, never sick, and had an excellent constitution."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HELPING KATE ROBY SPELL</div> + +<p>Andrew Crawford must have been an unusual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +man, for he tried to teach "manners" in his +backwoods school! Spelling was considered a +great accomplishment. Abe shone as a speller +in school and at the spelling-matches. One day, +evidently during a period when young Lincoln +was kept from school to do some outside work +for his father, he appeared at the window when +the class in spelling was on the floor. The word +"defied" was given out and several pupils had +misspelled it. Kate Roby, the pretty girl of the +village, was stammering over it. "D-e-f," said +Kate, then she hesitated over the next letter. +Abe pointed to his eye and winked significantly. +The girl took the hint and went on glibly +"i-e-d," and "went up head."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"I DID IT!"</div> + +<p>There was a buck's head nailed over the +school house door. It proved a temptation to +young Lincoln, who was tall enough to reach it +easily. One day the schoolmaster discovered +that one horn was broken and he demanded to +know who had done the damage. There was +silence and a general denial till Abe spoke up +sturdily:</p> + +<p>"I did it. I did not mean to do it, but I hung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +on it—and it broke!" The other boys thought +Abe was foolish to "own up" till he had to—but +that was his way.</p> + +<p>It is doubtful if Abe Lincoln owned an +arithmetic. He had a copybook, made by himself, in +which he entered tables of weights and +measures and "sums" he had to do. Among these +was a specimen of schoolboy doggerel:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Abraham Lincoln,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">His hand and pen,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">He will be good—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But God knows when!"</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>In another place he wrote some solemn +reflections on the value of time:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Time, what an empty vapor 'tis,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And days, how swift they are!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Swift as an Indian arrow—</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Fly on like a shooting star.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">The present moment, just, is here,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Then slides away in haste,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">That we can never say they're ours,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">But only say they're past."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>As he grew older his handwriting improved +and he was often asked to "set copies" for other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +boys to follow. In the book of a boy named +Richardson, he wrote this prophetic couplet:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Good boys who to their books apply<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Will all be great men by and by."</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />A "MOTHER'S BOY"—HIS FOOD AND CLOTHING</div> + +<p>Dennis Hanks related of his young companion: +"As far as food and clothing were concerned, +the boy had plenty—such as it was—'corndodgers,' +bacon and game, some fish and +wild fruits. We had very little wheat flour. +The nearest mill was eighteen miles. A hoss +mill it was, with a plug (old horse) pullin' a +beam around; and Abe used to say his dog could +stand and eat the flour as fast as it was made, +<i>and then be ready for supper!</i></p> + +<p>"For clothing he had jeans. He was grown +before he wore all-wool pants. It was a new +country, and he was a raw boy, rather a bright +and likely lad; but the big world seemed far +ahead of him. We were all slow-goin' folks. +But he had the stuff of greatness in him. He +got his rare sense and sterling principles from +both parents. But Abe's kindliness, humor, +love of humanity, hatred of slavery, all came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +from his mother. I am free to say Abe was a +'mother's boy.'"</p> + +<p>Dennis used to like to tell of Abe's earliest +ventures in the fields of literature: "His first +readin' book was Webster's speller. Then he +got hold of a book—I can't rickilect the name. +It told about a feller, a nigger or suthin', that +sailed a flatboat up to a rock, and the rock was +magnetized and drawed the nails out of his boat, +an' he got a duckin', or drownded, or suthin', I +forget now. (This book, of course, was 'The +Arabian Nights.') Abe would lay on the floor +with a chair under his head, and laugh over +them stories by the hour. I told him they was +likely lies from end to end; but he learned to +read right well in them."</p> + +<p>His stock of books was small, but they were +the right kind—the Bible, "The Pilgrim's Progress," +Æsop's Fables, "Robinson Crusoe," a +history of the United States, and the Statutes +of Indiana. This last was a strange book for a +boy to read, but Abe pored over it as eagerly as +a lad to-day might read "The Three Guardsmen," +or "The Hound of the Baskervilles." +He made notes of what he read with his turkey-buzzard +pen and brier-root ink. If he did not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +have these handy, he would write with a piece of +charcoal or the charred end of a stick, on a +board, or on the under side of a chair or bench. +He used the wooden fire shovel for a slate, shaving +it off clean when both sides were full of figures. +When he got hold of paper enough to +make a copy-book he would go about transferring +his notes from boards, beams, under sides +of the chairs and the table, and from all the +queer places he had put them down, on the spur +of the moment.</p> + +<p>Besides the books he had at hand, he borrowed +all he could get, often walking many miles for +a book, until, as he once told a friend, he "read +through every book he had ever heard of in that +country, for a circuit of fifty miles"—quite a +circulating library!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"THE BEGINNING OF LOVE"</div> + +<p>"The thoughts of youth are long, long +thoughts." It must have been about this time +that the lad had the following experience, which +he himself related to a legal friend, with his +chair tilted back and his knees "cocked +up" in the manner described by Cousin John +Hanks:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Did you ever write out a story in your mind? +I did when I was little codger. One day a wagon +with a lady and two girls and a man broke down +near us, and while they were fixing up, they +cooked in our kitchen. The woman had books +and read us stories, and they were the first of +the kind I ever heard. I took a great fancy to +one of the girls; and when they were gone I +thought of her a good deal, and one day, when +I was sitting out in the sun by the house, I wrote +out a story in my mind.</p> + +<p>"I thought I took my father's horse and followed +the wagon, and finally I found it, and +they were surprised to see me.</p> + +<p>"I talked with the girl and persuaded her to +elope with me; and that night I put her on my +horse and we started off across the prairie. +After several hours we came to a camp; and +when we rode up we found it was one we had +left a few hours before and went in.</p> + +<p>"The next night we tried again, and the same +thing happened—the horse came back to the +same place; and then we concluded we ought not +to elope. I stayed until I had persuaded her +father that he ought to give her to me.</p> + +<p>"I always meant to write that story out and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +publish it, and I began once; but I concluded it +was not much of a story.</p> + +<p>"But I think that was the beginning of love +with me."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW ABE CAME TO OWN WEEMS'S "LIFE OF +WASHINGTON"</div> + +<p>Abe's chief delight, if permitted to do so, was +to lie in the shade of some inviting tree and +read. He liked to lie on his stomach before the +fire at night, and often read as long as this flickering +light lasted. He sometimes took a book +to bed to read as soon as the morning light began +to come through the chinks between the logs beside +his bed. He once placed a book between +the logs to have it handy in the morning, and a +storm came up and soaked it with dirty water +from the "mud-daubed" mortar, plastered between +the logs of the cabin.</p> + +<p>The book happened to be Weems's "Life of +Washington." Abe was in a sad dilemma. +What could he say to the owner of the book, +which he had borrowed from the meanest man +in the neighborhood, Josiah Crawford, who was +so unpopular that he went by the nickname of +"Old Blue Nose"?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + +<p>The only course was to show the angry owner +his precious volume, warped and stained as it +was, and offer to do anything he could to repay +him.</p> + +<p>"Abe," said "Old Blue Nose," with bloodcurdling +friendliness, "bein' as it's you, Abe, I +won't be hard on you. You jest come over and +pull fodder for me, and the book is yours."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Abe, his deep-set eyes twinkling +in spite of himself at the thought of owning +the story of the life of the greatest of heroes, +"how much fodder?"</p> + +<p>"Wal," said old Josiah, "that book's worth +seventy-five cents, at least. You kin earn twenty-five +cents a day—that will make three days. +You come and pull all you can in three days and +you may have the book."</p> + +<p>That was an exorbitant price, even if the book +were new, but Abe was at the old man's mercy. +He realized this, and made the best of a bad bargain. +He cheerfully did the work for a man who +was mean enough to take advantage of his misfortune. +He comforted himself with the +thought that he would be the owner of the +precious "Life of Washington." Long afterward, +in a speech before the New Jersey Legislature,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +on his way to Washington to be inaugurated, +like Washington, as President of the +United States, he referred to this strange book.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE +TRUTH"</div> + +<p>One morning, on his way to work, with an ax +on his shoulder, his stepsister, Matilda Johnston, +though forbidden by her mother to follow +Abe, crept after him, and with a cat-like spring +landed between his shoulders and pressed her +sharp knees into the small of his back.</p> + +<p>Taken unawares, Abe staggered backward +and ax and girl fell to the ground together. The +sharp implement cut her ankle badly, and mischievous +Matilda shrieked with fright and pain +when she saw the blood gushing from the wound. +Young Lincoln tore a sleeve from his shirt to +bandage the gash and bound up the ankle as +well as he could. Then he tried to teach the still +sobbing girl a lesson.</p> + +<p>"'Tilda," he said gently, "I'm surprised. +Why did you disobey mother?"</p> + +<p>Matilda only wept silently, and the lad went +on, "What are you going to tell mother about +it?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell her I did it with the ax," sobbed the +young girl. "That will be the truth, too."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Abe severely, "that's the truth, +but not <i>all</i> the truth. You just tell the whole +truth, 'Tilda, and trust mother for the rest."</p> + +<p>Matilda went limping home and told her +mother the whole story, and the good woman was +so sorry for her that, as the girl told Abe that +evening, "she didn't even scold me."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"BOUNDING A THOUGHT—NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND +WEST"</div> + +<p>Abe sometimes heard things in the simple +conversation of friends that disturbed him because +they seemed beyond his comprehension. +He said of this:</p> + +<p>"I remember how, when a child, I used to get +irritated when any one talked to me in a way I +couldn't understand.</p> + +<p>"I do not think I ever got angry with anything +else in my life; but that always disturbed +my temper—and has ever since.</p> + +<p>"I can remember going to my little bedroom, +after hearing the neighbors talk of an evening +with my father, and spending no small part of +the night walking up and down, trying to make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +out what was the exact meaning of some of +their, to me, dark sayings.</p> + +<p>"I could not sleep, although I tried to, when +I got on such a hunt for an idea; and when I +thought I had got it, I was not satisfied until I +had repeated it over and over, and had put in +language plain enough, as I thought, for any +boy I knew to comprehend.</p> + +<p>"This was a kind of a passion with me, and +it has stuck by me; for I am never easy now +when I am bounding a thought, till I have +bounded it east, and bounded it west, and +bounded it north, and bounded it south."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HIGH PRAISE FROM HIS STEPMOTHER</div> + +<p>Not long before her death, Mr. Herndon, Lincoln's +law partner, called upon Mrs. Sarah Lincoln +to collect material for a "Life of Lincoln" +he was preparing to write. This was the best of +all the things she related of her illustrious stepson:</p> + +<p>"I can say what scarcely one mother in a +thousand can say, Abe never gave me a cross +word or look, and never refused, in fact or appearance, +to do anything I asked him. His +mind and mine seemed to run together.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I had a son, John, who was raised with Abe. +Both were good boys, but I must say, both now +being dead, that Abe was the best boy I ever saw +or expect to see."</p> + +<p>"Charity begins at home"—and so do truth +and honesty. Abraham Lincoln could not have +become so popular all over the world on account +of his honest kindheartedness if he had not been +loyal, obedient and loving toward those at home. +Popularity, also, "begins at home." A mean, +disagreeable, dishonest boy may become a king, +because he was "to the manner born." But only +a good, kind, honest man, considerate of others, +can be elected President of the United States.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Abe and the Neighbors</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />"PREACHING" AGAINST CRUELTY TO ANIMALS</div> + +<p>Nat Grigsby stated once that writing compositions +was not required by Schoolmaster Crawford, +but "Abe took it up on his own account,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +and his first essay was against cruelty to animals.</p> + +<p>The boys of the neighborhood made a practice +of catching terrapins and laying live coals on +their backs. Abe caught a group of them at this +cruel sport one day, and rushed to the relief of +the helpless turtle. Snatching the shingle that +one of the boys was using to handle the coals, he +brushed them off the turtle's shell, and with +angry tears in his eyes, proceeded to use it on +one of the offenders, while he called the rest a +lot of cowards.</p> + +<p>One day his stepbrother, John Johnston, according +to his sister Matilda, "caught a terrapin, +brought it to the place where Abe was +'preaching,' threw it against a tree and crushed +its shell." Abe then preached against cruelty to +animals, contending that "an ant's life is as +sweet to it as ours is to us."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ROUGHLY DISCIPLINED FOR BEING "FORWARD"</div> + +<p>Abe was compelled to leave school on the +slightest pretext to work for the neighbors. He +was so big and strong—attaining his full height +at seventeen—that his services were more in demand +than those of his stepbrother, John Johnston,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +or of Cousin Dennis. Abe was called lazy +because the neighbors shared the idea of +Thomas Lincoln, that his reading and studying +were only a pretext for shirking. Yet he was +never so idle as either Dennis Hanks or John +Johnston, who were permitted to go hunting or +fishing with Tom Lincoln, while Abe stayed out +of school to do the work that one of the three +older men should have done.</p> + +<p>Abe's father was kinder in many ways to his +stepchildren than he was to his own son. This +may have been due to the fact that he did not +wish to be thought "partial" to his own child. +No doubt Abe was "forward." He liked to +take part in any discussion, and sometimes he +broke into the conversation when his opinion +had not been asked. Besides, he got into arguments +with his fellow-laborers, and wasted the +time belonging to his employer.</p> + +<p>One day, according to Dennis, they were all +working together in the field, when a man rode +up on horseback and asked a question. Abe was +the first to mount the fence to answer the +stranger and engage him in conversation. To +teach his son better "manners" in the presence +of his "superiors," Thomas Lincoln struck Abe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +a heavy blow which knocked him backward off +the fence, and silenced him for a time.</p> + +<p>Of course, every one present laughed at Abe's +discomfiture, and the neighbors approved of +Thomas Lincoln's rude act as a matter of discipline. +In their opinion Abe Lincoln was getting +altogether too smart. While they enjoyed +his homely wit and good nature, they did not +like to admit that he was in any way their superior. +A visitor to Springfield, Ill., will +even now find some of Lincoln's old neighbors +eager to say "there were a dozen smarter men +in this city than Lincoln" when he "happened +to get nominated for the presidency!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />SPORTS AND PASTIMES</div> + +<p>Abe was "hail fellow, well met" everywhere. +The women comprehended his true greatness +before the men did so. There was a rough gallantry +about him, which, though lacking in +"polish," was true, "heart-of-oak" politeness. +He wished every one well. His whole life passed +with "malice toward none, with charity for +all."</p> + +<p>When he "went out evenings" Abe Lincoln +took the greatest pains to make everybody comfortable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +and happy. He was sure to bring in the +biggest backlog and make the brightest fire. He +read "the funniest fortunes" for the young +people from the sparks as they flew up the chimney. +He was the best helper in paring the +apples, shelling the corn and cracking the nuts +for the evening's refreshments.</p> + +<p>When he went to spelling school, after the first +few times, he was not allowed to take part in the +spelling match because everybody knew that the +side that "chose first" would get Abe Lincoln +and he always "spelled down." But he went +just the same and had a good time himself if he +could add to the enjoyment of the rest.</p> + +<p>He went swimming, warm evenings, with the +boys, and ran races, jumped and wrestled at +noon-times, which was supposed to be given up +to eating and resting. He was "the life" of the +husking-bee and barn raising, and was always +present, often as a judge because of his humor, +fairness and tact, at horse races. He engaged +heartily in every kind of "manly sport" which +did not entail unnecessary suffering upon helpless +animals.</p> + +<p>Coon hunting, however, was an exception. +The coon was a pest and a plague to the farmer,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +so it should be got rid of. He once told the following +story:</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE LITTLE YELLOW "COON DOG"</div> + +<p>"My father had a little yellow house dog +which invariably gave the alarm if we boys undertook +to slip away unobserved after night had +set in—as we sometimes did—to go coon hunting. +One night my brother, John Johnston, and +I, with the usual complement of boys required +for a successful coon hunt, took the insignificant +little cur with us.</p> + +<p>"We located the coveted coon, killed him, and +then in a sporting vein, sewed the coon skin on +the little dog.</p> + +<p>"It struggled vigorously during the operation +of sewing on, and when released made a bee-line +for home. Some larger dogs on the way, scenting coon, +tracked the little animal home and apparently +mistaking him for a real coon, speedily +demolished him. The next morning, father +found, lying in his yard, the lifeless remains of +yellow 'Joe,' with strong circumstantial evidence, +in the form of fragments of coon skin, +against us.</p> + +<p>"Father was much incensed at his death, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +as John and I, scantily protected from the morning +wind, stood shivering in the doorway, we +felt assured that little yellow Joe would never +again be able to sound the alarm of another +coon hunt."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE "CHIN FLY" AS AN INCENTIVE TO WORK</div> + +<p>While he was President, Mr. Lincoln told +Henry J. Raymond, the founder of the New +York <i>Times</i>, the following story of an experience +he had about this time, while working with +his stepbrother in a cornfield:</p> + +<p>"Raymond," said he, "you were brought up +on a farm, were you not? Then you know what +a 'chin fly' is. My brother and I were plowing +corn once, I driving the horse and he holding +the plow. The horse was lazy, but on one occasion +he rushed across the field so that I, with my +long legs, could scarcely keep pace with him. +On reaching the end of the furrow I found an +enormous chin fly fastened upon the horse and +I knocked it off. My brother asked me what I +did that for. I told him I didn't want the old +horse bitten in that way.</p> + +<p>"'Why,' said my brother,'that's all that +made him go.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now if Mr. Chase (the Secretary of the +Treasury) has a presidential 'chin fly' biting +him, I'm not going to knock it off, if it will only +make his department go."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"OLD BLUE NOSE'S" HIRED MAN</div> + +<p>It seemed to be the "irony of fate" that Abe +should have to work for "Old Blue Nose" as a +farm hand. But the lad liked Mrs. Crawford, +and Lincoln's sister Nancy lived there, at the +same time, as maid-of-all-work. Another attraction, +the Crawford family was rich, in Abe's +eyes, in possessing several books, which he was +glad of the chance to read.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Crawford told many things about young +Lincoln that might otherwise have been lost. +She said "Abe was very polite, in his awkward +way, taking off his hat to me and bowing. He +was a sensitive lad, never coming where he was +not wanted. He was tender and kind—like his +sister.</p> + +<p>"He liked to hang around and gossip and joke +with the women. After he had wasted too much +time this way, he would exclaim:</p> + +<p>"'Well, this won't buy the child a coat,' +and the long-legged hired boy would stride<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +away and catch up with the others."</p> + +<p>One day when he was asked to kill a hog, Abe +answered promptly that he had never done that, +"but if you'll risk the hog, I'll risk myself!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Crawford told also about "going to meeting" +in those primitive days:</p> + +<p>"At that time we thought it nothing to go +eight or ten miles. The ladies did not stop for +the want of a shawl or riding dress, or horses. +In the winter time they would put on their husbands' +old overcoats, wrap up their little ones, +and take two or three of them on their beasts, +while their husbands would walk.</p> + +<p>"In winter time they would hold church in +some of the neighbors' houses. At such times +they were always treated with the utmost kindness; +a basket of apples, or turnips—apples +were scarce in those days—was set out. Sometimes +potatoes were used for a 'treat.' In old +Mr. Linkhorn's (Lincoln's) house a plate of potatoes, +washed and pared nicely, was handed +around."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />FEATS OF STRENGTH</div> + +<p>Meanwhile the boy was growing to tall manhood, +both in body and in mind. The neighbors,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +who failed to mark his mental growth, were +greatly impressed with his physical strength. +The Richardson family, with whom Abe seemed +to have lived as hired man, used to tell marvelous +tales of his prowess, some of which may +have grown somewhat in the telling. Mr. Richardson +declared that the young man could carry +as heavy a load as "three ordinary men." He +saw Abe pick up and walk away with "a chicken +house, made up of poles pinned together, and +covered, that weighed at least six hundred if not +much more."</p> + +<p>When the Richardsons were building their +corn-crib, Abe saw three or four men getting +ready to carry several huge posts or timbers on +"sticks" between them. Watching his chance, +he coolly stepped in, shouldered all the timbers +at once and walked off alone with them, carrying +them to the place desired. He performed +these feats off-hand, smiling down in undisguised +pleasure as the men around him expressed +their amazement. It seemed to appeal +to his sense of humor as well as his desire to help +others out of their difficulties.</p> + +<p>Another neighbor, "old Mr. Wood," said of +Abe: "He could strike, with a maul, a heavier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +blow than any other man. He could sink an ax +deeper into wood than any man I ever saw."</p> + +<p>Dennis Hanks used to tell that if you heard +Abe working in the woods alone, felling trees, +you would think three men, at least, were at +work there—the trees came crashing down so +fast.</p> + +<p>On one occasion <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'afer'">after</ins> he had been threshing +wheat for Mr. Turnham, the farmer-constable +whose "Revised Statutes of Indiana" Abe had +devoured, Lincoln was walking back, late at +night from Gentryville, where he and a number +of cronies had spent the evening. As the youths +were picking their way along the frozen road, +they saw a dark object on the ground by the +roadside. They found it to be an old sot they +knew too well lying there, dead drunk. Lincoln +stopped, and the rest, knowing the tenderness of +his heart, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Aw, let him alone, Abe. 'Twon't do him no +good. He's made his bed, let him lay in it!"</p> + +<p>The rest laughed—for the "bed" was freezing +mud. But Abe could see no humor in the situation. +The man might be run over, or freeze to +death. To abandon any human being in such a +plight seemed too monstrous to him. The other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +young men hurried on in the cold, shrugging +their shoulders and shaking their heads—"Poor +Abe!—he's a hopeless case," and left Lincoln +to do the work of a Good Samaritan alone. He +had no beast on which to carry the dead weight +of the drunken man, whom he vainly tried, +again and again, to arouse to a sense of the +predicament he was in. At last the young man +took up the apparently lifeless body of the mud-covered +man in his strong arms, and carried him +a quarter of a mile to a deserted cabin, where +he made up a fire and warmed and nursed the +old drunkard the rest of that night. Then Abe +gave him "a good talking to," and the unfortunate +man is said to have been so deeply impressed +by the young man's kindness that he +heeded the temperance lecture and never again +risked his life as he had done that night. When +the old man told John Hanks of Abe's Herculean +effort to save him, he added:</p> + +<p>"It was mighty clever in Abe Lincoln to tote +me to a warm fire that cold night."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />IN JONES' STORE</div> + +<p>While Abe was working for the farmers round +about his father's farm he spent many of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +evenings in Jones' grocery "talking politics" +and other things with the men, who also gathered +there. Mr. Jones took a Louisville paper, +which young Lincoln read eagerly. Slavery was +a live political topic then, and Abe soon acquired +quite a reputation as a stump orator.</p> + +<p>As he read the "Indiana Statutes" he was +supposed to "know more law than the constable." +In fact, his taste for the law was so +pronounced at that early age that he went, +sometimes, fifteen miles to Boonville, as a spectator +in the county court. Once he heard a lawyer of +ability, named Breckinridge, defend an accused +murderer there. It was a great plea; the tall +country boy knew it and, pushing through the +crowd, reached out his long, coatless arm to +congratulate the lawyer, who looked at the +awkward youth in amazement and passed on without +acknowledging Abe's compliment. The two +men met again in Washington, more than thirty +years later, under very different circumstances.</p> + +<p>But there were things other than politics +discussed at the country store, and Abe Lincoln +often raised a laugh at the expense of some +braggart or bully. There was "Uncle Jimmy" +Larkins, who posed as the hero of his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +stories. In acknowledgment of Abe's authority +as a judge of horse flesh, "Uncle Jimmy" was +boasting of his horse's superiority in a recent +fox chase. But young Lincoln seemed to pay +no heed. Larkins repeated:</p> + +<p>"Abe, I've got the best horse in the world; +he won the race and never drew a long breath."</p> + +<p>Young Lincoln still appeared not to be paying +attention. "Uncle Jimmy" persisted. He +was bound to make Abe hear. He reiterated:</p> + +<p>"I say, Abe, I have got the best horse in the +world; after all that running he never drew a +long breath."</p> + +<p>"Well, Larkins," drawled young Lincoln, +"why don't you tell us how many <i>short</i> breaths +he drew." The laugh was on the boastful and +discomfited Larkins.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />TRYING TO TEACH ASTRONOMY TO A YOUNG GIRL</div> + +<p>Abe's efforts were not always so well received, +for he was sometimes misunderstood. The +neighbors used to think the Lincoln boy was secretly +in love with Kate Roby, the pretty girl he +had helped out of a dilemma in the spelling class. +Several years after that episode, Abe and Kate +were sitting on a log, about sunset, talking:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Abe," said Kate, "the sun's goin' down."</p> + +<p>"Reckon not," Abe answered, "we're coming +up, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Don't you s'pose I got eyes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know you have; but it's the earth that +goes round. The sun stands as still as a tree. +When we're swung round so we can't see it any +more, the light's cut off and we call it night."</p> + +<p>"What a fool you are, Abe Lincoln!" exclaimed +Kate, who was not to blame for her ignorance, +for astronomy had never been taught in +Crawford's school.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE EARLY DEATH OF SISTER NANCY</div> + +<p>While brother and sister were working for +"Old Blue Nose," Aaron Grigsby, "Nat's" +brother, was "paying attention" to Nancy Lincoln. +They were soon married. Nancy was only +eighteen. When she was nineteen Mrs. Aaron +Grigsby died. Her love for Abe had almost +amounted to idolatry. In some ways she resembled +him. He, in turn, was deeply devoted +to his only sister.</p> + +<p>The family did not stay long at Pigeon Creek +after the loss of Nancy, who was buried, not beside +her mother, but with the Grigsbys in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +churchyard of the old Pigeon Creek meeting-house.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />EARNING HIS FIRST DOLLAR</div> + +<p>Much as Abraham Lincoln had "worked out" +as a hired man, his father kept the money, as he +had a legal right to do, not giving the boy any of +the results of his hard labor, for, strong as he +was, his pay was only twenty-five or thirty cents +a day. Abe accepted this as right and proper. +He never complained of it.</p> + +<p>After he became President, Lincoln told his +Secretary of State the following story of the +first dollar he ever had for his own:</p> + +<p>"Seward," he said, "did you ever hear how I +earned my first dollar?" "No," replied Seward. +"Well," said he, "I was about eighteen years of +age . . . and had constructed a flatboat. . . . +A steamer was going down the river. We have, +you know, no wharves on the western streams, +and the custom was, if passengers were at any +of the landings they had to go out in a boat, the +steamer stopping and taking them on board. I +was contemplating my new boat, and wondering +whether I could make it stronger or improve it +in any part, when two men with trunks came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +down to the shore in carriages, and looking at +the different boats, singled out mine, and asked:</p> + +<p>"'Who owns this?'</p> + +<p>"I answered modestly, 'I do.'</p> + +<p>"'Will you,' said one of them, 'take us and +our trunks out to the steamer?'</p> + +<p>"'Certainly,' said I. I was very glad to have +a chance of earning something, and supposed +that they would give me a couple of 'bits.' The +trunks were put in my boat, the passengers +seated themselves on them, and I sculled them +out to the steamer. They got on board, and I +lifted the trunks and put them on deck. The +steamer was moving away when I called out:</p> + +<p>"'You have forgotten to pay me.'</p> + +<p>"Each of them took from his pocket a silver +half-dollar and threw it on the bottom of my +boat. I could scarcely believe my eyes as I +picked up the money. You may think it was a +very little thing, and in these days it seems to +me like a trifle, but it was a most important incident +in my life. I could scarcely credit that I, a +poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day—that +by honest work I had earned a dollar. I +was a more hopeful and thoughtful boy from +that time."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Moving to Illinois</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />"FOLLOWING THE RIVER"</div> + +<p>Thomas Lincoln had become restless again. +Fourteen years was a long time for him to live +in one place. Abe was seven years old when +they came over from Kentucky, and he was now +nearly twenty-one. During that time Thomas +had lost his wife, Nancy, and his only daughter, +who bore her mother's name. While the land he +had chosen was fertile enough, the want of water +had always been a sad drawback. The desire to +try his fortunes in a newer country had taken +possession of him.</p> + +<p>John Hanks had gone to Illinois, and had +written back that everything was more favorable +there for making a living. Thomas Lincoln +had not been successful in Indiana. His +children's prospects seemed to be against them. +After working as a hired hand on the surrounding +farms, Abe had served for a time as a ferryman, +and, working by the river, had learned to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +build the boat with which he had earned his first +dollar.</p> + +<p>As George Washington longed to go to sea, +Abraham Lincoln seems to have yearned to +"follow the river." He tried to hire out as +deck hand, but his age was against him. He +soon had a chance to go "down river" to New +Orleans, with his friend, Allen Gentry, the son +of the man for whom Gentryville was named. +Allen afterward married Kate Roby. A flatboat +belonging to Allen's father was loaded with +bacon and other farm merchandise for the +southern market. Allen went in charge of the +expedition, and young Lincoln was engaged as +"bow hand." They started in April, 1828. +There was nothing to do but steer the unwieldy +craft with the current. The flatboat was made +to float down stream only. It was to be broken +up at New Orleans and sold for lumber.</p> + +<p>The two young men from Indiana made the +trip without incident until they came to the +plantation of Madame Duchesne, six miles from +Baton Rouge, where they moored their raft for +the night. There they heard the stealthy footsteps +of midnight marauders on board.</p> + +<p>Young Gentry was first aroused. He sprang<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +up and found a gang of lawless negroes on deck, +evidently looking for plunder, and thinking so +many of them could easily cow or handle the two +white men.</p> + +<p>"Bring the guns, Abe!" shouted Allen. +"Shoot them!" Abraham Lincoln was among +them, brandishing a club—they had no guns. +The negroes were frightened not only by the +fierce, commanding form of their tall adversary, +but also by his giant strength. The two white +men routed the whole black crew, but Abraham +Lincoln received a wound in the encounter, and +bore the scar of it to his dying day.</p> + +<p>The trip required about three months, going +and returning, and the two adventurers from +Gentryville came back in June, with good +stories of their experiences to tell in Jones' +store.</p> + +<p>Not long after this Thomas Lincoln, in response +to an urgent invitation from John +Hanks, decided to move to Illinois. It took a +long time, after gathering in the fall crops, for +Thomas Lincoln to have a "vandoo" and sell his +corn and hogs. As for selling his farm, it had +never really belonged to him. He simply turned +it over to Mr. Gentry, who held a mortgage on it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +It was February, 1830, before the pioneer wagon +got under way. The emigrant family consisted +of Thomas Lincoln and Sarah, his wife, Abraham, +and John Johnston; Sarah and Matilda +Johnston were both married, and, with their +husbands, a young man named Hall and Dennis +Hanks, formed the rest of the party. The +women rode with their household goods in a +great covered cart drawn by two yoke of oxen.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />A TRAVELING PEDDLER</div> + +<p>Merchant Jones, for whom Abe had worked +that fall and winter, after his return from New +Orleans, sold the young man a pack of "notions" +to peddle along the road to Illinois. "A +set of knives and forks," related Mr. Jones' +son afterward, "was the largest item on the bill. +The other items were needles, pins, thread, buttons, +and other little domestic necessities. When +the Lincolns reached their new home, Abraham +wrote back to my father stating that he had +doubled his money on his purchases by selling +them along the road. Unfortunately we did not +keep that letter, not thinking how highly we +would prize it afterward."</p> + +<p>In the early days of his presidency, an international<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +problem came before the cabinet which +reminded Mr. Lincoln of an experience he had +on this journey, so he told the several secretaries +this story:</p> + +<p>"The situation just now reminds me of a fix +I got into some thirty years ago when I was +peddling 'notions' on the way from Indiana to +Illinois. I didn't have a large stock, but I +charged large prices and I made money. Perhaps +you don't see what I am driving at.</p> + +<p>"Just before we left Indiana and were crossing +into Illinois we came across a small farmhouse +full of children. These ranged in age +from seventeen years to seventeen months, and +were all in tears. The mother of the family was +red-headed and red-faced, and the whip she held +in her right hand led to the inference that she +had been chastising her brood. The father of +the family, a meek-looking, mild-mannered, tow-headed +chap, was standing at the front door—to +all appearances waiting his turn!</p> + +<p>"I thought there wasn't much use in asking +the head of that house if she wanted any 'notions.' +She was too busy. It was evident that +an insurrection had been in progress, but it was +pretty well quelled when I got there. She saw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +me when I came up, and from her look I thought +she surmised that I intended to interfere. Advancing +to the doorway—roughly pushing her +husband aside—she demanded my business.</p> + +<p>"'Nothing, ma'am,' I answered as gently as +possible. 'I merely dropped in, as I came along, +to see how things were going.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, you needn't wait,' she said in an irritated +way; 'there's trouble here, and lots of it, +too, but I kin manage my own affairs without +the help of outsiders. This is jest a family row, +but I'll teach these brats their places if I hev to +lick the hide off every one of them. I don't do +much talking, but I run this house, an' I don't +want no one sneakin' round tryin' to find out +how I do it either.'</p> + +<p>"That's the case here with us. We must let +the other nations know that we propose to settle +our family row in our own way, an' teach these +brats (the seceding States) their places, and, +like the old woman, we don't want any 'sneakin' +round' by other countries, that would like to find +out how we are going to do it either."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"WINNING A DOG'S GRATITUDE"</div> + +<p>Abe strode along in the mud, driving the four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +oxen much of the time, for the houses he could +visit with his peddler's pack were few and far +between. A dog belonging to one of the family—an +insignificant little cur—fell behind. After +the oxen had floundered through the mud, snow +and ice of a prairie stream, they discovered that +the animal was missing. The other men of the +party thought they could now get rid of the +little nuisance, and even the women were +anxious, as the hour was late, to go on and find a +place to camp for the night. To turn back with +the clumsy ox-team and lumbering emigrant +wagon was out of the question.</p> + +<p>Abraham gave the whip to one of the other +men and turned back to see if he could discern +the dog anywhere. He discovered it running up +and down on the other bank of the river, in +great distress, for the swift current was filled +with floating ice and the poor little creature was +afraid to make the attempt to swim across. +After whistling in vain to encourage the dog to +try if it would, the tender-hearted youth went +to its rescue. Referring to the incident himself +afterward, he said:</p> + +<p>"I could not endure the idea of abandoning +even a dog. Pulling off shoes and socks, I waded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +across the stream and triumphantly returned +with the shivering animal under my arm. His +frantic leaps of joy and other evidences of a +dog's gratitude amply repaid me for all the exposure +I had undergone."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />SPLITTING THE HISTORIC RAILS</div> + +<p>After two weary weeks of floundering through +muddy prairies and jolting over rough forest +roads, now and then fording swollen and dangerous +streams, the Lincolns were met near Decatur, +Illinois, by Cousin John Hanks, and +given a hearty welcome. John had chosen a +spot not far from his own home, and had the +logs all ready to build a cabin for the newcomers. +Besides young Abe, with the strength +of three, there were five men in the party, so +they were able to erect their first home in Illinois +without asking the help of the neighbors, as was +customary for a "raising" of that kind.</p> + +<p>Nicolay and Hay, President Lincoln's private +secretaries, in their great life of their chief, gave +the following account of the splitting of the rails +which afterward became the talk of the civilized +world:</p> + +<p>"Without the assistance of John Hanks he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +plowed fifteen acres, and split, from the tall +walnut trees of the primeval forest, enough rails +to surround them with a fence. Little did +either dream, while engaged in this work, that +the day would come when the appearance of +John Hanks in a public meeting with two of +these rails on his shoulder, would electrify a +State convention, and kindle throughout the +country a contagious and passionate enthusiasm +whose results would reach to endless generations."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Starting Out for Himself</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />HIS FATHER AND HIS "FREEDOM SUIT"</div> + +<p>According to his own account, Abe had made +about thirty dollars as a peddler, besides bearing +the brunt of the labor of the journey, though +there were four grown men in the combined +family. As he had passed his twenty-first birthday +on the road, he really had the right to claim +these profits as his own. His father, who had, +for ten years, exacted Abraham's meager, hard-earned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +wages, should at least have given the boy +a part of that thirty dollars for a "freedom suit" +of clothes, as was the custom then.</p> + +<p>But neither Thomas Lincoln nor his son seems +to have thought of such a thing. Instead of entertaining +resentment, Abraham stayed by, doing +all he could to make his father and stepmother +comfortable before he left them altogether. +Mrs. Lincoln had two daughters and +sons-in-law, besides John Johnston, so Abe +might easily have excused himself from looking +after the welfare of his parents. Though his +father had seemed to favor his stepchildren in +preference to his own son, Mrs. Lincoln had +been "like an own mother to him," and he never +ceased to show his gratitude by being "like an +own son to her."</p> + +<p>The first work Abe did in that neighborhood +was to split a thousand rails for a pair of trousers, +at the rate of four hundred rails per yard +of "brown jeans dyed with walnut bark." The +young man's breeches cost him about four hundred +rails more than they would if he had been +a man of ordinary height.</p> + +<p>But Abraham hovered about, helping clear a +little farm, and making the cabin comfortable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +while he was earning his own "freedom suit." +He saw the spring planting done and that a +garden was made for his stepmother before he +went out of ready reach of the old people.</p> + +<p>One special reason Thomas Lincoln had for +leaving Indiana was to get away from "the +milksick." But the fall of 1830 was a very bad +season in Illinois for chills and fever. The +father and, in fact, nearly the whole family left +at home suffered so much from malaria that they +were thoroughly discouraged. The interior of +their little cabin was a sorry sight—Thomas and +his wife were both afflicted at once, and one married +daughter was almost as ill. They were all so +sick that Thomas Lincoln registered a shaky but +vehement resolve that as soon as they could +travel they would "git out o' thar!" He had +been so determined to move to Illinois that no +persuasion could induce him to give up the project, +therefore his disappointment was the more +keen and bitter.</p> + +<p>The first winter the Lincolns spent in Illinois +was memorable for its severity. It is still +spoken of in that region as "the winter of the +big snow." Cattle and sheep froze to death or +died of exposure and starvation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />BUILDING THE FLATBOAT</div> + +<p>Early in the spring after "the big snow," +John Hanks, Lincoln and John Johnston met +Denton Offutt, a man who was to wield an influence +on the life of young Lincoln. Offutt engaged +the three to take a load of produce and +other merchandise to New Orleans to sell. John +Hanks, the most reliable member of the Hanks +family, gave the following account of the way +he managed to bring Abe and his stepbrother +into the transaction: "He wanted me to go badly +but I waited before answering. I hunted up +Abe, and I introduced him and John Johnston, +his stepbrother, to Offutt. After some talk we +at last made an engagement with Offutt at fifty +cents a day and sixty dollars to make the trip to +New Orleans. Abe and I came down the Sangamon +River in a canoe in March, 1831, and landed +at what is now called Jamestown, five miles east +of Springfield."</p> + +<p>Denton Offutt spent so much time drinking +in a tavern at the village of Springfield that the +flatboat was not ready when the trio arrived to +take it and its cargo down the river. Their employer +met them on their arrival with profuse +apologies, and the three men were engaged to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +build the boat and load it up for the journey.</p> + +<p>During the four weeks required to build the +raft, the men of that neighborhood became acquainted +with young Lincoln. A man named +John Roll has given this description of Abe's +appearance at that time:</p> + +<p>"He was a tall, gaunt young man, dressed in +a suit of blue homespun, consisting of a roundabout +jacket, waistcoat, and breeches which +came to within about three inches of his feet. +The latter were encased in rawhide boots, into +the tops of which, most of the time, his pantaloons +were stuffed. He wore a soft felt hat +which had once been black, but now, as its owner +dryly remarked, 'was sunburned until it was a +combine of colors.'"</p> + +<p>There was a sawmill in Sangamontown, and +it was the custom for the "men folks" of the +neighborhood to assemble near it at noon and in +the evening, and sit on a peeled log which had +been rolled out for the purpose. Young Lincoln +soon joined this group and at once became +a great favorite because of his stories and jokes. +His stories were so funny that "whenever he'd +end 'em up in his unexpected way the boys on +the log would whoop and roll off." In this way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +the log was polished smooth as glass, and came +to be known in the neighborhood as "Abe's +log."</p> + +<p>A traveling juggler came one day while the +boat was building and gave an exhibition in the +house of one of the neighbors. This magician +asked for Abe's hat to cook eggs in. Lincoln +hesitated, but gave this explanation for his delay: +"It was out of respect for the eggs—not +care for my hat!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ABE LINCOLN SAVES THREE LIVES</div> + +<p>While they were at work on the flatboat the +humorous young stranger from Indiana became +the hero of a thrilling adventure, described as +follows by John Roll, who was an eye witness +to the whole scene:</p> + +<p>"It was the spring following 'the winter of +the deep snow.' Walter Carman, John Seamon, +myself, and at times others of the Carman boys, +had helped Abe in building the boat, and when +we had finished we went to work to make a dug-out, +or canoe, to be used as a small boat with the +flat. We found a suitable log about an eighth +of a mile up the river, and with our axes went to +work under Lincoln's direction. The river was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +very high, fairly 'booming.' After the dug-out +was ready to launch we took it to the edge of the +water, and made ready to 'let her go,' when +Walter Carman and John Seamon jumped in as +the boat struck the water, each one anxious to +be the first to get a ride. As they shot out from +the shore they found they were unable to make +any headway against the strong current. Carman +had the paddle, and Seamon was in the +stern of the boat. Lincoln shouted to them to +head up-stream and 'work back to shore,' but +they found themselves powerless against the +stream. At last they began to pull for the wreck +of an old flatboat, the first ever built on the Sangamon, +which had sunk and gone to pieces, leaving +one of the stanchions sticking above the +water. Just as they reached it Seamon made a +grab, and caught hold of the stanchion, when the +canoe capsized, leaving Seamon clinging to the +old timber and throwing Carman into the +stream. It carried him down with the speed of +a mill-race. Lincoln raised his voice above the +roar of the flood, and yelled to Carman to swim +for an elm tree which stood almost in the channel, +which the action of the water had changed.</p> + +<p>"Carman, being a good swimmer, succeeded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +in catching a branch, and pulled himself up out +of the water, which was very cold, and had almost +chilled him to death; and there he sat, shivering +and chattering in the tree.</p> + +<p>"Lincoln, seeing Carman safe, called out to +Seamon to let go the stanchion and swim for the +tree. With some hesitation he obeyed, and +struck out, while Lincoln cheered and directed +him from the bank. As Seamon neared the tree +he made one grab for a branch, and, missing it, +went under the water. Another desperate lunge +was successful, and he climbed up beside Carman.</p> + +<p>"Things were pretty exciting now, for there +were two men in the tree, and the boat gone. It +was a cold, raw April day, and there was great +danger of the men becoming benumbed and falling +back into the water. Lincoln called out to +them to keep their spirits up and he would save +them.</p> + +<p>"The village had been alarmed by this time, +and many people had come down to the bank. +Lincoln procured a rope and tied it to a log. He +called all hands to come and help roll the log into +the water, and, after this had been done, he, with +the assistance of several others, towed it some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +distance up the stream. A daring young fellow +by the name of 'Jim' Dorell then took his seat on +the end of the log, and it was pushed out into the +current, with the expectation that it would be +carried down stream against the tree where Seamon +and Carman were.</p> + +<p>"The log was well directed, and went straight +to the tree; but Jim, in his impatience to help +his friends, fell a victim to his good intentions. +Making a frantic grab at a branch, he raised +himself off the log, which was swept from under +him by the raging waters and he soon joined the +other victims upon their forlorn perch.</p> + +<p>"The excitement on the shore increased, and +almost the whole population of the village gathered +on the river bank. Lincoln had the log +pulled up the stream, and, securing another +piece of rope, called to the men in the tree to +catch it if they could when he should reach the +tree. He then straddled the log himself, and +gave the word to push out into the stream. +When he dashed into the tree he threw the rope +over the stump of a broken limb, and let it play +until he broke the speed of the log, and gradually +drew it back to the tree, holding it there +until the three now nearly frozen men had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +climbed down and seated themselves astride. +He then gave orders to the people on shore to +hold fast to the end of the rope which was tied +to the log, and leaving his rope in the tree he +turned the log adrift. The force of the current, +acting against the taut rope, swung the log +around against the bank and all 'on board' were +saved.</p> + +<p>"The excited people who had watched the +dangerous expedition with alternate hope and +fear, now broke into cheers for Abe Lincoln, +and praises for his brave act. This adventure +made quite a hero of him along the Sangamon, +and the people never tired of telling of the exploit."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"DOWN THE RIVER"</div> + +<p>The launching of that flatboat was made a +feast-day in the neighborhood. Denton Offutt, +its proprietor, was invited to break away from +the "Buckhorn" tavern at Springfield to witness +the ceremonies, which, of course, took a political +turn. There was much speech-making, +but Andrew Jackson and the Whig leaders were +equally praised.</p> + +<p>The boat had been loaded with pork in barrels, +corn, and hogs, and it slid into the Sangamon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +River, then overflowing with the spring "fresh," +with a big splash.</p> + +<p>The three sturdy navigators, accompanied by +Offutt himself, floated away in triumph from +the waving crowd on the bank.</p> + +<p>The first incident in the voyage occurred the +19th of April, at Rutledge's mill dam at New +Salem, where the boat stranded and "hung" +there a day and a night.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW ABE GOT THE FLATBOAT OVER THE DAM</div> + +<p>New Salem was destined to fill an important +place in the life of Abraham Lincoln. One who +became well acquainted with him described him +as the New Salemites first saw him, "wading +round on Rutledge's dam with his trousers +rolled up nine feet, more or less."</p> + +<p>One of the crew gave this account of their +mode of operations to get the stranded raft over +the dam:</p> + +<p>"We unloaded the boat—that is, we transferred +the goods from our boat to a borrowed +one. We then rolled the barrels forward; Lincoln +bored a hole in the end (projecting) over +the dam; the water which had leaked in ran out +then and we slid over."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>Offutt's enthusiasm over Abe's simple method +of surmounting this great obstacle was boundless. +A crowd had gathered on a hillside to +watch Lincoln's operations.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />AN IMPROBABLE PROPHECY</div> + +<p>For the novelty of the thing, John Hanks +claimed to have taken young Lincoln to a +"voodoo" negress. She is said to have become +excited in reading the future of the tall, thin +young man, saying to him, "You will be President, +and all the negroes will be free." This +story probably originated long afterward, when +the strange prophecy had already come true—though +fortune tellers often inform young men +who come to them that they will be Presidents +some day. That such a woman could read the +Emancipation Proclamation in that young +man's future is not at all likely.</p> + +<p>Another story is told of Abraham Lincoln's +second visit to New Orleans that is more probable, +but even this is not certain to have happened +exactly as related. The young northerner +doubtless saw negroes in chains, and his spirit, +like that of his father and mother, rebelled +against this inhumanity. There is little doubt<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +that in such sights, as one of his companions related, +"Slavery ran the iron into him then and there."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"I'LL HIT IT HARD!"</div> + +<p>But the story goes that the three young fellows—Hanks, +Johnston and Lincoln—went wandering +about the city, and passed a slave market, +where a comely young mulatto girl was offered to +the highest bidder. They saw prospective purchasers +examine the weeping girl's teeth, pinch +her flesh and pull her about as they would a cow +or a horse. The whole scene was so revolting that +Lincoln recoiled from it with horror and hatred, +saying to his two companions, "Boys, let's get +away from this. If ever I get a chance to hit that +thing"—meaning slavery—"<i>I'll hit it hard!</i>"</p> + +<p>In June the four men took passage up the river +on a steamboat for the return trip. At St. Louis, +Offutt got off to purchase stock for a store he +proposed to open in New Salem, where he +planned to place young Lincoln in charge.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WRESTLING WITH THE COUNTY CHAMPION</div> + +<p>The other three started on foot to reach their +several homes in Illinois. Abe improved the opportunity +to visit his father's family in Coles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +County, where Thomas Lincoln had removed as +soon as he was able to leave their first Illinois +home near Decatur.</p> + +<p>Abe's reputation as a wrestler had preceded +him and the Coles County Champion, Daniel +Needham, came and challenged the tall visitor +to a friendly contest. Young Lincoln laughingly +accepted and threw Needham twice. The +crestfallen wrestler's pride was deeply hurt, and +he found it hard to give up beaten.</p> + +<p>"Lincoln," said he, "you have thrown me +twice, but you can't whip me."</p> + +<p>Abe laughed again and replied:</p> + +<p>"Needham, are you satisfied that I can throw +you? If you are not, and must be convinced +through a thrashing, I will do that, too—<i>for +your sake!</i>"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Clerking and Working</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />HE COULD "MAKE A FEW RABBIT TRACKS"</div> + +<p>It was in August, 1831, that Abraham Lincoln +appeared in the village of New Salem, Illinois.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +Neither Denton Offutt nor his merchandise +had arrived as promised. While paying +the penalty of the punctual man—by waiting for +the tardy one—he seemed to the villagers to be +loafing. But Abraham Lincoln was no loafer. +He always found something useful and helpful +to do. This time there was a local election, and +one of the clerks had not appeared to perform +his duties. A New Salem woman wrote of Lincoln's +first act in the village:</p> + +<p>"My father, Mentor Graham, was on that day, +as usual, appointed to be a clerk, and Mr. McNamee, +who was to be the other, was sick and +failed to come. They were looking around for +a man to fill his place when my father noticed +Mr. Lincoln and asked if he could write. He +answered that he could 'make a few rabbit +tracks.'"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />PILOTING A FAMILY FLATBOAT</div> + +<p>A few days after the election the young +stranger, who had become known by this time +as the hero of the flatboat on Rutledge's dam +four months before, found employment as a +pilot. A citizen, Dr. Nelson, was about to emigrate +to Texas. The easiest and best mode of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +travel in those days was by flatboat down the +river. He had loaded all his household goods +and movable property on his "private conveyance" +and was looking about for a "driver." +Young Lincoln, still waiting, unemployed, offered +his services and took the Nelson family +down the Sangamon River—a more difficult +task in August than in April, when the water +was high on account of the spring rains. But +the young pilot proceeded cautiously down the +shallow stream, and reached Beardstown, on the +Illinois River, where he was "discharged" and +walked back over the hills to New Salem.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ANNOYED BY THE HIGH PRAISES OF HIS EMPLOYER</div> + +<p>Denton Offutt and his stock for the store arrived +at last, and Lincoln soon had a little store +opened for business. A country store seemed +too small for a clerk of such astounding abilities, +so the too enthusiastic employer bought Cameron's +mill with the dam on which Lincoln had +already distinguished himself, and made the +clerk manager of the whole business.</p> + +<p>This was not enough. Offutt sounded the +praises of the new clerk to all comers. He +claimed that Abraham Lincoln "knew more than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +any man in the United States." As Mr. Offutt +had never shown that he knew enough himself +to prove this statement, the neighbors began to +resent such rash claims. In addition, Offutt +boasted that Abe could "beat the county" running, +jumping and wrestling. Here was something +the new clerk could prove, if true, so his +employer's statement was promptly challenged.</p> + +<p>When a strange man came to the village to +live, even though no one boasted of his prowess, +he was likely to suffer at the hands of the +rougher element of the place. It was a sort of +rude initiation into their society. These ceremonies +were conducted with a savage sense of +humor by a gang of rowdies known as the +"Clary's Grove Boys," of whom the "best +fighter" was Jack Armstrong.</p> + +<p>Sometimes "the Boys" nailed up a stranger +in a hogshead and it was rolled down hill. Sometimes +he was ingeniously insulted, or made to +fight in self-defense, and beaten black and blue +by the whole gang. They seemed not to be +hampered by delicate notions of fair play in +their actions toward a stranger. They "picked +on him," as chickens, dogs and wolves do upon a +newcomer among them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>So when young Lincoln heard his employer +bragging about his brain and brawn he was sufficiently +acquainted with backwoods nature to +know that it boded no good to him. Even then +"he knew how to bide his time," and turned it to +good account, for he had a good chance, shortly +to show the metal that was in him.</p> + +<p>"The Boys" called and began to banter with +the long-legged clerk in the new store. This led +to a challenge and comparison of strength and +prowess between young Lincoln and Jack Armstrong. +Abe accepted the gauntlet with an alacrity +that pleased the crowd, especially the chief +of the bully "Boys," who expected an easy victory. +But Jack was surprised to find that the +stranger was his match—yes, more than his +match. Others of "the Boys" saw this, also, and +began to interfere by tripping Abe and trying to +help their champion by unfair means.</p> + +<p>This made young Lincoln angry. Putting +forth all his strength, he seized Armstrong by +the throat and "nearly choked the exuberant +life out of him." When "the Boys" saw the +stranger shaking their "best fighter" as if he +were a mere child, their enmity gave place to +admiration; and when Abe had thrown Jack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +Armstrong upon the ground, in his wrath, as a +lion would throw a dog that had been set upon +him, and while the strong stranger stood there, +with his back to the wall, challenging the whole +gang, with deep-set eyes blazing with indignation, +they acknowledged him as their conqueror, +and declared that "Abe Lincoln is the cleverest +fellow that ever broke into the settlement."</p> + +<p>The initiation was over, and young Lincoln's +triumph complete. From that day "the Clary's +Grove Boys" were his staunch supporters and +defenders, and his employer was allowed to go +on bragging about his wonderful clerk without +hindrance.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />GIVING ANOTHER BULLY "A DOSE OF SMARTWEED"</div> + +<p>A bumptious stranger came into the store one +day and tried to pick a quarrel with the tall +clerk. To this end he used language offensive to +several women who were there trading. Lincoln +quietly asked the fellow to desist as there +were "ladies present." The bully considered +this an admission that the clerk was afraid of +him, so he began to swear and use more offensive +language than before. As this was too much for +Abraham's patience, he whispered to the fellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +that if he would keep quiet till the ladies went +out, he (Lincoln) would go and "have it out."</p> + +<p>After the women went, the man became violently +abusive. Young Lincoln calmly went outside +with him, saying: "I see you must be +whipped and I suppose I will have to do it." +With this he seized the insolent fellow and made +short work of him. Throwing the man on the +ground, Lincoln sat on him, and, with his long +arms, gathered a handful of "smartweed" which +grew around them. He then rubbed it into the +bully's eyes until he roared with pain. An observer +of this incident said afterward:</p> + +<p>"Lincoln did all this without a particle of +anger, and when the job was finished he went +immediately for water, washed his victim's face +and did everything he could to alleviate the +man's distress. The upshot of the matter was +that the fellow became his life-long friend, and +was a better man from that day."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW HE MADE HIS FELLOW CLERK GIVE UP +GAMBLING</div> + +<p>Lincoln's morals were unusually good for that +time and place. Smoking, chewing, drinking, +swearing and gambling were almost universal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +among his associates. Offutt hired a young +man, William G. Greene, after the purchase of +the mill. This assistant first told many of the +stories, now so well known, concerning Abe at +this period of his career:</p> + +<p>Young Greene was, like most of the young +men in New Salem, addicted to petty gambling. +He once related how Lincoln induced him to quit +the habit. Abe said to him one day:</p> + +<p>"Billy, you ought to stop gambling with +Estep." Billy made a lame excuse:</p> + +<p>"I'm ninety cents behind, and I can't quit +until I win it back."</p> + +<p>"I'll help you get that back," urged Lincoln, +"if you'll promise me you won't gamble any +more."</p> + +<p>The youth reflected a moment and made the +required promise. Lincoln continued:</p> + +<p>"Here are some good hats, and you need a +new one. Now, when Estep comes again, you +draw him on by degrees, and finally bet him one +of these hats that I can lift a forty-gallon barrel +of whisky and take a drink out of the bunghole."</p> + +<p>Billy agreed, and the two clerks chuckled as +they fixed the barrel so that the bunghole would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +come in the right place to win the bet, though +the thing seemed impossible to Greene himself. +Estep appeared in due time, and after long parleying +and bantering the wager was laid. Lincoln +then squatted before the barrel, lifted one +end up on one knee, then raised the other end +on to the other knee, bent over, and by a Herculean +effort, actually succeeded in taking a drink +from the bunghole—though he spat it out immediately. +"That was the only time," said Greene +long afterward, "that I ever saw Abraham Lincoln +take a drink of liquor of any kind." This +was the more remarkable, as whisky was served +on all occasions—even passed around with refreshments +at religious meetings, according to +Mrs. Josiah Crawford, the woman for whom Abe +and Nancy had worked as hired help. Much as +Abe disapproved of drinking, he considered that +"the end justified the means" employed to break +his fellow clerk of the gambling habit.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW HE WON THE NAME OF "HONEST ABE"</div> + +<p>Abe Lincoln could not endure the thought of +cheating any one, even though it had been done +unintentionally. One day a woman bought a +bill of goods in Offutt's store amounting to something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +over two dollars. She paid Abe the money +and went away satisfied. That night, on going +over the sales of the day, Abe found that he had +charged the woman six and one-fourth cents too +much. After closing the store, though it was +late, he could not go home to supper or to bed +till he had restored that sixpence to its proper +owner. She lived more than two miles away, but +that did not matter to Abe Lincoln. When he +had returned the money to the astonished woman +he walked back to the village with a long +step and a light heart, content with doing his +duty.</p> + +<p>Another evening, as he was closing the store, a +woman came in for a half-pound of tea. He +weighed it out for her and took the pay. But +early next morning, when he came to "open up," +he found the four-ounce weight instead of the +eight-ounce on the scales, and inferred that he +had given that woman only half as much tea as +he had taken the money for. Of course, the +woman would never know the difference, and it +meant walking several miles and back, but the +honest clerk weighed out another quarter pound +of tea, locked the store and took that long walk +before breakfast. As a "constitutional" it must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +have been a benefit to his health, for it satisfied +his sensitive conscience and soothed his tender +heart to "make good" in that way.</p> + +<p>Drink and misdirected enthusiasm interfered +with Denton Offutt's success. After about a +year in New Salem he "busted up," as the neighbors +expressed it, and left his creditors in the +lurch. Among them was the clerk he had +boasted so much about. For a short time Abe +Lincoln needed a home, and found a hearty welcome +with Jack Armstrong, the best fighter of +Clary's Grove!</p> + +<p>J. G. Holland wrote, in his "Life of Abraham +Lincoln," of the young man's progress during +his first year in New Salem:</p> + +<p>"The year that Lincoln was in Denton Offutt's +store was one of great advance. He had made +new and valuable acquaintances, read many +books, won multitudes of friends, and become +ready for a step further in advance. Those who +could appreciate brains respected him, and those +whose ideas of a man related to his muscles were +devoted to him. It was while he was performing +the work of the store that he acquired the nickname, +'Honest Abe'—a characterization that he +never dishonored, an abbreviation that he never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +outgrew. He was everybody's friend, the best-natured, +the most sensible, the best-informed, the +most modest and unassuming, the kindest, +gentlest, roughest, strongest, best fellow in all +New Salem and the region round about."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Politics, War, <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'Store Keeping'">Storekeeping</ins> and Studying +Law</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />STUDYING GRAMMAR FIRST</div> + +<p>By "a step still further in advance" Dr. Holland +must have meant the young clerk's going +into politics. He had made many friends in New +Salem, and they reflected back his good-will by +urging him to run for the State Legislature. +Before doing this he consulted Mentor Graham, +the village schoolmaster, with whom he had +worked as election clerk when he first came to +the place. Abe could read, write and cipher, +but he felt that if he should succeed in politics, +he would disgrace his office and himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +by not speaking and writing English correctly.</p> + +<p>The schoolmaster advised: "If you expect to +go before the public in any capacity, I think the +best thing you can do is to study English grammar."</p> + +<p>"If I had a grammar I would commence now," +sighed Abe.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham thought one could be found at +Vaner's, only six miles away. So Abe got up +and started for it as fast as he could stride. In +an incredibly <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'sort'">short</ins> time he returned with a copy +of Kirkham's Grammar, and set to work upon it +at once. Sometimes he would steal away into +the woods, where he could study "out loud" if he +desired. He kept up his old habit of sitting up +nights to read, and as lights were expensive, the +village cooper allowed him to stay in his shop, +where he burned the shavings and studied by the +blaze as he had done in Indiana, after every one +else had gone to bed. So it was not long before +young Lincoln, with the aid of Schoolmaster +Graham, had mastered the principles of English +grammar, and felt himself better equipped to +enter politics and public life. Some of his rivals, +however, did not trouble themselves about speaking +and writing correctly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />GOING INTO POLITICS</div> + +<p>James Rutledge, a "substantial" citizen, and +the former owner of Rutledge's mill and dam, +was the president of the New Salem debating +club. Young Lincoln joined this society, and +when he first rose to speak, everybody began to +smile in anticipation of a funny story, but Abe +proceeded to discuss the question before the +house in very good form. He was awkward in his +movements and gestures at first, and amused +those present by thrusting his unwieldy hands +deep into his pockets, but his arguments were so +well-put and forcible that all who heard him were +astonished.</p> + +<p>Mr. Rutledge, that night after Abe's maiden +effort at the lyceum, told his wife:</p> + +<p>"There is more in Abe Lincoln's head than +mere wit and fun. He is already a fine speaker. +All he needs is culture to fit him for a high position +in public life."</p> + +<p>But there were occasions enough where something +besides culture was required. A man +who was present and heard Lincoln's first real +stump speech describes his appearance and actions +in the following picturesque language:</p> + +<p>"He wore a mixed jean coat, clawhammer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +style, short in the sleeves and bob-tail—in fact, +it was so short in the tail that he could not sit +upon it—flax and tow linen pantaloons, and a +straw hat. I think he wore a vest, but do not remember +how it looked. He wore pot metal (top) +boots.</p> + +<p>"His maiden effort on the stump was a speech +on the occasion of a public sale at Pappyville, a +village eleven miles from Springfield. After the +sale was over and speechmaking had begun, a +fight—a 'general fight' as one of the bystanders +relates—ensued, and Lincoln, noticing one +of his friends about to succumb to the attack of +an infuriated ruffian, interposed to prevent it. +He did so most effectually. Hastily descending +from the rude platform, he edged his way +through the crowd, and seizing the bully by the +neck and the seat of his trousers, threw him by +means of his great strength and long arms, as +one witness stoutly insists, 'twelve feet away.' +Returning to the stand, and throwing aside his +hat, he inaugurated his campaign with the following +brief and juicy declaration:</p> + +<p>"'Fellow-Citizens: I presume you all know +who I am. I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I +have been solicited by many friends to become a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +candidate for the Legislature. My politics are +"short and sweet" like the old woman's dance. +I am in favor of national bank. I am in favor +of the internal improvement system, and a high +protective tariff. These are my sentiments and +political principles. If elected, I shall be thankful; +if not, it will be all the same.'"</p> + +<p>The only requirement for a candidate for the +Illinois Legislature in 1832 was that he should +announce his "sentiments." This Lincoln did, +according to custom, in a circular of about two +thousand words, rehearsing his experiences on +the Sangamon River and in the community of +New Salem. For a youth who had just turned +twenty-three, who had never been to school a +year in his life, who had no political training, +and had never made a political speech, it was a +bold and dignified document, closing as follows:</p> + +<p>"Considering the great degree of modesty +which should always attend youth, it is probable +I have already been presuming more than becomes +me. However, upon the subjects of which +I have treated, I have spoken as I have thought. +I may be wrong in regard to any or all of them, +but, holding it a sound maxim that it is better +only sometimes to be right than at all times to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +wrong, so soon as I discover my opinions to be +erroneous, I shall be ready to renounce them.</p> + +<p>"Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. +Whether this is true or not, I can say for +one, that I have no other so great as that of being +truly esteemed of my fellow-men by rendering +myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall +succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be +developed. I am young and unknown to many +of you. I was born, and have ever remained in +the most humble walks of life. I have no wealthy +or popular relations or friends to recommend +me. My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent +voters of the country; and, if elected, +they will have conferred a favor on me for which +I shall be unremitting in my labors to compensate. +But if the good people in their wisdom +shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have +been too familiar with disappointments to be +very much chagrined."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"CAPTAIN LINCOLN"</div> + +<p>Lincoln had hardly launched in his first political +venture when, in April, 1832, a messenger +arrived in New Salem with the announcement +from Governor Reynolds, of Illinois, that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +Sacs and other hostile tribes, led by Black Hawk, +had invaded the northern part of the State, +spreading terror among the white settlers in that +region. The governor called upon those who +were willing to help in driving back the Indians +to report at Beardstown, on the Illinois River, +within a week.</p> + +<p>Lincoln and other Sangamon County men +went at once to Richmond where a company was +formed. The principal candidate for captain +was a man named Kirkpatrick, who had treated +Lincoln shabbily when Abe, in one of the odd +jobs he had done in that region, worked in Kirkpatrick's +sawmill. The employer had agreed to +buy his hired man a cant-hook for handling the +heavy logs. As there was a delay in doing this, +Lincoln told him he would handle the logs without +the cant-hook if Kirkpatrick would pay him +the two dollars that implement would cost. The +employer promised to do this, but never gave him +the money.</p> + +<p>So when Lincoln saw that Kirkpatrick was a +candidate for the captaincy, he said to Greene, +who had worked with him in Offutt's store:</p> + +<p>"Bill, I believe I can make Kirkpatrick pay +me that two dollars he owes me on the cant-hook<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +now. I guess I'll run against him for captain."</p> + +<p>Therefore Abe Lincoln announced himself as +a candidate. The vote was taken in an odd way. +It was announced that when the men heard the +command to march, each should go and stand by +the man he wished to have for captain. The command +was given. At the word, "March," three-fourths +of the company rallied round Abe Lincoln. +More than twenty-five years afterward, +when Lincoln was a candidate for the presidency +of the United States, he referred to himself in +the third person in describing this incident, saying +that he was elected "to his own surprise," +and "he says he has not since had any success in +life which gave him so much satisfaction."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />IGNORANCE OF MILITARY TACTICS</div> + +<p>But Lincoln was a "raw hand" at military +tactics. He used to enjoy telling of his ignorance +and the expedients adopted in giving his +commands to the company. Once when he was +marching, twenty men abreast, across a field it +became necessary to pass through a narrow gateway +into the next field. He said:</p> + +<p>"I could not, for the life of me, remember the +word for getting the company <i>endwise</i> so that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +could go through the gate; so, as we came near +the gate, I shouted, 'This company is dismissed +for two minutes, when it will fall in again on the +other side of the fence.'"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />A HISTORIC MYSTERY EXPLAINED</div> + +<p>Captain Lincoln had his sword taken from +him for shooting within limits. Many have wondered +that a man of Lincoln's intelligence should +have been guilty of this stupid infraction of ordinary +army regulations. Biographers of Lincoln +puzzled over this until the secret was explained +by William Turley Baker, of Bolivia, Ill., at the +Lincoln Centenary in Springfield. All unconscious +of solving a historic mystery, "Uncle +Billy" Baker related the following story which +explains that the shooting was purely accidental:</p> + +<p>"My father was roadmaster general in the +Black Hawk War. Lincoln used to come often +to our house and talk it all over with father, +when I was a boy, and I've heard them laugh +over their experiences in that war. The best +joke of all was this: Father received orders one +day to throw log bridges over a certain stream +the army had to cross. He felled some tall, slim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +black walnuts—the only ones he could find there—and +the logs were so smooth and round that +they were hard to walk on any time. This day it +rained and made them very slippery. Half of +the soldiers fell into the stream and got a good +ducking. Captain Lincoln was one of those that +tumbled in. He just laughed and scrambled out +as quick as he could. He always made the best +of everything like that.</p> + +<p>"Well, that evening when the company came +to camp, some of them had dog tents—just a big +canvas sheet—and the boys laughed to see Lincoln +crawl under one of them little tents. He was +so long that his head and hands and feet stuck +out on all sides. The boys said he looked just +like a big terrapin. After he had got himself +stowed away for the night, he remembered that +he hadn't cleaned his pistol, after he fell into +the creek.</p> + +<p>"So he backed out from under his canvas +shell and started to clean it out. It was what +was called a bulldog pistol, because it had a +blunt, short muzzle. Abe's forefinger was long +enough to use as a ramrod for it. But before he +began operations he snapped the trigger and, to +his astonishment, the thing went off!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Pretty soon an orderly came along in great +haste, yellin', 'Who did that?—Who fired that +shot?' Some of the men tried to send the orderly +along about his business, making believe +the report was heard further on, but Lincoln he +wouldn't stand for no such deception, spoken +or unspoken. 'I did it,' says he, beginning to +explain how it happened.</p> + +<p>"You see, his legs was so blamed long, and +he must have landed on his feet, in the creek, and +got out of the water without his pistol getting +wet, 'way up there in his weskit!</p> + +<p>"But he had to pay the penalty just the same, +for they took his sword away from him for several +days. You see, he was a captain and ought +to 'a' set a good example in military discipline."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW CAPTAIN LINCOLN SAVED AN INDIAN'S LIFE</div> + +<p>One day an old "friendly Indian" came into +camp with a "talking paper" or pass from the +"big white war chief." The men, with the +pioneer idea that "the only good Indian is a +dead Indian," were for stringing him up. The +poor old red man protested and held the general's +letter before their eyes.</p> + +<p>"Me good Injun," he kept saying, "white war<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +chief say me good Injun. Look—talking paper—see!"</p> + +<p>"Get out! It's a forgery! Shoot him! String +him up!" shouted the soldiers angrily.</p> + +<p>This noise brought Captain Lincoln out of his +tent. At a glance he saw what they were about +to do. He jumped in among them, shouting indignantly:</p> + +<p>"Stand back, all of you! For shame! I'll +fight you all, one after the other, just as you +come. Take it out on me if you can, but you +shan't hurt this poor old Indian. When a man +comes to me for help, he's going to get it, if I +have to lick all Sangamon County to give it to +him."</p> + +<p>The three months for which the men were enlisted +soon expired, and Lincoln's captaincy also +ended. But he re-enlisted as a private, and remained +in the ranks until the end of the war, +which found him in Wisconsin, hundreds of +miles from New Salem. He and a few companions +walked home, as there were not many +horses to be had. Lincoln enlivened the long +tramp with his fund of stories and jokes.</p> + +<p>It is sometimes asserted that Abraham Lincoln +and Jefferson Davis met at this early day,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +as officers in the Black Hawk War, but this +statement is not founded on fact, for young +Lieutenant Davis was absent on a furlough and +could not have encountered the tall captain from +the Sangamon then, as many would like to believe.</p> + +<p>Lincoln always referred to the Black Hawk +War as a humorous adventure. He made a +funny speech in Congress describing some of his +experiences in this campaign in which he did +not take part in a battle, nor did he even catch +sight of a hostile Indian.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />AGAIN A RIVER PILOT</div> + +<p>Abe was still out of work. Just before he enlisted +he piloted the <i>Talisman</i>, a steamboat +which had come up the Sangamon on a trial +trip, in which the speed of the boat averaged +four miles an hour. At that time the wildest excitement +prevailed. The coming of the <i>Talisman</i> +up their little river was hailed with grand +demonstrations and much speech-making. +Every one expected the Government to spend +millions of dollars to make the Sangamon navigable, +and even New Salem (which is not now to +be found on the map) was to become a flourishing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +city, in the hopeful imaginings of its few +inhabitants. Lincoln, being a candidate, naturally +"took the fever," and shared the delirium +that prevailed. He could hardly have done +otherwise, even if he had been so disposed. This +was before the days of railroads, and the commerce +and prosperity of the country depended +on making the smaller streams navigable. Lincoln +received forty dollars, however, for his services +as pilot. The <i>Talisman</i>, instead of establishing +a river connection with the Mississippi +River cities, never came back. She was burned +at the wharf in St. Louis, and the navigation of +the poor little Sangamon, which was only a shallow +creek, was soon forgotten.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />LINCOLN'S ONLY DEFEAT BY A DIRECT VOTE</div> + +<p>When Abe returned from the war he had no +steady employment. On this account, especially, +he must have been deeply disappointed to +be defeated in the election which took place +within two weeks after his arrival. His patriotism +had been stronger than his political sagacity. +If he had stayed at home to help himself to +the Legislature he might have been elected, +though he was then a comparative stranger in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +the county. One of the four representatives +chosen was Peter Cartwright, the backwoods +preacher.</p> + +<p>Lincoln afterward mentioned that this was +the only time he was ever defeated by a direct +vote of the people.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Buying and Keeping a Store</span></h3> + + +<p>After making what he considered a bad beginning +politically, young Lincoln was on the +lookout for a "business chance." One came to +him in a peculiar way. A man named Radford +had opened a store in New Salem. Possessing +neither the strength nor the sagacity and tact of +Abe Lincoln, he was driven out of business by +the Clary's Grove Boys, who broke his store fixtures +and drank his liquors. In his fright +Radford was willing to sell out at almost any +price and take most of his pay in promissory +notes. He was quickly accommodated. Through +William G. Greene a transfer was made at once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +from Reuben Radford to William Berry and +Abraham Lincoln. Berry had $250 in cash and +made the first payment. In a few hours after a +violent visit from those ruffians from Clary's +Grove Berry and Lincoln had formed a partnership +and were the nominal owners of a country +store.</p> + +<p>The new firm soon absorbed the stock and +business of another firm, James and Rowan +Herndon, who had previously acquired the stock +and debts of the predecessors in their business, +and all these obligations were passed on with the +goods of both the Radford and Herndon stores +to "Honest Abe."</p> + +<p>The senior partner of the firm of Berry & +Lincoln was devoted to the whisky which was +found in the inventory of the Radford stock, +and the junior partner was given over to the +study of a set of "Blackstone's Commentaries," +text-books which all lawyers have to study, that +came into his possession in a peculiar way, as +Candidate Lincoln told an artist who was painting +his portrait in 1860:</p> + +<p>"One day a man who was migrating to the +West drove up in front of my store with a +wagon which contained his family and household<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +plunder. He asked me if I would buy an +old barrel for which he had no room in his +wagon, and which contained nothing of special +value. I did not want it, but to oblige him I +bought it, and paid him, I think, half a dollar +for it. Without further examination I put it +away in the store and forgot all about it.</p> + +<p>"Some time after, in overhauling things, I +came upon the barrel, and emptying it on the +floor to see what it contained, I found at the bottom +of the rubbish a complete set of 'Blackstone's +Commentaries.' I began to read those +famous works. I had plenty of time; for during +the long summer days, when the farmers were +busy with their crops, my customers were few +and far between. The more I read the more intensely +interested I became. Never in my whole +life was my mind so thoroughly absorbed. I +read until I devoured them."</p> + +<p>With one partner drinking whisky and the +other devouring "Blackstone," it was not surprising +that the business "winked out," as Lincoln +whimsically expressed it, leaving the conscientious +junior partner saddled with the obligations +of the former owners of two country +stores, and owing an amount so large that Lincoln<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +often referred to it as "the national debt." +William Berry, the senior partner, who was +equally responsible, "drank himself to death," +leaving Lincoln alone to pay all the debts.</p> + +<p>According to the custom and conscience of the +time, the insolvent young merchant was under +no obligation whatever to pay liabilities contracted +by the other men, but Lincoln could +never be induced even to compromise any of the +accounts the others had gone off and left him to +settle. "Honest Abe" paid the last cent of his +"national debt" nearly twenty years later, after +much toil, self-denial and hardship.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />POSTMASTER LINCOLN AND JACK ARMSTRONG'S +FAMILY</div> + +<p>Again out of employment, Abe was forced to +accept the hospitality of his friends of whom he +now had a large number. While in business +with Berry he received the appointment as postmaster. +The pay of the New Salem post office +was not large, but Lincoln, always longing for +news and knowledge, had the privilege of reading +the newspapers which passed through his +hands. He took so much pains in delivering the +letters and papers that came into his charge as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +postmaster that he anticipated the "special delivery" +and "rural free delivery" features of +the postal service of the present day.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"A. LINCOLN, DEPUTY SURVEYOR"</div> + +<p>Later John Calhoun, the county surveyor, +sent word to Lincoln that he would appoint him +deputy surveyor of the county if he would accept +the position. The young man, greatly astonished, +went to Springfield to call on Calhoun +and see if the story could be true. Calhoun knew +that Lincoln was utterly ignorant of surveying, +but told him he might take time to study up. As +soon as Lincoln was assured that the +appointment did not involve any political obligation—for +Calhoun was a Jackson Democrat, and +Lincoln was already a staunch Whig—he procured +a copy of Flint and Gibson's "Surveying" and +went to work with a will. With the aid of +Mentor Graham, and studying day and night, he +mastered the subject and reported to Calhoun in +six weeks. The county surveyor was astounded, +but when Lincoln gave ample proofs of his ability +to do field work, the chief surveyor appointed +him a deputy and assigned him to the northern +part of Sangamon County.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p> + +<p>Deputy Surveyor Lincoln had to run deeper +in debt for a horse and surveying instruments in +order to do this new work. Although he made +three dollars a day at it—a large salary for that +time—and board and expenses were cheap, he +was unable to make money fast enough to satisfy +one creditor who was pushing him to pay one of +the old debts left by the failure of Berry & Lincoln. +This man sued Lincoln and, getting judgment, +seized the deputy's horse and instruments. +This was like "killing the goose that laid the +golden egg." Lincoln was in despair. But a +friend, as a surprise, bought in the horse and +instruments for one hundred and twenty dollars +and presented them to the struggling surveyor.</p> + +<p>President Lincoln, many years afterward, +generously repaid this man, "Uncle Jimmy" +Short, for his friendly act in that hour of need.</p> + +<p>Lincoln's reputation as a story teller and +wrestler had spread so that when it became +known that he was to survey a tract in a certain +district the whole neighborhood turned out and +held a sort of picnic. Men and boys stood ready +to "carry chain," drive stakes, blaze trees, or +work for the popular deputy in any capacity—just +to hear his funny stories and odd jokes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +They had foot races, wrestling matches and other +athletic sports, in which the surveyor sometimes +took part.</p> + +<p>But Lincoln's honesty was as manifest in +"running his lines" as in his weights and measures +while he was a clerk and storekeeper. In +whatever he attempted he did his best. He had +that true genius, which is defined as "the ability +to take pains." With all his jokes and fun Abraham +Lincoln was deeply in earnest. Careless +work in making surveys involved the landholders +of that part of the country in endless disputes +and going to law about boundaries. But +Lincoln's surveys were recognized as correct always, +so that, although he had mastered the science +in six weeks, lawyers and courts had such +confidence in his skill, as well as his honesty, +that his record as to a certain corner or line was +accepted as the true verdict and that ended the +dispute.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE</div> + +<p>Hampered though he was by unjust debts and +unreasonable creditors, Postmaster and Surveyor +Lincoln gained an honorable reputation +throughout the county, so that when he ran for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +the State Legislature, in 1834, he was elected by +a creditable majority.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Young Legislator in Love</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />SMOOT'S RESPONSIBILITY</div> + +<p>Paying his debts had kept Lincoln so poor +that, though he had been elected to the Legislature, +he was not properly clothed or equipped +to make himself presentable as the people's representative +at the State capital, then located at +Vandalia. One day he went with a friend to +call on an older acquaintance, named Smoot, +who was almost as dry a joker as himself, but +Smoot had more of this world's goods than the +young legislator-elect. Lincoln began at once to +chaff his friend.</p> + +<p>"Smoot," said he, "did you vote for me?"</p> + +<p>"I did that very thing," answered Smoot.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Lincoln with a wink, "that +makes you responsible. You must lend me the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +money to buy suitable clothing, for I want to +make a decent appearance in the Legislature."</p> + +<p>"How much do you want?" asked Smoot.</p> + +<p>"About two hundred dollars, I reckon."</p> + +<p>For friendship's sake and for the honor of +Sangamon County the young representative received +the money at once.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ANN RUTLEDGE—"LOVED AND LOST"</div> + +<p>Abe Lincoln's new suit of clothes made him +look still more handsome in the eyes of Ann, the +daughter of the proprietor of Rutledge's Tavern, +where Abe was boarding at that time. She +was a beautiful girl who had been betrothed to +a young man named McNamar, who was said to +have returned to New York State to care for his +dying father and look after the family estate. +It began to leak out that this young man was +going about under an assumed name and certain +suspicious circumstances came to light. But +Ann, though she loved the young legislator, still +clung to her promise and the man who had +proved false to her. As time went on, though +she was supposed to be betrothed to Mr. Lincoln, +the treatment she had received from the recreant +lover preyed upon her mind so that she fell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +into a decline in the summer of 1835, about a +year after her true lover's election to the Legislature.</p> + +<p>William O. Stoddard, one of the President's +private secretaries, has best told the story of the +young lover's despair over the loss of his first +love:</p> + +<p>"It is not known precisely when Ann Rutledge +told her suitor that her heart was his, but +early in 1835 it was publicly known that they +were solemnly betrothed. Even then the scrupulous +maiden waited for the return of the absent +McNamar, that she might be formally released +from the obligation to him which he had so recklessly +forfeited. Her friends argued with her +that she was carrying her scruples too far, and +at last, as neither man nor letter came, she permitted +it to be understood that she would marry +Abraham Lincoln as soon as his legal studies +should be completed.</p> + +<p>"That was a glorious summer for him; the +brightest, sweetest, most hopeful he yet had +known. It was also the fairest time he was ever +to see; for even now, as the golden days came +and went, they brought an increasing shadow on +their wings. It was a shadow that was not to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +pass away. Little by little came indications that +the health of Ann Rutledge had suffered under +the prolonged strain to which she had been subjected. +Her sensitive nature had been strung +to too high a tension and the chords of her life +were beginning to give way.</p> + +<p>"There were those of her friends who said +that she died of a broken heart, but the doctors +called it 'brain fever.'</p> + +<p>"On the 25th of August, 1835, just before the +summer died, she passed away from earth. But +she never faded from the heart of Abraham Lincoln. . . . +In her early grave was buried the +best hope he ever knew, and the shadow of that +great darkness was never entirely lifted from +him.</p> + +<p>"A few days before Ann's death a message +from her brought her betrothed to her bedside, +and they were left alone. No one ever knew +what passed between them in the endless moments +of that last sad farewell; but Lincoln left +the house with inexpressible agony written upon +his face. He had been to that hour a man of +marvelous poise and self-control, but the pain he +now struggled with grew deeper and more deep, +until, when they came and told him she was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +dead, his heart and will, and even his brain itself +gave way. He was utterly without help or the +knowledge of possible help in this world or +beyond it. He was frantic for a time, seeming +even to lose the sense of his own identity, and all +New Salem said that he was insane. He piteously +moaned and raved:</p> + +<p>"'I never can be reconciled to have the snow, +rain, and storms beat upon her grave.'</p> + +<p>"His best friends seemed to have lost their +influence over him, . . . all but one; for +Bowling Green . . . managed to entice the +poor fellow to his own home, a short distance +from the village, there to keep watch and ward +over him until the fury of his sorrow should +wear away. There were well-grounded fears +lest he might do himself some injury, and the +watch was vigilantly kept.</p> + +<p>"In a few weeks reason again obtained the +mastery, and it was safe to let him return to his +studies and his work. He could indeed work +again, and he could once more study law, for +there was a kind of relief in steady occupation +and absorbing toil, but he was not, could not ever +be the same man. . . .</p> + +<p>"Lincoln had been fond of poetry from boyhood,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +and had gradually made himself familiar +with large parts of Shakespeare's plays and the +works of other great writers. He now discovered, +in a strange collection of verses, the one +poem which seemed best to express the morbid, +troubled, sore condition of his mind, . . . the +lines by William Knox, beginning:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"'Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Like a swift fleeting meteor, a fast flying cloud,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">He passeth from life to his rest in the grave:'"</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />"THE LONG NINE" AND THE REMOVAL TO +SPRINGFIELD</div> + +<p>Two years was the term for which Lincoln was +elected to the Legislature. The year following +the death of Ann Rutledge he threw himself into +a vigorous campaign for re-election. He had +found much to do at Vandalia. The greatest +thing was the proposed removal of the State +capital to Springfield. In this enterprise he had +the co-operation of a group of tall men, known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +as "the Long Nine," of whom he was the tallest +and came to be the leader.</p> + +<p>Lincoln announced his second candidacy in +this brief, informal letter in the county paper:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">New Salem</span>, June 13, 1836.<br /></div> + +<span class="smcap">"To the Editor or the Journal:</span><br /> + + +<p>"In your paper of last Saturday I +see a communication over the signature +of 'Many Voters' in which the candidates +who are announced in the <i>Journal</i> +are called upon to 'show their hands.'</p> + +<p>"Agreed. Here's mine:</p> + +<p>"I go in for all sharing the privileges +of the government who assist in +bearing its burdens. Consequently, I +go for admitting all whites to the right +of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms +(by no means excluding females).</p> + +<p>"If elected, I shall consider the +whole people of Sangamon my constituents, +as well those that oppose as +those that support me.</p> + +<p>"While acting as their Representative, +I shall be governed by their will +on all subjects upon which I have the +means of knowing what their will is; +and upon all others I shall do what my +own judgment teaches me will best advance<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +their interests. Whether elected +or not, I go for distributing the proceeds +of public lands to the several +States to enable our State, in common +with others, to dig canals and construct +railroads without borrowing and paying +interest on it.</p> + +<p>"If alive on the first Monday in November, +I shall vote for Hugh L. +White for President.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"Very respectfully,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">A. Lincoln.</span>"<br /></div> +</div> + +<p>The earliest railroads in the United States +had been built during the five years just preceding +this announcement, the first one of all, only +thirteen miles long, near Baltimore, in 1831. It +is interesting to observe the enthusiasm with +which the young frontier politician caught the +progressive idea, and how quickly the minds of +the people turned from impossible river "improvements" +to the grand possibilities of railway +transportation.</p> + +<p>Many are the stories of the remarkable Sangamon +campaign in 1836. Rowan Herndon, +Abe's fellow pilot and storekeeper, told the following:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WINNING VOTES, WIELDING THE "CRADLE" IN A +WHEAT FIELD</div> + +<p>"Abraham came to my house, near Island +Grove, during harvest. There were some thirty +men in the field. He got his dinner and went out +into the field, where the men were at work. I +gave him an introduction, and the boys said that +they could not vote for a man unless he could +take a hand.</p> + +<p>"'Well, boys,' said he, 'if that is all, I am sure +of your votes' He took the 'cradle' and led all +the way round with perfect ease. The boys were +satisfied, and I don't think he lost a vote in the +crowd.</p> + +<p>"The next day there was speaking at Berlin. +He went from my house with Dr. Barnett, who +had asked me who this man Lincoln was. I told +him that he was a candidate for the Legislature. +He laughed and said:</p> + +<p>"'Can't the party raise any better material +than that?'</p> + +<p>"I said, 'Go to-morrow and hear him before +you pronounce judgment.'</p> + +<p>"When he came back I said, 'Doctor, what do +you say now?'</p> + +<p>"'Why, sir,' said he, 'he is a perfect "take-in."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +He knows more than all of them put together.'"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />TALKED TO A WOMAN WHILE HIS RIVAL MILKED</div> + +<p>Young Lincoln happened to call to speak to a +leading farmer in the district, and found his +rival, a Democratic candidate, there on the same +errand. The farmer was away from home, so +each of the candidates did his best to gain the +good-will of the farmer's "better half," who was +on her way to milk the cow. The Democrat +seized the pail and insisted on doing the work +for her. Lincoln did not make the slightest objection, +but improved the opportunity thus given +to chat with their hostess. This he did so successfully +that when his rival had finished the +unpleasant task, the only acknowledgment he +received was a profusion of thanks from the +woman for the opportunity he had given her of +having "<i>such a pleasant talk with Mr. Lincoln!</i>"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW THE LIGHTNING STRUCK FORQUER, IN SPITE OF +HIS LIGHTNING-ROD</div> + +<p>Abe <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'disinguished'">distinguished</ins> himself in his first political +speech at Springfield, the county seat. A leading +citizen there, George Forquer, was accused<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +of changing his political opinions to secure a certain +government position; he also had his fine +residence protected by the first lightning-rod +ever seen in that part of the country.</p> + +<p>The contest was close and exciting. There +were seven Democratic and seven Whig candidates +for the lower branch of the Legislature. +Forquer, though not a candidate, asked to be +heard in reply to young Lincoln, whom he proceeded +to attack in a sneering overbearing way, +ridiculing the young man's appearance, dress, +manners and so on. Turning to Lincoln who +then stood within a few feet of him, Forquer announced +his intention in these words: "This +young man must be taken down, and I am truly +sorry that the task devolves upon me."</p> + +<p>The "Clary's Grove Boys," who attended the +meeting in a body—or a gang!—could hardly be +restrained from arising in their might and smiting +the pompous Forquer, hip and thigh.</p> + +<p>But their hero, with pale face and flashing +eyes, smiled as he shook his head at them, and +calmly answered the insulting speech of his opponent. +Among other things he said:</p> + +<p>"The gentleman commenced his speech by saying +'this young man,' alluding to me, 'must be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +taken down.' I am not so young in years as I +am in the tricks and trades of a politician, but"—pointing +at Forquer—"live long or die young, +I would rather die now than, like the gentleman, +change my politics, and with the change receive +an office worth three thousand dollars a year, +and then feel obliged to erect a lightning-rod +over my house to protect a guilty conscience +from an offended God!"</p> + +<p>This stroke blasted Forquer's political prospects +forever, and satisfied the Clary's Grove +Boys that it was even better than all the things +they would have done to him.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ABE LINCOLN AS A "BLOATED ARISTOCRAT"</div> + +<p>On another occasion Lincoln's wit suddenly +turned the tables on an abusive opponent. One +of the Democratic orators was Colonel Dick +Taylor, a dapper, but bombastic little man, who +rode in his carriage, and dressed richly. But, +politically, he boasted of belonging to the Democrats, +"the bone and sinew, the hard-fisted yeomanry +of the land," and sneered at those "rag +barons," those Whig aristocrats, the "silk stocking +gentry!" As Abe Lincoln, the leading Whig +present, was dressed in Kentucky jeans, coarse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +boots, a checkered shirt without a collar or necktie, +and an old slouch hat, Colonel Taylor's attack +on the "bloated Whig aristocracy" sounded +rather absurd.</p> + +<p>Once the colonel made a gesture so violent that +it tore his vest open and exposed his elegant shirt +ruffles, his gold watch-fob, his seals and other +ornaments to the view of all. Before Taylor, in +his embarrassment, could adjust his waistcoat, +Lincoln stepped to the front exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Behold the hard-fisted Democrat! Look at +this specimen of 'bone and sinew'—and here, +gentlemen," laying his big work-bronzed hand +on his heart and bowing obsequiously—"here, at +your service, is your 'aristocrat!' Here is one +of your 'silk stocking gentry!'" Then spreading +out his great bony hands he continued, "Here is +your 'rag baron' with his lily-white hands. Yes, +I suppose I am, according to my friend Taylor, +a 'bloated aristocrat!'"</p> + +<p>The contrast was so ludicrous, and Abe had +quoted the speaker's stock phrases with such a +marvelous mimicry that the crowd burst into a +roar, and Colonel Dick Taylor's usefulness as a +campaign speaker was at an end.</p> + +<p>Small wonder, then, that young Lincoln's wit,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +wisdom and power of ridicule made him known +in that campaign as one of the greatest orators +in the State, or that he was elected by such an +astonishing plurality that the county, which had +always been strongly Democratic, elected Whig +representatives that year.</p> + +<p>After Herculean labors "the Long Nine" succeeded +in having the State capital removed from +Vandalia to Springfield. This move added +greatly to the influence and renown of its "prime +mover," Abraham Lincoln, who was feasted and +"toasted" by the people of Springfield and by +politicians all over the State. After reading +"Blackstone" during his political campaigns, +young Lincoln fell in again with Major John T. +Stuart, whom he had met in the Black Hawk +War, and who gave him helpful advice and lent +him other books that he might "read law."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE LINCOLN-STONE PROTEST</div> + +<p>Although he had no idea of it at the time, +Abraham Lincoln took part in a grander movement +than the removal of a State capital. Resolutions +were adopted in the Legislature in favor +of slavery and denouncing the hated "abolitionists"—or +people who spoke and wrote for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +abolition of slavery. It required true heroism +for a young man thus to stand out against the +legislators of his State, but Abe Lincoln seems +to have thought little of that. The hatred of the +people for any one who opposed slavery was very +bitter. Lincoln found one man, named Stone, +who was willing to sign a protest against the +resolutions favoring slavery, which read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Resolutions upon the subject of domestic +slavery having passed both +branches of the General Assembly at +its present session, the undersigned +hereby protest against the passage of +the same.</p> + +<p>"They believe that the institution of +slavery is founded on both injustice +and bad policy. [After several statements +of their belief concerning the +powers of Congress, the protest closed +as follows:]</p> + +<p>"The difference between their opinions +and those contained in the said +resolution is their reason for entering +this protest.</p> + + +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Dan Stone,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">A. Lincoln."</span><br /> +</div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Moving to Springfield</span></h3> + + +<p>New Salem could no longer give young Lincoln +scope for his growing power and influence. +Within a few weeks after the Lincoln-Stone protest, +late in March, 1837, after living six years in +the little village which held so much of life and +sorrow for him, Abe sold his surveying compass, +marking-pins, chain and pole, packed all his effects +into his saddle-bags, borrowed a horse of +his good friend "Squire" Bowling Green, and +reluctantly said good-bye to his friends there. It +is a strange fact that New Salem ceased to exist +within a year from the day "Honest Abe" left +it. Even its little post office was discontinued by +the Government.</p> + +<p>Henry C. Whitney, who was associated with +Lincoln in those early days, describes Abe's modest +entry into the future State capital, with all +his possessions in a pair of saddle-bags, and calling +at the store of Joshua F. Speed, overlooking +"the square," in the following dialogue:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> + +<p>Speed—"Hello, Abe, just from Salem?"</p> + +<p>Lincoln—"Howdy, Speed! Yes, this is my +first show-up."</p> + +<p>Speed—"So you are to be one of us?"</p> + +<p>Lincoln—"I reckon so, if you will let me take +pot luck with you."</p> + +<p>Speed—"All right, Abe; it's better than +Salem."</p> + +<p>Lincoln—"I've been to Gorman's and got a +single bedstead; now you figure out what it will +cost for a tick, blankets and so forth."</p> + +<p>Speed (after figuring)—"Say, seventeen dollars +or so."</p> + +<p>Lincoln (countenance paling)—"I had no <i>idea</i> +it would cost half that, and I—I can't pay it; but +if you can wait on me till Christmas, and I make +anything, I'll pay; if I don't, I can't."</p> + +<p>Speed—"I can do better than that; upstairs I +sleep in a bed big enough for two, and you just +come and sleep with me till you can do better."</p> + +<p>Lincoln (brightening)—"Good, where is it?"</p> + +<p>Speed—"Upstairs behind that pile of barrels—turn +to the right when you go up."</p> + +<p>Lincoln (returning joyously)—"Well, Speed, +I've moved!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />STUART & LINCOLN</div> + +<p>Major Stuart had grown so thoroughly interested +in Lincoln, approving the diligence with +which the young law student applied himself to +the books which he had lent him, that, after his +signal success in bringing about the removal of +the State capital to Springfield, the older man +invited the younger to go into partnership with +him.</p> + +<p>Abe had been admitted to the bar the year before, +and had practiced law in a small way before +Squire Bowling Green in New Salem. +Greatly flattered by the offer of such a man, Abe +gladly accepted, and soon after his arrival in +Springfield this sign, which thrilled the junior +partner's whole being, appeared in front of an +office near the square:</p> + +<div class='bbox2'> +<div class='center'>STUART & LINCOLN<br /> +<span class="smcap">Attorneys-at-Law</span><br /></div> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />"I NEVER USE ANYONE'S MONEY BUT MY OWN"</div> + +<p>After a while Lincoln left Speed's friendly +loft and slept on a lounge in the law office, keeping<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +his few effects in the little old-fashioned +trunk pushed out of sight under his couch.</p> + +<p>One day an agent of the Post Office Department +came in and asked if Abraham Lincoln +could be found there. Abe arose and, reaching +out his hand, said that was his name. The agent +then stated his business; he had come to collect +a balance due the Post Office Department since +the closing of the post office at New Salem.</p> + +<p>The young ex-postmaster looked puzzled for +a moment, and a friend, who happened to be +present, hastened to his rescue with, "Lincoln, +if you are in need of money, let us help you."</p> + +<p>Abe made no reply, but, pulling out his little +old trunk, he asked the agent how much he owed. +The man stated the amount, and he, opening the +trunk, took out an old cotton cloth containing +coins, which he handed to the official without +counting, and it proved to be the exact sum required, +over seventeen dollars, evidently the +very pieces of money Abe had received while +acting as postmaster years before!</p> + +<p>After the department agent had receipted for +the money and had gone out, Mr. Lincoln quietly +remarked:</p> + +<p>"I never use anyone's money but my own."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />DROPS THROUGH THE CEILING TO DEMAND FREE +SPEECH</div> + +<p>Stuart & Lincoln's office was, for a time, over +a court room, which was used evenings as a hall. +There was a square opening in the ceiling of the +court room, covered by a trap door in the room +overhead where Lincoln slept. One night there +was a promiscuous crowd in the hall, and +Lincoln's friend, E. D. Baker, was delivering +a political harangue. Becoming somewhat +excited Baker made an accusation against +a well-known newspaper in Springfield, and +the remark was resented by several in the audience.</p> + +<p>"Pull him down!" yelled one of them as they +came up to the platform threatening Baker with +personal violence. There was considerable confusion +which might become a riot.</p> + +<p>Just at this juncture the spectators were +astonished to see a pair of long legs dangling +from the ceiling and Abraham Lincoln dropped +upon the platform. Seizing the water pitcher +he took his stand beside the speaker, and +brandished it, his face ablaze with indignation.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," he said, when the confusion +had subsided, "let us not disgrace the age and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +the country in which we live. This is a land +where freedom of speech is guaranteed. Mr. +Baker has a right to speak, and ought to be permitted +to do so. I am here to protect him and no +man shall take him from this stand if I can prevent +it." Lincoln had opened the trap door in +his room and silently watched the proceedings +until he saw that his presence was needed below. +Then he dropped right into the midst of the fray, +and defended his friend and the right of free +speech at the same time.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />DEFENDING THE DEFENSELESS</div> + +<p>A widow came to Mr. Lincoln and told him +how an attorney had charged her an exorbitant +fee for collecting her pension. Such cases filled +him with righteous wrath. He cared nothing for +"professional etiquette," if it permitted the +swindling of a poor woman. Going directly to +the greedy lawyer, he forced him to refund to +the widow all that he had charged in excess of a +fair fee for his services, or he would start proceedings +at once to prevent the extortionate attorney +from practicing law any longer at the +Springfield bar.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>If a negro had been wronged in any way, Lawyer +Lincoln was the only attorney in Springfield +who dared to appear in his behalf, for he +always did so at great risk to his political standing. +Sometimes he appeared in defense of fugitive +slaves, or negroes who had been freed or had +run away from southern or "slave" States +where slavery prevailed to gain liberty in "free" +States in which slavery was not allowed. Lawyer +Lincoln did all this at the risk of making +himself very unpopular with his fellow-attorneys +and among the people at large, the greater +part of whom were then in favor of permitting +those who wished to own, buy and sell negroes as +slaves.</p> + +<p>Lincoln always sympathized with the poor +and down-trodden. He could not bear to charge +what his fellow-lawyers considered a fair price +for the amount of work and time spent on a +case. He often advised those who came to him +to settle their disputes without going to law. +Once he told a man he would charge him a large +fee if he had to try the case, but if the parties in +the dispute settled their difficulty without going +into court he would furnish them all the legal +advice they needed free of charge. Here is some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +excellent counsel Lawyer Lincoln gave, in later +life, in an address to a class of young attorneys:</p> + +<p>"Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors +to compromise whenever you can. Point +out to them how the nominal winner is often the +real loser—in fees, expenses and waste of time. +As a peacemaker a lawyer has a superior opportunity +of becoming a good man. There will always +be enough business. Never stir up litigation. +A worse man can scarcely be found than +one who does this. Who can be more nearly a +fiend than he who habitually overhauls the +register of deeds in search of defects in titles +whereon to stir up strife and put money in his +pocket. A moral tone ought to be infused into +the profession which should drive such men out +of it."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />YOUNG LAWYER LINCOLN OFFERS TO PAY HALF THE +DAMAGES</div> + +<p>A wagonmaker in Mechanicsville, near +Springfield, was sued on account of a disputed +bill. The other side had engaged the best lawyer +in the place. The cartwright saw that his own +attorney would be unable to defend the case well.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +So, when the day of the trial arrived he sent his +son-in-law to Springfield to bring Mr. Lincoln +to save the day for him if possible. He said to +the messenger:</p> + +<p>"Son, you've just got time. Take this letter +to my young friend, Abe Lincoln, and bring him +back in the buggy to appear in the case. Guess +he'll come if he can."</p> + +<p>The young man from Mechanicsville found the +lawyer in the street playing "knucks" with a +troop of children and laughing heartily at the +fun they were all having. When the note was +handed to him, Lincoln said:</p> + +<p>"All right, wait a minute," and the game soon +ended amid peals of laughter. Then the young +lawyer jumped into the buggy. On the way +back Mr. Lincoln told his companion such funny +stories that the young man, convulsed with +laughter, was unable to drive. The horse, badly +broken, upset them into a ditch, smashing the +vehicle.</p> + +<p>"You stay behind and look after the buggy," +said the lawyer. "I'll walk on."</p> + +<p>He came, with long strides, into the court +room just in time for the trial and won the case +for the wagonmaker.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What am I to pay you?" asked the client delighted.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't think ten or fifteen dollars +too much," said the young attorney, "and I'll +pay half the hire of the buggy and half the cost +of repairing it."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />LAWYER LINCOLN AND MARY OWENS</div> + +<p>About the time Mr. Lincoln was admitted to +the bar, Miss Mary Owens, a bright and beautiful +young woman from Kentucky, came to visit +her married sister near New Salem. The sister +had boasted that she was going to "make a +match" between her sister and Lawyer Lincoln. +The newly admitted attorney smiled indulgently +at all this banter until he began to consider himself +under obligations to marry Miss Owens if +that young lady proved willing.</p> + +<p>After he went to live in Springfield, with no +home but his office, he wrote the young lady a +long, discouraging letter, of which this is a part:</p> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I am thinking of what we said about +your coming to live in Springfield. I +am afraid you would not be satisfied. +There is a great deal of flourishing +about in carriages here, which it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +be your doom to see without sharing it. +You would have to be poor without the +means of hiding your poverty. Do you +believe that you could bear that patiently? +Whatever woman may cast +her lot with mine, should any ever do +so, it is my intention to do all in my +power to make her happy and contented, +and there is nothing I can +imagine that could make me more unhappy +than to fail in that effort. I +know I should be much happier with +you than the way I am, provided I saw +no sign of discontent in you.</p> + +<p>"I much wish you would think seriously +before you decide. What I have +said, I will most positively abide by, +provided you wish it. You have not +been accustomed to hardship, and it +may be more severe than you now +imagine. I know you are capable of +thinking correctly on any subject, and +if you deliberate maturely upon this +before you decide, then I am willing to +abide by your decision.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"Yours, etc.,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">Lincoln</span>."<br /> +</div> +</div> + +<p>For a love letter this was nearly as cold and +formal as a legal document. Miss Owens could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +see well enough that Lawyer Lincoln was not +much in love with her, and she let him know, as +kindly as she could, that she was not disposed to +cast her lot for life with an enforced lover, as he +had proved himself to be. She afterward confided +to a friend that "Mr. Lincoln was deficient +in those little links which make up the chain of +a woman's happiness."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE EARLY RIVALRY BETWEEN LINCOLN AND +DOUGLAS</div> + +<p>Soon after Mr. Lincoln came to Springfield he +met Stephen A. Douglas, a brilliant little man +from Vermont. The two seemed naturally to +take opposing sides of every question. They +were opposite in every way. Lincoln was tall, +angular and awkward. Douglas was small, +round and graceful—he came to be known as +"the Little Giant." Douglas was a Democrat +and favored slavery. Lincoln was a Whig, and +strongly opposed that dark institution. Even in +petty discussions in Speed's store, the two men +seemed to gravitate to opposite sides. A little +later they were rivals for the hand of the same +young woman.</p> + +<p>One night, in a convivial company, Mr. Douglas's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +attention was directed to the fact that Mr. +Lincoln neither smoked nor drank. Considering +this a reflection upon his own habits, the little +man sneered:</p> + +<p>"What, Mr. Lincoln, are you a temperance +man?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Lincoln with a smile full of +meaning, "I'm not exactly a temperance man, +but I am temperate in this, to wit:—I <i>don't +drink!</i>"</p> + +<p>In spite of this remark, Mr. Lincoln <i>was</i> an +ardent temperance man. One Washington's +birthday he delivered a temperance address <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'befor'">before</ins> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'the the'">the</ins> Washingtonian Society of Springfield, +on "Charity in Temperance Reform," in +which he made a strong comparison between the +drink habit and black slavery.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />LOGAN & LINCOLN</div> + +<p>In 1841 the partnership between Stuart and +Lincoln was dissolved and the younger man became +a member of the firm of Logan & Lincoln. +This was considered a long step in advance for +the young lawyer, as Judge Stephen T. Logan +was known as one of the leading lawyers in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +State. From this senior partner he learned to +make the thorough study of his cases that +characterized his work throughout his later +career.</p> + +<p>While in partnership with Logan, Mr. Lincoln +was helping a young fellow named "Billy" +Herndon, a clerk in his friend Speed's store, advising +him in his law studies and promising to +give the youth a place in his own office as soon as +young Herndon should be fitted to fill it.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WHAT LINCOLN DID WITH HIS FIRST FIVE HUNDRED +DOLLAR FEE</div> + +<p>During the interim between two partnerships, +after he had left Major Stuart, and before he +went into the office with Logan, Mr. Lincoln conducted +a case alone. He worked very hard and +made a brilliant success of it, winning the verdict +and a five hundred dollar fee. When an old lawyer +friend called on him, Lincoln had the money +spread out on the table counting it over.</p> + +<p>"Look here, judge," said the young lawyer. +"See what a heap of money I've got from that +case. Did you ever see anything like it? Why, +I never in my life had so much money all at +once!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then his manner changed, and crossing his +long arms on the table he said:</p> + +<p>"I have got just five hundred dollars; if it +were only seven hundred and fifty I would go +and buy a quarter section (160 acres) of land +and give it to my old stepmother."</p> + +<p>The friend offered to lend him the two hundred +and fifty dollars needed. While drawing up +the necessary papers, the old judge gave the +young lawyer this advice:</p> + +<p>"Lincoln, I wouldn't do it quite that way. +Your stepmother is getting old, and, in all probability, +will not live many years. I would settle +the property upon her for use during her lifetime, +to revert to you upon her death."</p> + +<p>"I shall do no such thing," Lincoln replied +with deep feeling. "It is a poor return, at best, +for all the good woman's devotion to me, and +there is not going to be any half-way business +about it."</p> + +<p>The dutiful stepson did as he planned. Some +years later he was obliged to write to John +Johnston, his stepmother's son, appealing to +him not to try to induce his mother to sell the +land lest the old woman should lose the support +he had provided for her in her declining years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />IN LOVE WITH A BELLE FROM LEXINGTON</div> + +<p>Lincoln's popularity in Sangamon County, always +increasing, was greatly strengthened by +the part he had taken in the removal of the capital +to Springfield, which was the county seat as +well as the State capital. So he was returned to +the Legislature, now held in Springfield, time +after time, without further effort on his part. +He was looked upon as a young man with a great +future. While he was in the office with Major +Stuart that gentleman's cousin, Miss Mary +Todd, a witty, accomplished young lady from +Lexington, Kentucky, came to Springfield to +visit her sister, wife of Ninian W. Edwards, one +of the "Long Nine" in the State Assembly.</p> + +<p>Miss Todd was brilliant and gay, a society girl—in +every way the opposite of Mr. Lincoln—and +he was charmed with everything she said +and did. Judge Douglas was one of her numerous +admirers, and it is said that the Louisville +belle was so flattered by his attentions that she +was in doubt, for a time, which suitor to accept. +She was an ambitious young woman, having +boasted from girlhood that she would one day be +mistress of the White House.</p> + +<p>To all appearances Douglas was the more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +likely to fulfill Miss Todd's high ambition. He +was a society man, witty in conversation, popular +with women as well as with men, and had +been to Congress, so he had a national reputation, +while Lincoln's was only local, or at most +confined to Sangamon County and the Eighth +Judicial Circuit of Illinois.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Douglas was already addicted to +drink, and Miss Todd saw doubtless that he +could not go on long at the rapid pace he was +keeping up. It is often said that she was in +favor of slavery, as some of her relatives who +owned slaves, years later, entered the Confederate +ranks to fight against the Union. But the +remarkable fact that she finally chose Lincoln +shows that her sympathies were against slavery, +and she thus cut herself off from several members +of her own family. With a woman's intuition +she saw the true worth of Abraham Lincoln, +and before long they were understood to be engaged.</p> + +<p>But the young lawyer, after his recent experience +with Mary Owens, distrusted his ability to +make any woman happy—much less the belle +from Louisville, so brilliant, vivacious, well educated +and exacting. He seemed to grow morbidly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +conscious of his shortcomings, and she was +high-strung. A misunderstanding arose, and, +between such exceptional natures, "the course of +true love never did run smooth."</p> + +<p>Their engagement, if they were actually betrothed, +was broken, and the lawyer-lover was +plunged in deep melancholy. He wrote long, +morbid letters to his friend Speed, who had returned +to Kentucky, and had recently married +there. Lincoln even went to Louisville to visit +the Speeds, hoping that the change of scene and +friendly sympathies and counsel would revive +his health and spirits.</p> + +<p>In one of his letters Lincoln bemoaned his sad +fate and referred to "the fatal 1st of January," +probably the date when his engagement or "the +understanding" with Mary Todd was broken. +From this expression, one of Lincoln's biographers +elaborated a damaging fiction, stating that +Lincoln and his affianced were to have been married +that day, that the wedding supper was +ready, that the bride was all dressed for the ceremony, +the guests assembled—but the melancholy +bridegroom failed to come to his own wedding!</p> + +<p>If such a thing had happened in a little town<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +like Springfield in those days, the guests would +have told of it, and everybody would have gossiped +about it. It would have been a nine days' +wonder, and such a great joker as Lincoln would +"never have heard the last of it."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE STRANGE EVENTS LEADING UP TO LINCOLN'S +MARRIAGE</div> + +<p>After Lincoln's return from visiting the +Speeds in Louisville, he threw himself into politics +again, not, however, in his own behalf. He +declined to be a candidate again for the State +Legislature, in which he had served four consecutive +terms, covering a period of eight years. +He engaged enthusiastically in the "Log Cabin" +campaign of 1840, when the country went for +"Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," which means that +General William Henry Harrison, the hero of +the battle of Tippecanoe, and John Tyler were +elected President and Vice-President of the +United States.</p> + +<p>In 1842 the young lawyer had so far recovered +from bodily illness and mental unhappiness as +to write more cheerful letters to his friend +Speed of which two short extracts follow:</p> + +<p>"It seems to me that I should have been entirely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +happy but for the never-absent idea that +there is one (Miss Todd) still unhappy whom I +have contributed to make so. That still kills my +soul. I cannot but reproach myself for even +wishing to be happy while she is otherwise. She +accompanied a large party on the railroad cars +to Jacksonville last Monday, and at her return +spoke, so I heard of it, of having 'enjoyed the +trip exceedingly.' God be praised for that."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"You will see by the last <i>Sangamon Journal</i> +that I made a temperance speech on the 22d of +February, which I claim that Fanny and you +shall read as an act of charity toward me; for I +cannot learn that anybody has read it or is likely +to. Fortunately it is not long, and I shall deem +it a sufficient compliance with my request if one +of you listens while the other reads it."</p> + +<p>Early the following summer Lincoln wrote for +the <i>Sangamon Journal</i> a humorous criticism of +State Auditor Shields, a vain and "touchy" +little man. This was in the form of a story and +signed by "Rebecca of the Lost Townships." +The article created considerable amusement and +might have passed unnoticed by the conceited +little auditor if it had not been followed by another,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +less humorous, but more personal and +satirical, signed in the same way, but the second +communication was written by two mischievous +(if not malicious) girls—Mary Todd and her +friend, Julia Jayne. This stinging attack made +Shields wild with rage, and he demanded the +name of the writer of it. Lincoln told the editor +to give Shields <i>his</i> name as if he had written both +contributions and thus protect the two young +ladies. The auditor then challenged the lawyer +to fight a duel. Lincoln, averse to dueling, chose +absurd weapons, imposed ridiculous conditions +and tried to treat the whole affair as a huge joke. +When the two came face to face, explanations +became possible and the ludicrous duel was +avoided. Lincoln's conduct throughout this humiliating +affair plainly showed that, while +Shields would gladly have killed <i>him</i>, he had no +intention of injuring the man who had challenged +him.</p> + +<p>Mary Todd's heart seems to have softened +toward the young man who was willing to risk +his life for her sake, and the pair, after a long +and miserable misunderstanding on both sides, +were happily married on the 4th of November, +1842. Their wedding ceremony was the first ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +performed in Springfield by the use of the Episcopal +ritual.</p> + +<p>When one of the guests, bluff old Judge Tom +Brown, saw the bridegroom placing the ring on +Miss Todd's finger, and repeating after the minister, +"With this ring"—"I thee wed"—"and +with all"—"my worldly goods"—"I thee endow"—he +exclaimed, in a stage whisper:</p> + +<p>"Grace to Goshen, Lincoln, the statute fixes +all that!"</p> + +<p>In a letter to Speed, not long after this event, +the happy bridegroom wrote:</p> + +<p>"We are not keeping house but boarding at +the Globe Tavern, which is very well kept now +by a widow lady of the name of Beck. Our rooms +are the same Dr. Wallace occupied there, and +boarding only costs four dollars a week (for the +two). I most heartily wish you and your family +will not fail to come. Just let us know the time, +a week in advance, and we will have a room prepared +for you and we'll all be merry together for +a while."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lincoln & Herndon</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />YOUNG HERNDON'S STRANGE FASCINATION FOR +LINCOLN</div> + +<p>Lincoln remained in the office with Judge +Logan about four years, dissolving partnership +in 1845. Meanwhile he was interesting himself +in behalf of young William H. Herndon, who, +after Speed's removal to Kentucky, had gone to +college at Jacksonville, Ill. The young man +seemed to be made of the right kind of metal, was +industrious, and agreeable, and Mr. Lincoln +looked forward to the time when he could have +"Billy" with him in a business of his own.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Lincoln, with that marvelous instinct +which women often possess, opposed her husband's +taking Bill Herndon into partnership. +While the young man was honest and capable +enough, he was neither brilliant nor steady. He +contracted the habit of drinking, the bane of Lincoln's +business career. As Mr. Lincoln had not +yet paid off "the national debt" largely due to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +his first business partner's drunkenness, it seems +rather strange that he did not listen to his wife's +admonitions. But young Herndon seems always +to have exercised a strange fascination over his +older friend and partner.</p> + +<p>While yet in partnership with Judge Logan, +Mr. Lincoln went into the national campaign of +1844, making speeches in Illinois and Indiana +for Henry Clay, to whom he was thoroughly devoted.</p> + +<p>Before this campaign Lincoln had written to +Mr. Speed:</p> + +<p>"We had a meeting of the Whigs of the +county here last Monday to appoint delegates to +a district convention; and Baker beat me, and +got the delegation instructed to go for him. The +meeting, in spite of my attempts to decline it, +appointed me one of the delegates, so that in getting +Baker the nomination I shall be fixed like a +fellow who is made a groomsman to a fellow +that has cut him out, and is marrying his own +dear 'gal.'"</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln, about this time, was offered the +nomination for Governor of Illinois, and declined +the honor. Mrs. Lincoln, who had supreme +confidence in her husband's ability, tried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> +to make him more self-seeking in his political efforts. +He visited his old home in Indiana, making +several speeches in that part of the State. It +was fourteen years after he and all the family +had removed to Illinois. One of his speeches was +delivered from the door of a harness shop near +Gentryville, and one he made in the "Old Carter +Schoolhouse." After this address he drove +home with Mr. Josiah Crawford—"Old Blue +Nose" for whom he had "pulled fodder" to pay +an exorbitant price for Weems's "Life of Washington," +and in whose house his sister and he +had lived as hired girl and hired man. He delighted +the old friends by asking about everybody, +and being interested in the "old swimming-hole," +Jones's grocery where he had often +argued and "held forth," the saw-pit, the old +mill, the blacksmith shop, whose owner, Mr. +Baldwin, had told him some of his best stories, +and where he once started in to learn the blacksmith's +trade. He went around and called on all +his former acquaintances who were still living in +the neighborhood. His memories were so vivid +and his emotions so keen that he wrote a long +poem about this, from which the following are +three stanzas:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> + +<div class='poem'> +"My childhood's home I see again<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">And sadden with the view;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">And still, as memory crowds the brain,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">There's pleasure in it, too.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Ah, Memory! thou midway world<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">'Twixt earth and paradise,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Where things decayed and loved ones lost</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">In dreamy shadows rise.</span><br /> +<br /> +"And freed from all that's earthy, vile,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">Seems hallowed, pure and bright,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Like scenes in some enchanted isle,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">All bathed in liquid light."</span><br /> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />TRYING TO SAVE BILLY FROM A BAD HABIT</div> + +<p>As Mr. Lincoln spent so much of his time +away from Springfield he felt that he needed a +younger assistant to "keep office" and look after +his cases in the different courts. He should not +have made "Billy" Herndon an equal partner, +but he did so, though the young man had neither +the ability nor experience to earn anything like +half the income of the office. If Herndon had +kept sober and done his best he might have made +some return for all that Mr. Lincoln, who +treated him like a foster-father, was trying to +do for him. But "Billy" did nothing of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +sort. He took advantage of his senior partner's +absences by going on sprees with several dissipated +young men about town.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WHAT LAWYER LINCOLN DID WITH A FAT FEE</div> + +<p>A Springfield gentleman relates the following +story which shows Lawyer Lincoln's business +methods, his unwillingness to charge much for +his legal services; and his great longing to save +his young partner from the clutches of drink:</p> + +<p>"My father," said the neighbor, "was in business, +facing the square, not far from the Court +House. He had an account with a man who +seemed to be doing a good, straight business for +years, but the fellow disappeared one night, +owing father about $1000. Time went on and +father got no trace of the vanished debtor. He +considered the account as good as lost.</p> + +<p>"But one day, in connection with other business, +he told Mr. Lincoln he would give him half +of what he could recover of that bad debt. The +tall attorney's deep gray eyes twinkled as he +said, 'One-half of nought is nothing. I'm +neither a shark nor a shyster, Mr. Man. If I +should collect it, I would accept only my regular +percentage.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'But I mean it,' father said earnestly. 'I +should consider it as good as finding money in +the street.'</p> + +<p>"'And "the finder will be liberally rewarded," +eh?' said Mr. Lincoln with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' my father replied, 'that's about the +size of it; and I'm glad if you understand it. +The members of the bar here grumble because +you charge too little for your professional services, +and I'm willing to do my share toward educating +you in the right direction.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, seein' as it's you,' said Mr. Lincoln +with a whimsical smile, 'considering that you're +such an intimate friend, I'd do it for <i>twice</i> as +much as I'd charge a <i>total stranger!</i> Is that +satisfactory?'</p> + +<p>"'I should not be satisfied with giving you +less than half the gross amount collected—in +this case,' my father insisted. 'I don't see why +you are so loath to take what is your due, Mr. +Lincoln. You have a family to support and will +have to provide for the future of several boys. +They need money and are as worthy of it as any +other man's wife and sons.'</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lincoln put out his big bony hand as if +to ward off a blow, exclaiming in a pained tone:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'That isn't it, Mr. Man. That isn't it. I +yield to no man in love to my wife and babies, +and I provide enough for them. Most of those +who bring their cases to me need the money more +than I do. Other lawyers rob them. They act +like a pack of wolves. They have no mercy. So +when a needy fellow comes to me in his trouble—sometimes +it's a poor widow—I can't take +much from them. I'm not much of a Shylock. +I always try to get them to settle it without going +into court. I tell them if they will make it +up among themselves I won't charge them anything.'</p> + +<p>"'Well, Mr. Lincoln,' said father with a +laugh, 'if they were all like you there would be +no need of lawyers.'</p> + +<p>"'Well,' exclaimed Lawyer Lincoln with a +quizzical inflection which meant much. 'Look +out for the millennium, Mr. Man—still, as a +great favor, I'll charge you a fat fee if I ever +find that fellow and can get anything out of him. +But that's like promising to give you half of the +first dollar I find floating up the Sangamon on a +grindstone, isn't it? I'll take a big slice, though, +out of the grindstone itself, if you say so,' and +the tall attorney went out with the peculiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +laugh that afterward became world-famous.</p> + +<p>"Not long afterward, while in Bloomington, +out on the circuit, Mr. Lincoln ran across the +man who had disappeared from Springfield 'between +two days,' carrying on an apparently +prosperous business under an assumed name. +Following the man to his office and managing to +talk with him alone, the lawyer, by means of +threats, made the man go right to the bank and +draw out the whole thousand then. It meant +payment in full or the penitentiary. The man +understood it and went white as a sheet. In all +his sympathy for the poor and needy, Mr. Lincoln +had no pity on the flourishing criminal. +Money could not purchase the favor of Lincoln.</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know which half of that thousand +dollars father was gladder to get, but I +honestly believe he was more pleased on Mr. +Lincoln's account than on his own.</p> + +<p>"'Let me give you your five hundred dollars +before I change my mind,' he said to the attorney.</p> + +<p>"'One hundred dollars is all I'll take out of +that,' Mr. Lincoln replied emphatically. 'It was +no trouble, and—and I haven't earned even that +much.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'But Mr. Lincoln,' my father demurred, +'you promised to take half.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, but you got my word under false pretenses, +as it were. Neither of us had the least +idea I would collect the bill even if I ever found +the fellow.'</p> + +<p>"As he would not accept more than one hundred +dollars that day, father wouldn't give him +any of the money due, for fear the too scrupulous +attorney would give him a receipt in full for +collecting. Finally, Mr. Lincoln went away +after yielding enough to say he might accept two +hundred and fifty dollars sometime in a pinch +of some sort.</p> + +<p>"The occasion was not long delayed—but it +was not because of illness or any special necessity +in his own family. His young partner, +'Billy' Herndon, had been carousing with several +of his cronies in a saloon around on Fourth +Street, and the gang had broken mirrors, decanters +and other things in their drunken spree. +The proprietor, tired of such work, had had +them all arrested.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Lincoln, always alarmed when Billy +failed to appear at the usual hour in the morning, +went in search of him, and found him and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +his partners in distress, locked up in the calaboose. +The others were helpless, unable to pay +or to promise to pay for any of the damages, so +it devolved on Mr. Lincoln to raise the whole +two hundred and fifty dollars the angry saloon +keeper demanded.</p> + +<p>"He came into our office out of breath and +said sheepishly:</p> + +<p>"'I reckon I can use that two-fifty now.'</p> + +<p>"'Check or currency?' asked father.</p> + +<p>"'Currency, if you've got it handy.'</p> + +<p>"'Give Mr. Lincoln two hundred and fifty +dollars,' father called to a clerk in the office.</p> + +<p>"There was a moment's pause, during which +my father refrained from asking any questions, +and Mr. Lincoln was in no mood to give information. +As soon as the money was brought, the tall +attorney seized the bills and stalked out without +counting it or saying anything but 'Thankee, +Mr. Man,' and hurried diagonally across the +square toward the Court House, clutching the +precious banknotes in his bony talons.</p> + +<p>"Father saw him cross the street so fast that +the tails of his long coat stood out straight behind; +then go up the Court House steps, two at +a time, and disappear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We learned afterward what he did with the +money. Of course, Bill Herndon was penitent +and promised to mend his ways, and, of course, +Mr. Lincoln believed him. He took the money +very much against his will, even against his +principles—thinking it might save his junior +partner from the drunkard's grave. But the +heart of Abraham Lincoln was hoping against +hope."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">His Kindness of Heart</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />PUTTING TWO YOUNG BIRDS BACK IN THE NEST</div> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln's tender-heartedness was the +subject of much amusement among his fellow +attorneys. One day, while out riding with several +friends, they missed Lincoln. One of them, +having heard the distressed cries of two young +birds that had fallen from the nest, surmised +that this had something to do with Mr. Lincoln's +disappearance. The man was right. Lincoln +had hitched his horse and climbed the fence into +the thicket where the fledglings were fluttering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +on the ground in great fright. He caught the +young birds and tenderly carried them about +until he found their nest. Climbing the tree he +put the birdlings back where they belonged. +After an hour Mr. Lincoln caught up with his +companions, who laughed at him for what they +called his "childishness." He answered them +earnestly:</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, you may laugh, but I could not +have slept tonight if I had not saved those little +birds. The mother's cries and theirs would have +rung in my ears."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />LAWYER LINCOLN, IN A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES, +RESCUING A PIG STUCK IN THE MUD</div> + +<p>Lawyer Lincoln rode from one county-seat +to another, on the Eighth Judicial Circuit of +Illinois, either on the back of a raw-boned horse, +or in a rickety buggy drawn by the same old +"crowbait," as his legal friends called the animal. +The judge and lawyers of the several +courts traveled together and whiled away the +time chatting and joking. Of course, Abraham +Lincoln was in great demand because of his unfailing +humor.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day he appeared in a new suit of clothes. +This was such a rare occurrence that the friends +made remarks about it. The garments did not +fit him very well, and the others felt in duty +bound to "say things" which were anything but +complimentary.</p> + +<p>As they rode along through the mud they were +making Lincoln the butt of their gibes. He was +not like most jokers, for he could take as well +as give, while he could "give as good as he got."</p> + +<p>In the course of their "chaffing" they came to +a spot about four miles from Paris, Illinois, +where they saw a pig stuck in the mud and +squealing lustily. The men all laughed at the +poor animal and its absurd plight.</p> + +<p>"Poor piggy!" exclaimed Mr. Lincoln impulsively. +"Let's get him out of that."</p> + +<p>The others jeered at the idea. "You'd better +do it. You're dressed for the job!" exclaimed +one.</p> + +<p>"Return to your wallow!" laughed another, +pointing in great glee to the wallowing hog and +the mudhole.</p> + +<p>Lincoln looked at the pig, at the deep mud, +then down at his new clothes. Ruefully he rode +on with them for some time. But the cries of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +helpless animal rang in his ears. He could endure +it no longer. Lagging behind the rest, he +waited until they had passed a bend in the road. +Then he turned and rode back as fast as his poor +old horse could carry him through the mud. +Dismounting, he surveyed the ground. The pig +had struggled until it was almost buried in the +mire, and was now too exhausted to move. After +studying the case as if it were a problem in civil +engineering, he took some rails off the fence beside +the road. Building a platform of rails +around the now exhausted hog, then taking one +rail for a lever and another for a fulcrum, he +began gently to pry the fat, helpless creature out +of the sticky mud. In doing this he plastered +his new suit from head to foot, but he did not +care, as long as he could save that pig!</p> + +<p>"Now, piggy-wig," he said. "It's you and +me for it. You do your part and I'll get you out. +Now—'one-two-<i>three</i>—<i>up-a-daisy!</i>'"</p> + +<p>He smiled grimly as he thought of the jeers +and sneers that would be hurled at him if his +friends had stayed to watch him at this work.</p> + +<p>After long and patient labor he succeeded in +loosening the hog and coaxing it to make the +attempt to get free. At last, the animal was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +made to see that it could get out. Making one +violent effort it wallowed away and started for +the nearest farmhouse, grunting and flopping its +ears as it went.</p> + +<p>Lawyer Lincoln looked ruefully down at his +clothes, then placed all the rails back on the +fence as he had found them.</p> + +<p>He had to ride the rest of the day alone, for +he did not wish to appear before his comrades +until <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'the the'">the</ins> mud on his suit had dried so that it +could be brushed off. That night, when they +saw him at the tavern, they asked him what he +had been doing all day, eying his clothes with +suspicious leers and grins. He had to admit that +he could not bear to leave that hog to die, and +tried to excuse his tender-heartedness to them +by adding: "Farmer Jones's children might +have had to go barefoot all Winter if he had lost +a valuable hog like that!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"BEING ELECTED TO CONGRESS HAS NOT PLEASED +ME AS MUCH AS I EXPECTED"</div> + +<p>In 1846 Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress, +defeating the Rev. Peter Cartwright, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +famous backwoods preacher, who was elected to +the State Legislature fourteen years before, the +first time Lincoln was a candidate and the only +time he was ever defeated by popular vote. +Cartwright had made a vigorous canvass, telling +the people that Lincoln was "an aristocrat and +an atheist." But, though they had a great respect +for Peter Cartwright and his preaching, +the people did not believe all that he said against +Lincoln, and they elected him. Shortly after +this he wrote again to Speed:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"You, no doubt, assign the suspension +of our correspondence to the true +philosophic cause; though it must be +confessed by both of us that this is a +rather cold reason for allowing such a +friendship as ours to die out by degrees.</p> + +<p>"Being elected to Congress, though I +am very grateful to our friends for +having done it, has not pleased me as +much as I expected."</p></div> + +<p>In the same letter he imparted to his friend +some information which seems to have been +much more interesting to him than being elected +to Congress:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"We have another boy, born the 10th +of March (1846). He is very much +such a child as Bob was at his age, +rather of a longer order. Bob is 'short +and low,' and I expect always will be. +He talks very plainly, almost as plainly +as anybody. He is quite smart enough. +I sometimes fear he is one of the little +rare-ripe sort that are smarter at five +than ever after.</p> + +<p>"Since I began this letter, a messenger +came to tell me Bob was lost; but +by the time I reached the house his +mother had found him and had him +whipped, and by now very likely he has +run away again!</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"As ever yours,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">A. Lincoln.</span>"<br /></div> +</div> + +<p>The new baby mentioned in this letter was +Edward, who died in 1850, before his fourth +birthday. "Bob," or Robert, the eldest of the +Lincoln's four children, was born in 1843. William, +born in 1850, died in the White House. The +youngest was born in 1853, after the death of +Thomas Lincoln, so he was named for his grandfather, +but he was known only by his nickname, +"Tad." "Little Tad" was his father's constant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> +companion during the terrible years of the Civil +War, especially after Willie's death, in 1862. +"Tad" became "the child of the nation." He +died in Chicago, July 10, 1871, at the age of +eighteen, after returning from Europe with his +widowed mother and his brother Robert. Robert +has served his country as Secretary of War +and Ambassador to the English court, and is +recognized as a leader in national affairs.</p> + +<p>When Lincoln was sent to the national House +of Representatives, Douglas was elected to the +Senate for the first time. Lincoln was the only +Whig from Illinois. This shows his great personal +popularity. Daniel Webster was then living +in the national capital, and Congressman +Lincoln stopped once at Ashland, Ky., on his +way to Washington to visit the idol of the +Whigs, Henry Clay.</p> + +<p>As soon as Lincoln was elected, an editor +wrote to ask him for a biographical sketch of +himself for the "Congressional Directory." +This is all Mr. Lincoln wrote—in a blank form +sent for the purpose:</p> + +<p>"Born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>"Education defective.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Profession, lawyer.</p> + +<p>"Military service, captain of volunteers in +Black Hawk War.</p> + +<p>"Offices held: Postmaster at a very small +office; four times a member of the Illinois Legislature, +and elected to the lower House of the +next Congress."</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was in Congress while the Mexican +War was in progress, and there was much +discussion over President Polk's action in declaring +that war.</p> + +<p>As Mrs. Lincoln was obliged to stay in Springfield +to care for her two little boys, Congressman +Lincoln lived in a Washington boarding-house. +He soon gained the reputation of telling +the best stories at the capital. He made a humorous +speech on General Cass, comparing the +general's army experiences with his own in the +Black Hawk War. He also drafted a bill to +abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, +which was never brought to a vote. Most of his +care seems to have been for Billy Herndon, who +wrote complaining letters to him about the "old +men" in Springfield who were always trying to +"keep the young men down." Here are two of +Mr. Lincoln's replies:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Washington</span>, June 22, 1848.<br /> +</div> + +"<span class="smcap">Dear William</span>:<br /> + +<p>"Judge how heart-rending it was to +come to my room and find and read +your discouraging letter of the 15th. +Now, as to the young men, you must not +wait to be brought forward by the older +men. For instance, do you suppose +that I would ever have got into notice if +I had waited to be hunted up and +pushed forward by older men?"</p> + +<br />"<span class="smcap">Dear William</span>:<br /> + +<p>"Your letter was received last night. +The subject of that letter is exceedingly +painful to me; and I cannot but think +that there is some mistake in your impression +of the motives of the old men. +Of course I cannot demonstrate what I +say; but I was young once, and I am +sure I was never ungenerously thrust +back. I hardly know what to say. The +way for a young man to rise is to improve +himself every way he can, never +suspecting that anybody wishes to +hinder him. Allow me to assure you +that suspicion and jealousy never did +keep any man in any situation. There +may be sometimes ungenerous attempts +to keep a young man down; and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +will succeed, too, if he allows his mind +to be diverted from its true channel to +brood over the attempted injury. Cast +about, and see if this feeling has not +injured every person you have ever +known to fall into it.</p> + +<p>"Now in what I have said, I am sure +you will suspect nothing but sincere +friendship. I would save you from a +fatal error. You have been a laborious, +studious young man. You are far better +informed on almost all subjects +than I have ever been. You cannot fail +in any laudable object, unless you allow +your mind to be improperly directed. +I have somewhat the advantage of you +in the world's experience, merely by +being older; and it is this that induces +me to advise.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"Your friend, as ever,</span><br /> +"A. <span class="smcap">Lincoln</span>."<br /> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />LAST DAYS OF THOMAS LINCOLN</div> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln did not allow his name to be used +as a candidate for re-election, as there were +other men in the congressional district who deserved +the honor of going to Washington as +much as he. On his way home from Washington, +after the last session of the Thirtieth Congress,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> +he visited New England, where he made a +few speeches, and stopped at Niagara Falls, +which impressed him so strongly that he wrote a +lecture on the subject.</p> + +<p>After returning home he made a flying visit to +Washington to enter his patent steamboat, +equipped so that it would navigate shallow western +rivers. This boat, he told a friend, "would +go where the ground is a little damp." The +model of Lincoln's steamboat is one of the sights +of the Patent Office to this day.</p> + +<p>After Mr. Lincoln had settled down to his law +business, permanently, as he hoped, his former +fellow-clerk, William G. Greene, having business +in Coles County, went to "Goosenest Prairie" +to call on Abe's father and stepmother, who +still lived in a log cabin. Thomas Lincoln received +his son's friend very hospitably. During +the young man's visit, the father reverted to the +old subject, his disapproval of his son's wasting +his time in study. He said:</p> + +<p>"I s'pose Abe's still a-foolin' hisself with +eddication. I tried to stop it, but he's got that +fool <i>idee</i> in his head an' it can't be got out. Now +I haint got no eddication, but I git along better +than if I had."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not long after this, in 1851, Abraham learned +that his father was very ill. As he could not +leave Springfield then, he wrote to his stepbrother +(for Thomas Lincoln could not read) +the following comforting letter to be read to his +father:</p> + +<p>"I sincerely hope father may recover his +health; but at all events, tell him to remember to +call upon and confide in our great and merciful +Maker, who will not turn away from him in any +extremity. He notes the fall of the sparrow, and +numbers the hairs of our heads, and He will not +forget the dying man who puts his trust in Him. +Say to him that, if we could meet now, it is +doubtful whether it would be more painful than +pleasant, but if it is his lot to go now, he will +soon have a joyful meeting with the loved ones +gone before, and where the rest of us, through +the mercy of God, hope ere long to join them."</p> + +<p>Thomas Lincoln died that year, at the age of +seventy-three.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />A KIND BUT MASTERFUL LETTER TO HIS +STEPBROTHER</div> + +<p>After his father's death Abraham Lincoln +had, on several occasions, to protect his stepmother<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +against the schemes of her own lazy, +good-for-nothing son. Here is one of the letters +written, at this time, to his stepbrother, John +Johnston:</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dear Brother</span>: I hear that you were anxious +to sell the land where you live, and move to +Missouri. What can you do in Missouri better +than here? Is the land any richer? Can you +there, any more than here, raise corn and wheat +and oats without work? Will anybody there, +any more than here, do your work for you? If +you intend to go to work, there is no better place +than right where you are; if you do not intend +to go to work, you cannot get along anywhere. +Squirming and crawling about from place to +place can do no good. You have raised no crop +this year, and what you really want is to sell the +land, get the money and spend it. Part with the +land you have and, my life upon it, you will +never own a spot big enough to bury you in. +Half you will get for the land you will spend in +moving to Missouri, and the other half you will +eat and drink and wear out, and no foot of land +will be bought.</p> + +<p>"Now, I feel that it is my duty to have no hand +in such a piece of foolery. I feel it is so even on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +your own account, and particularly on mother's +account.</p> + +<p>"Now do not misunderstand this letter. I do +not write it in any unkindness. I write it in +order, if possible, to get you to face the truth, +which truth is, you are destitute because you +have idled away your time. Your thousand pretenses +deceive nobody but yourself. Go to work +is the only cure for your case."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">What Made the Difference Between Abraham +Lincoln and His Stepbrother</span></h3> + + +<p>These letters show the wide difference between +the real lives of two boys brought up in +the same surroundings, and under similar conditions. +The advantages were in John Johnston's +favor. He and Dennis Hanks never rose +above the lower level of poverty and ignorance. +John was looked down upon by the +poor illiterates around him as a lazy, good-for-nothing +fellow, and Dennis Hanks was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +known to be careless about telling the truth.</p> + +<p>In speaking of the early life of Abe's father +and mother, Dennis threw in the remark that +"the Hankses was some smarter than the Lincolns." +It was not "smartness" that made Abe +Lincoln grow to be a greater man than Dennis +Hanks. There are men in Springfield to-day +who say, "There were a dozen smarter men in +this town than Mr. Lincoln when he happened +to be nominated, and peculiar conditions prevailing +at that time brought about his election +to the presidency!"</p> + +<p>True greatness is made of goodness rather +than smartness. Abraham Lincoln was honest +with himself while a boy and a man, and it was +"Honest Abe" who became President of the +United States. The people loved him for his big +heart—because he loved them more than he loved +himself and they knew it. In his second inaugural +address as President he used this expression: +"With malice toward none, with charity +for all." This was not a new thought, but it +was full of meaning to the country because little +Abe Lincoln had <i>lived</i> that idea all his life, with +his own family, his friends, acquaintances, and +employers. He became the most beloved man in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +the world, in his own or any other time, because +he himself loved everybody.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Crawford, the wife of "Old Blue Nose," +used to laugh at the very idea of Abe Lincoln +ever becoming President. Lincoln often said to +her: "I'll get ready and the time will come." +He got ready in his father's log hut and when +the door of opportunity opened he walked right +into the White House. He "made himself at +home" there, because he had only to go on in +the same way after he became the "servant of +the people" that he had followed when he was +"Old Blue Nose's" hired boy and man.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ONE PARTNER IN THE WHITE HOUSE, THE OTHER IN +THE POOR HOUSE</div> + +<p>Then there was William H. Herndon, known +to the world only because he happened to be +"Lincoln's law partner." His advantages were +superior to Lincoln's. And far more than that, +he had his great partner's help to push him forward +and upward. But "poor Billy" had an +unfortunate appetite. He could not deny himself, +though it always made him ashamed and +miserable. It dragged him down, down from +"the President's partner" to the gutter. That<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +was not all. When he asked his old partner to +give him a government appointment which he +had, for years, been making himself wholly unworthy +to fill, President Lincoln, much as he had +loved Billy all along, could not give it to him. +It grieved Mr. Lincoln's great heart to refuse +Billy anything. But Herndon did not blame +himself for all that. He spent the rest of his +wretched life in bitterness and spite—avenging +himself on his noble benefactor by putting untruths +into the "Life of Lincoln" he was able to +write because Abraham Lincoln, against the advice +of his wife and friends, had insisted on +keeping him close to his heart. It is a terrible +thing—that spirit of spite! Among many good +and true things he <i>had</i> to say about his fatherly +law partner, he poisoned the good name of Abraham +Lincoln in the minds of millions, by writing +stealthy slander about Lincoln's mother and +wife, and made many people believe that the +most religious of men at heart was an infidel +(because he himself was one!), that Mr. Lincoln +sometimes acted from unworthy and unpatriotic +motives, and that he failed to come to his own +wedding. If these things had been true it would +have been wrong to publish them to the prejudice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +of a great man's good name—then how +much more wicked to invent and spread broadcast +falsehoods which hurt the heart and injure +the mind of the whole world—just to spite the +memory of the best friend a man ever had!</p> + +<p>The fate of the firm of Lincoln & Herndon +shows in a striking way how the world looks +upon the heart that hates and the heart that +loves, for the hateful junior partner died miserably +in an almshouse, but the senior was crowned +with immortal martyrdom in the White House.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE RIVAL FOR LOVE AND HONORS</div> + +<p>Stephen A. Douglas, "the Little Giant," who +had been a rival for the hand of the fascinating +Mary Todd, was also Lincoln's chief opponent in +politics. Douglas was small and brilliant; used +to society ways, he seemed always to keep ahead +of his tall, uncouth, plodding competitor. After +going to Congress, Mr. Lincoln was encouraged +to aspire even higher, so, ten years later, he became +a candidate for the Senate. Slavery was +then the burning question, and Douglas seemed +naturally to fall upon the opposite side, favoring +and justifying it in every way he could.</p> + +<p>Douglas was then a member of the Senate,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +but the opposing party nominated Lincoln to +succeed him, while "the Little Giant" had been +renominated to succeed himself. Douglas +sneered at his tall opponent, trying to "damn +him with faint praise" by referring to him as "a +kind, amiable and intelligent gentleman." Mr. +Lincoln challenged the Senator to discuss the +issues of the hour in a series of debates.</p> + +<p>Douglas was forced, very much against his +will, to accept, and the debates took place in +seven towns scattered over the State of Illinois, +from August 21st to October 15th, 1858. Lincoln +had announced his belief that "a house divided +against itself cannot stand;" therefore the +United States could not long exist "half slave +and half free."</p> + +<p>"The Little Giant" drove from place to place +in great style, traveling with an escort of influential +friends. These discussions, known in +history as the "Lincoln-Douglas Debates," rose +to national importance while they were in progress, +by attracting the attention, in the newspapers, +of voters all over the country. They +were attended, on an average, by ten thousand +persons each, both men being accompanied by +bands and people carrying banners and what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +Mr. Lincoln called "fizzlegigs and fireworks."</p> + +<p>Some of the banners were humorous.</p> + +<div class='bbox2'> +<div class='center'>Abe the Giant-Killer</div> +</div> + +<div class='unindent'>was one. Another read:</div> + +<div class='bbox'> + +Westward the Star of Empire takes its way;<br /> +The girls link on to Lincoln, their mothers were for Clay. +</div> + +<p>At the first debate Lincoln took off his linen +duster and, handing it to a bystander, said:</p> + +<p>"Hold my coat while I stone Stephen!"</p> + +<p>In the course of these debates Lincoln propounded +questions for Mr. Douglas to answer. +Brilliant as "the Little Giant" was, he was not +shrewd enough to defend himself from the +shafts of his opponent's wit and logic. So he +fell into Lincoln's trap.</p> + +<p>"If he does that," said Lincoln, "he may be +Senator, but he can never be President. I am +after larger game. The battle of 1860 is worth +a hundred of this."</p> + +<p>This prophecy proved true.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">How Emancipation Came to Pass</span></h3> + + +<p>When Abraham Lincoln was a small boy he +began to show the keenest sympathy for the +helpless and oppressed. The only time he betrayed +anger as a child was, as you already have +learned, when he saw the other boys hurting a +mud-turtle. In his first school "composition," +on "Cruelty to Animals," his stepsister remembers +this sentence: "An ant's life is as sweet to +it as ours is to us."</p> + +<p>As you have read on an earlier page, when +Abe grew to be a big, strong boy he saved a +drunken man from freezing in the mud, by +carrying him to a cabin, building a fire, and +spent the rest of the night warming and sobering +him up. Instead of leaving the drunkard to +the fate the other fellows thought he deserved, +Abe Lincoln, through pity for the helpless, rescued +a fellow-being not only from mud and cold +but also from a drunkard's grave. For that tall +lad's love and mercy revealed to the poor creature +the terrible slavery of which he was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span> +victim. Thus Abe helped him throw off the +shackles of drink and made a man of him.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />BLACK SLAVES AND WHITE</div> + +<p>As he grew older, Abe Lincoln saw that the +drink habit was a sort of human slavery. He +delivered an address before the Washingtonian +(Temperance) Society in which he compared +white slavery with black, in which he said:</p> + +<p>"And when the victory shall be complete—when +there shall be neither a slave nor a drunkard +on the earth—how proud the title of that +land which may truly claim to be the birthplace +and the cradle of both those revolutions that +have ended in that victory."</p> + +<p>This address was delivered on Washington's +Birthday, 1842. The closing words throb with +young Lawyer Lincoln's fervent patriotism:</p> + +<p>"This is the one hundred and tenth anniversary +of the birth of Washington; we are met to +celebrate this day. Washington is the mightiest +name of earth, long since the mightiest in the +cause of civil liberty, still mightiest in moral +reformation. On that name no eulogy is expected. +It cannot be. To add to the brightness +of the sun or glory to the name of Washington<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +is alike impossible. Let none attempt it. In +solemn awe we pronounce the name and, in its +naked, deathless splendor, leave it shining on."</p> + +<p>It was young Lincoln's patriotic love for +George Washington which did so much to bring +about, in time, a double emancipation from +white slavery and black.</p> + +<p>Once, as President, he said to a boy who had +just signed the temperance pledge:</p> + +<p>"Now, Sonny, keep that pledge and it will be +the best act of your life."</p> + +<p>President Lincoln was true and consistent in +his temperance principles. In March, 1864, he +went by steamboat with his wife and "Little +Tad," to visit General Grant at his headquarters +at City Point, Virginia.</p> + +<p>When asked how he was, during the reception +which followed his arrival there, the President +said, as related by General Horace Porter:</p> + +<p>"'I am not feeling very well. I got pretty +badly shaken up on the bay coming down, and +am not altogether over it yet.'</p> + +<p>"'Let me send for a bottle of champagne for +you, Mr. President,' said a staff-officer, 'that's +the best remedy I know of for sea-sickness.'</p> + +<p>"'No, no, my young friend,' replied the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +President, 'I've seen many a man in my time +seasick ashore from drinking that very article.'</p> + +<p>"That was the last time any one screwed up +sufficient courage to offer him wine."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"THE UNDER DOG"</div> + +<p>Some people are kinder to dumb animals—is +it <i>because</i> they are dumb?—than to their relatives. +Many are the stories of Lincoln's tenderness +to beasts and birds. But his kindness +did not stop there, nor with his brothers and sisters +in white. He recognized his close relationship +with the black man, and the bitterest name +his enemies called him—worse in their minds +than "fool," "clown," "imbecile" or "gorilla"—was +a "Black Republican." That terrible +phobia against the negro only enlisted Abraham +Lincoln's sympathies the more. He appeared in +court in behalf of colored people, time and again. +The more bitter the hatred and oppression of +others, the more they needed his sympathetic +help, the more certain they were to receive it.</p> + +<p>"My sympathies are with the under dog," +said Mr. Lincoln, one day, "though it is often +that dog that starts the fuss."</p> + +<p>The fact that the poor fellow may have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +brought the trouble upon himself did not make +him forfeit Abraham Lincoln's sympathy. That +was only a good lesson to him to "Look out and +do better next time!"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE QUESTION OF EMANCIPATION</div> + +<p>After he went to Washington, President Lincoln +was between two fires. One side wanted the +slaves freed whether the Union was broken up +or not. They could not see that declaring them +free would have but little effect, if the government +could not "back up" such a declaration.</p> + +<p>The other party did not wish the matter tampered +with, as cheap labor was necessary for +raising cotton, sugar and other products on +which the living of millions of people depended.</p> + +<p>The extreme Abolitionists, who wished slavery +abolished, whether or no, sent men to tell the +President that if he did not free the slaves he +was a coward and a turncoat, and they would +withhold their support from the Government +and the Army.</p> + +<p>Delegations of Abolitionists from all over the +North arrived almost daily from different cities +to urge, coax and threaten the President. They +did not know that he was trying to keep the Border<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> +States of Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri +from seceding. If Maryland alone had gone out +of the Union, Washington, the national capital, +would have been surrounded and forced to surrender.</p> + +<p>Besides, at this time, the armies of the North +were losing nearly all the battles.</p> + +<p>To declare all the slaves down South freed, +when the Government could not enforce such a +statement and could not even win a battle, +would be absurd. To one committee the President +said: "If I issued a proclamation of emancipation +now it would be like the Pope's bull +(or decree) against the comet!"</p> + +<p>A delegation of Chicago ministers came to beg +Mr. Lincoln to free the slaves. He patiently explained +to them that his declaring them free +would not make them free. These men seemed +to see the point and were retiring, disappointed, +when one of them returned to him and whispered +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'solemly'">solemnly</ins>:</p> + +<p>"What you have said to us, Mr. President, +compels me to say to you in reply that it is a +message from our divine Master, through me, +commanding you, sir, to open the doors of bondage +that the slave may go free!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, isn't that strange?" the President replied +instantly. "Here I am, studying this +question, day and night, and God has placed it +upon me, too. Don't you think it's rather odd +that He should send such a message by way of +that awful wicked city of Chicago?"</p> + +<p>The ministers were shocked at such an answer +from the President of the United States. +They could not know, for Mr. Lincoln dared not +tell them, that he had the Emancipation Proclamation +in his pocket waiting for a Federal +victory before he could issue it!</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE PROCLAMATION</div> + +<p>Then, came the news of Antietam, a terrible +battle, but gained by the Northern arms. At +last the time had come to announce the freeing +of the slaves that they might help in winning +their liberties. The President had not held a +meeting of his Cabinet for some time. He +thought of the occasion when, as a young man +he went on a flatboat trip to New Orleans and +saw, for the first, the horrors of negro slavery, +and said to his companions:</p> + +<p>"If ever I get a chance to hit that thing I'll +hit it hard!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now the "chance to hit that thing"—the inhuman +monster of human slavery—had come, +and he was going to "hit it hard."</p> + +<p>He called the Cabinet together. Edwin M. +Stanton, the Secretary of War, has described +the scene:</p> + +<p>"On the 22nd of September, 1862, I had a sudden +and peremptory call to a Cabinet meeting +at the White House. I went immediately and +found the historic War Cabinet of Abraham +Lincoln assembled, every member being present. +The President hardly noticed me as I came +in. He was reading a book of some kind which +seemed to amuse him. It was a little book. He +finally turned to us and said:</p> + +<p>"'Gentlemen, did you ever read anything +from "Artemus Ward?" Let me read you a +chapter that is very funny.'</p> + +<p>"Not a member of the Cabinet smiled; as for +myself, I was angry, and looked to see what the +President meant. It seemed to me like buffoonery. +He, however, concluded to read us a +chapter from 'Artemus Ward,' which he did +with great deliberation. Having finished, he +laughed heartily, without a member of the Cabinet +joining in the laughter.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Well,' he said, 'let's have another chapter.'</p> + +<p>"I was considering whether I should rise and +leave the meeting abruptly, when he threw the +book down, heaved a long sigh, and said:</p> + +<p>"'Gentlemen, why don't you laugh? With +the fearful strain that is upon me night and day, +if I did not laugh I should die, and you need +this medicine as much as I do.'</p> + +<p>"He then put his hand in his tall hat that sat +upon the table, and pulled out a little paper. +Turning to the members of the Cabinet, he said:</p> + +<p>"'Gentlemen, I have called you here upon +very important business. I have prepared a little +paper of much significance. I have made up +my mind that this paper is to issue; that the +time is come when it should issue; that the people +are ready for it to issue.</p> + +<p>"'It is due to my Cabinet that you should be +the first to hear and know of it, and if any of +you have any suggestions to make as to the form +of this paper or its composition, I shall be glad +to hear them. But the paper is to issue.'</p> + +<p>"And, to my astonishment, he read the Emancipation +Proclamation of that date, which was +to take effect the first of January following."</p> + +<p>Secretary Stanton continued: "I have always<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +tried to be calm, but I think I lost my calmness +for a moment, and with great enthusiasm I +arose, approached the President, extended my +hand and said:</p> + +<p>"'Mr. President, if the reading of chapters +of "Artemus Ward" is a prelude to such a deed +as this, the book should be filed among the archives +of the nation, and the author should be +canonized. Henceforth I see the light and the +country is saved.'</p> + +<p>"And all said 'Amen!'</p> + +<p>"And Lincoln said to me in a droll way, just +as I was leaving, 'Stanton, it would have been +too early last Spring.'</p> + +<p>"And as I look back upon it, I think the President +was right."</p> + +<p>It was a fitting fulfillment of the Declaration +of Independence, which proclaimed that:</p> + +<p>"All men are created equal; that they are endowed +by their Creator with certain unalienable +rights; that among these are life, liberty and the +pursuit of happiness."</p> + +<p>That Declaration young Abe Lincoln first +read in the Gentryville constable's copy of the +"Statutes of Indiana."</p> + +<p>At noon on the first of January, 1863, William<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> +H. Seward, Secretary of State, with his son +Frederick, called at the White House with the +Emancipation document to be signed by the +President. It was just after the regular New +Year's Day reception.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln seated himself at his table, took +up the pen, dipped it in the ink, held the pen a +moment, then laid it down. After waiting a +while he went through the same movements as +before. Turning to his Secretary of State, he +said, to explain his hesitation:</p> + +<p>"I have been shaking hands since nine o'clock +this morning, and my arm is almost paralyzed. +If my name ever goes into history, it will be for +this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand +trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all who +examine the document hereafter will say:</p> + +<p>"'He hesitated.'"</p> + +<p>Turning back to the table, he took the pen +again and wrote, deliberately and firmly, the +"Abraham Lincoln" with which the world is +now familiar. Looking up at the Sewards, +father and son, he smiled and said, with a sigh +of relief:</p> + +<p>"<i>That will do!</i>"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Glory of Gettysburg</span></h3> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE BATTLE</div> + +<p>The Battle of Gettysburg, which raged +through July 1st, 2nd and 3d, 1863, was called +the "high water mark" of the Civil War, and +one of the "fifteen decisive battles" of history. +It was decisive because General Robert E. Lee, +with his brave army, was driven back from Gettysburg, +Pennsylvania. If Lee had been victorious +there, he might have destroyed Philadelphia +and New York. By such a brilliant stroke +he could have surrounded and captured Baltimore +and Washington. This would have +changed the grand result of the war.</p> + +<p>In point of numbers, bravery and genius, the +battle of Gettysburg was the greatest that had +ever been fought up to that time. Glorious as +this was, the greatest glory of Gettysburg lay +in the experiences and utterances of one man, +Abraham Lincoln, President of the United +States of America.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<p>It came at a terrible time in the progress of +the war, when everything seemed to be going +against the Union. There had been four disastrous +defeats—twice at Bull Run, followed by +Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Even the +battle of Antietam, accounted victory enough +for the President to issue his Emancipation +Proclamation, proved to be a drawn battle, with +terrific losses on both sides. Lee was driven +back from Maryland then, it is true, but he soon +won the great battles of Fredericksburg and +Chancellorsville, and had made his way north +into Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>The night after the battle of Chancellorsville +(fought May 2nd and 3d, 1863), was the darkest +in the history of the Civil War. President Lincoln +walked the floor the whole night long, crying +out in his anguish, "O what will the country +say!"</p> + +<p>To fill the decimated ranks of the army, the +Government had resorted to the draft, which +roused great opposition in the North and provoked +foolish, unreasoning riots in New York +City.</p> + +<p>After winning the battle of Gettysburg, which +the President hoped would end the war, General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +Meade, instead of announcing that he had captured +the Confederate army, stated that he had +"driven the invaders from our soil." Mr. Lincoln +fell on his knees and, covering his face with +his great, strong hands, cried out in tones of +agony:</p> + +<p>"'Driven the invaders from our soil!' My +God, is that all?"</p> + +<p>But Lincoln's spirits were bound to rise. Believing +he was "on God's side," he felt that the +cause of Right could not lose, for the Lord would +save His own.</p> + +<p>The next day, July 4th, 1863, came the surrender +of Vicksburg, the stronghold of the great +West. Chastened joy began to cover his gaunt +and pallid features, and the light of hope shone +again in his deep, gray eyes.</p> + +<p>Calling on General Sickles, in a Washington +hospital—for the general had lost a leg on the +second day of the battle of Gettysburg—the +President was asked why he believed that victory +would be given the Federal forces at Gettysburg.</p> + +<p>"I will tell you how it was. In the pinch of +your campaign up there, when everybody seemed +panic-stricken, and nobody could tell what was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +going to happen, I went to my room one day and +locked the door, and got down on my knees before +Almighty God, and prayed to him mightily +for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him this was +His war, and our cause His cause, but that +we couldn't stand another Fredericksburg or +Chancellorsville. And I then and there made a +solemn vow to Almighty God that if He would +stand by our boys at Gettysburg, I would stand +by Him. And He <i>did</i>, and I <i>will!</i>"</p> + +<p>The President's call on General Sickles was +on the Sunday after the three-days' battle of +Gettysburg, before the arrival of the gunboat at +Cairo, Illinois, with the glad tidings from Vicksburg, +which added new luster to the patriotic +joy of Independence Day. The telegraph wires +had been so generally cut on all sides of Vicksburg +that the news was sent to Cairo and telegraphed +to Washington. In proof that his faith +even included the Mississippi blockade he went +on:</p> + +<p>"Besides, I have been praying over Vicksburg +also, and believe our Heavenly Father is going +to give us victory there, too, because we need it, +in order to bisect the Confederacy, and let 'the +Father of Waters flow unvexed to the sea.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE ADDRESS</div> + +<p>Not long after the conflict at Gettysburg a +movement was on foot to devote a large part of +that battle-ground to a national cemetery.</p> + +<p>The Hon. Edward Everett, prominent in national +and educational affairs, and the greatest +living orator, was invited to deliver the grand +oration. The President was asked, if he could, +to come and make a few dedicatory remarks, but +Mr. Everett was to be the chief speaker of the +occasion.</p> + +<p>The Sunday before the 19th of November, +1863, the date of the dedication, the President +went with his friend Noah Brooks to Gardner's +gallery, in Washington, where he had promised +to sit for his photograph. While there he +showed Mr. Brooks a proof of Everett's oration +which had been sent to him. As this printed +address covered two newspaper pages, Mr. Lincoln +struck an attitude and quoted from a +speech by Daniel Webster:</p> + +<p>"Solid men of Boston, make no long orations!" +and burst out laughing. When Mr. +Brooks asked about <i>his</i> speech for that occasion, +Mr. Lincoln replied: "I've got it written, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +not licked into shape yet. It's short, <i>short</i>, +<span class="smcap">short</span>!"</p> + +<p>During the forenoon of the 18th, Secretary +John Hay was anxious lest the President be late +for the special Presidential train, which was to +leave at noon for Gettysburg.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry, John," said Mr. Lincoln. "I'm +like the man who was going to be hung, and saw +the crowds pushing and hurrying past the cart in +which he was being taken to the place of execution. +He called out to them: 'Don't hurry, +boys. There won't be anything going on till I +get there!'"</p> + +<p>When the train stopped, on the way to Gettysburg, +a little girl on the platform held up a +bouquet to Mr. Lincoln, lisping: "Flowerth for +the Prethident."</p> + +<p>He reached out, took her up and kissed her, +saying:</p> + +<p>"You're a sweet little rosebud yourself. I +hope your life will open into perpetual beauty +and goodness."</p> + +<p>About noon on the 19th of November, the distinguished +party arrived in a procession and +took seats on the platform erected for the exercises. +The President was seated in a rocking-chair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +placed there for him. There were fifteen +thousand people waiting, some of whom had +been standing in the sun for hours. It was a +warm day and a Quaker woman near the platform +fainted. An alarm was given and the unconscious +woman was in danger of being crushed.</p> + +<p>The President sprang to the edge of the staging +and called out:</p> + +<p>"Here, let me get hold of that lady."</p> + +<p>With a firm, strong grasp he extricated her +from the crush and seated her in his rocking-chair. +When that modest woman "came to," +she saw fifteen thousand pairs of eyes watching +her while the President of the United States +was fanning her tenderly.</p> + +<p>This was too much for her. She gasped:</p> + +<p>"I feel—better—now. I want to go—back to—my +husband!"</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear lady," said Mr. Lincoln. +"You are all right here. I had an awful time +pulling you up out of there, and I couldn't stick +you back again!"</p> + +<p>A youth who stood near the platform in front +of the President says that, while Mr. Everett +was orating, Mr. Lincoln took his "little +speech," as he called it, out of his pocket, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +conned it over like a schoolboy with a half-learned +lesson. The President had put the finishing +touches on it that morning. As it was +expected that the President would make a few +offhand remarks, no one seems to have noticed +its simple grandeur until it was printed in the +newspapers.</p> + +<p>Yet Mr. Lincoln was interrupted four or five +times during the two minutes by applause. The +fact that the President was speaking was sufficient, +no matter what he said. The people +would have applauded Abraham Lincoln if he +had merely recited the multiplication table! +When he finished, they gave "three times three +cheers" for the President of the United States, +and three cheers for each of the State Governors +present.</p> + +<p>That afternoon there was a patriotic service +in one of the churches which the President decided +to attend. Taking Secretary Seward with +him, he called on an old cobbler named John +Burns, of whose courage in the battle of Gettysburg +Mr. Lincoln had just heard. Those who +planned the dedication did not think the poor +cobbler was of much account. The old hero, now +known through Bret Harte's poem, "John<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> +Burns of Gettysburg," had the pride and joy of +having all the village and visitors see him march +to the church between President Lincoln and +Secretary Seward. This simple act was "just +like Lincoln!" He honored Gettysburg in thus +honoring one of its humblest citizens. It was +Abraham Lincoln's tribute to the patriotism of +the dear "common people" whom he said "God +must love."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">No End of a Boy</span>"</h3> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln</span>" +would be incomplete without some insight into +the perfect boyishness of the President of the +United States. When the cares of State and the +horrors of war had made his homely yet beautiful +face pallid and seamed, till it became a sensitive +map of the Civil War, it was said that the +only times the President was ever happy were +when he was playing with little Tad.</p> + +<p>He used to carry the boy on his shoulder or +"pick-a-back," cantering through the spacious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +rooms of the Executive Mansion, both yelling +like Comanches. The little boy was lonely after +Willie died, and the father's heart yearned over +the only boy left at home, for Robert was at Harvard +until near the close of the war, when he went +to the front as an aide to General Grant. So +little Tad was his father's most constant companion +and the President became the boy's only +playfellow. Mr. Lincoln, with a heart as full of +faith as a little child's, had always lived in +deep sympathy with the children, and this +feeling was intensified toward his own offspring.</p> + +<p>When Abe Lincoln was living in New Salem +he distinguished himself by caring for the little +children—a thing beneath the dignity of the +other young men of the settlement.</p> + +<p>Hannah Armstrong, wife of the Clary's Grove +bully, whom Abe had to "lick" to a finish in +order to establish himself on a solid basis in +New Salem society, told how friendly their relations +became after the thrashing he gave her +husband:</p> + +<p>"Abe would come to our house, drink milk, +eat mush, cornbread and butter, bring the children +candy and rock the cradle." (This seemed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +a strange thing to her.) "He would nurse babies—do +anything to accommodate anybody."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />HOW HE REPAID THE ARMSTRONGS' KINDNESS</div> + +<p>The Armstrong baby, Willie, grew to be a +youth of wrong habits, and was nicknamed +"Duff." He was drawn, one afternoon, into a +bad quarrel with another rough young man, +named Metzker, who was brutally beaten. In +the evening a vicious young man, named Morris, +joined the row and the lad was struck on the +head and died without telling who had dealt the +fatal blow. The blame was thrown upon "Duff" +Armstrong, who was arrested. Illinois law preventing +him from testifying in his own behalf.</p> + +<p>When Lawyer Lincoln heard of the case, he +wrote as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class='right'> +"<span class="smcap">Springfield, Ill.</span>, September, 1857.<br /></div> + +"<span class="smcap">Dear Mrs. Armstrong:</span><br /> + +<p>"I have just heard of your deep +affliction, and the arrest of your son for +murder.</p> + +<p>"I can hardly believe that he can be capable +of the crime alleged against him.</p> + +<p>"It does not seem possible. I am +anxious that he should be given a fair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> +trial, at any rate; and gratitude for +your long-continued kindness to me in +adverse circumstances prompts me to +offer my humble services gratuitously +in his behalf.</p> + +<p>"It will afford me an opportunity to +requite, in a small degree, the favors +I received at your hand, and that of +your lamented husband, when your +roof afforded me a grateful shelter, +without money and without price.</p> + +<div class='right'> +<span style="margin-right: 3em;">"Yours truly,</span><br /> +"<span class="smcap">A. Lincoln.</span>"<br /> +</div></div> + +<p>The feeling in the neighborhood where the +crime was committed was so intense that it was +decided that it must be taken over to the next +county to secure a fair trial. Lawyer Lincoln +was on hand to defend the son of his old friend.</p> + +<p>Besides those who testified to the bad character +of the young prisoner, one witness, named +Allen, testified that he saw "Duff" Armstrong +strike the blow which killed Metzker.</p> + +<p>"Couldn't you be mistaken about this?" asked +Mr. Lincoln. "What time did you see it?"</p> + +<p>"Between nine and ten o'clock that night."</p> + +<p>"Are you certain that you saw the prisoner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +strike the blow?—Be careful—remember—you +are under oath!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure. There is no doubt about it."</p> + +<p>"But wasn't it dark at that hour?"</p> + +<p>"No, the moon was shining bright."</p> + +<p>"Then you say there was a moon and it was +not dark."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was light enough for me to see him +hit Metzker on the head."</p> + +<p>"Now I want you to be very careful. I understand +you to say the murder was committed +about half past nine o'clock, and there was a +bright moon at the time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said the witness positively.</p> + +<p>"Very well. That is all."</p> + +<p>Then Lawyer Lincoln produced an almanac +showing that there was no moon that night till +the early hours of the morning.</p> + +<p>"This witness has perjured himself," he said, +"and his whole story is a lie."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Duff" Armstrong was promptly acquitted. +The tears of that widowed mother and the +gratitude of the boy he had rocked were the best<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +sort of pay to Lawyer Lincoln for an act of kindness +and life-saving.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"JUST WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH THE WHOLE WORLD!"</div> + +<p>A Springfield neighbor used to say that it was +almost a habit with Mr. Lincoln to carry his +children about on his shoulders. Indeed, the +man said he seldom saw the tall lawyer go by +without one or both boys perched on high or tugging +at the tails of his long coat. This neighbor +relates that he was attracted to the door of his +own house one day by a great noise of crying +children, and saw Mr. Lincoln passing with the +two boys in their usual position, and both were +howling lustily.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Lincoln, what's the matter?" he +asked in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"Just what's the matter with the whole +world," the lawyer replied coolly. "I've got +three walnuts, and each wants two."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE "BUCKING" CHESS BOARD</div> + +<p>Several years later Judge Treat, of Springfield +was playing chess with Mr. Lincoln in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +law office when Tad came in to call his father to +supper. The boy, impatient at the delay of the +slow and silent game, tried to break it up by a +flank movement against the chess board, but the +attacks were warded off, each time, by his +father's long arms.</p> + +<p>The child disappeared, and when the two +players had begun to believe they were to be permitted +to end the game in peace, the table suddenly +"bucked" and the board and chessmen +were sent flying all over the floor.</p> + +<p>Judge Treat was much vexed, and expressed +impatience, not hesitating to tell Mr. Lincoln +that the boy ought to be punished severely.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln replied, as he gently took down +his hat to go home to supper:</p> + +<p>"Considering the position of your pieces, +judge, at the time of the upheaval, I think you +have no reason to complain."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WHEN TAD GOT A SPANKING</div> + +<p>Yet, indulgent as he was, there were some +things Mr. Lincoln would not allow even his +youngest child to do. An observer who saw the +President-elect and his family in their train on +the way to Washington to take the helm of State,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> +relates that little Tad amused himself by raising +the car window an inch or two and trying, by +shutting it down suddenly, to catch the fingers +of the curious boys outside who were holding +themselves up by their hands on the window sill +of the car to catch sight of the new President +and his family.</p> + +<p>The President-elect, who had to go out to the +platform to make a little speech to a crowd at +nearly every stop, noticed Tad's attempts to +pinch the boys' fingers. He spoke sharply to his +son and commanded him to stop that. Tad +obeyed for a time, but his father, catching him +at the same trick again, leaned over, and taking +the little fellow across his knee, gave him a good, +sound spanking, exclaiming as he did so:</p> + +<p>"Why do you want to mash those boys' fingers?"</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE TRUE STORY OF BOB'S LOSING THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS</div> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was always lenient when the offense +was against himself. The Hon. Robert +Todd Lincoln, the only living son of the great +President, tells how the satchel containing his +father's inaugural address was lost for a time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> +Some writers have related the story of this loss, +stating that it all happened at Harrisburg, and +telling how the President-elect discovered a bag +like his own, and on opening it found only a +pack of greasy cards, a bottle of whisky and a +soiled paper collar. Also that Mr. Lincoln was +"reminded" of a cheap, ill-fitting story—but +none of these things really took place.</p> + +<p>Here is the true story, as related to the writer +by Robert Lincoln himself:</p> + +<p>"My father had confided to me the care of the +satchel containing his inaugural address. It was +lost for a little while during the stay of our party +at the old Bates House in Indianapolis. When +we entered the hotel I set the bag down with the +other luggage, which was all removed to a room +back of the clerk's desk.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I missed the valise I went right +to father, in great distress of mind. He ordered +a search made. We were naturally much +alarmed, for it was the only copy he had of his +inaugural address, which he had carefully written +before leaving Springfield. Of course, he +added certain parts after reaching Washington. +The missing bag was soon found in a safe place.</p> + +<p>"Instead of taking out the precious manuscript<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +and stuffing it into his own pocket, father +handed it right back to me, saying:</p> + +<p>"'There, Bob, see if you can't take better care +of it this time'—and you may be sure I was true +to the trust he placed in me. Why, I hardly let +that precious gripsack get out of my sight during +my waking hours all the rest of the long +roundabout journey to Washington."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE TERRIBLE LONELINESS AFTER WILLIE DIED</div> + +<p>The death of Willie, who was nearly three +years older than Tad, early in 1862, during their +first year in the White House, nearly broke his +father's heart. It was said that Mr. Lincoln +never recovered from that bereavement. It +made him yearn the more tenderly over his +youngest son who sadly missed the brother who +had been his constant companion.</p> + +<p>It was natural for a lad who was so much indulged +to take advantage of his freedom. Tad +had a slight impediment in his speech which +made the street urchins laugh at him, and even +cabinet members, because they could not understand +him, considered him a little nuisance. So +Tad, though known as "the child of the nation," +and greatly beloved and petted by those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +knew him for a lovable affectionate child, found +himself alone in a class by himself, and against +all classes of people.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />TURNING THE HOSE ON HIGH OFFICIALS</div> + +<p>He illustrated this spirit one day by getting +hold of the hose and turning it on some dignified +State officials, several army officers, and finally +on a soldier on guard who was ordered to charge +and take possession of that water battery. Although +that little escapade appealed to the President's +sense of humor, for he himself liked +nothing better than to take generals and pompous +officials down "a peg or two," Tad got well +spanked for the havoc he wrought that day.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />BREAKING INTO A CABINET MEETING</div> + +<p>The members of the President's cabinet had +reason to be annoyed by the boy's frequent interruptions. +He seemed to have the right of +way wherever his father happened to be. No +matter if Senator Sumner or Secretary Stanton +was discussing some weighty matter of State or +war, if Tad came in, his father turned from the +men of high estate to minister to the wants of his +little boy. He did it to get rid of him, for of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +course he knew Tad would raise such a racket +that no one could talk or think till <i>his</i> wants +were disposed of.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THE COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT +FOR TAD AND HIS BOY FRIENDS</div> + +<p>A story is told of the boy's interruption of a +council of war. This habit of Tad's enraged +Secretary Stanton, whose horror of the boy was +similar to that of an elephant for a mouse. The +President was giving his opinion on a certain +piece of strategy which he thought the general +in question might carry out—when a great noise +was heard out in the hall, followed by a number +of sharp raps on the door of the cabinet room.</p> + +<p>Strategy, war, everything was, for the moment +forgotten by the President, whose wan face +assumed an expression of unusual pleasure, +while he gathered up his great, weary length +from different parts of the room as he had half +lain, sprawling about, across and around his +chair and the great table.</p> + +<p>"That's Tad," he exclaimed, "I wonder what +that <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'boys'">boy</ins> wants now." On his way to open the +door, Mr. Lincoln explained that those knocks +had just been adopted by the boy and himself, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +part of the telegraph system, and that he was +obliged to let the lad in—"for it wouldn't do to +go back on the code now," he added, half in +apology for permitting such a sudden break in +their deliberations.</p> + +<p>When the door was opened, Tad, with flushed +face and sparkling eyes, sprang in and threw his +arms around his father's neck. The President +straightened up and embraced the boy with an +expression of happiness never seen on his face +except while playing with his little son.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln turned, with the boy still in his +arms, to explain that he and Tad had agreed +upon this telegraphic code to prevent the lad +from bursting in upon them without warning. +The members of the cabinet looked puzzled or +disgusted, as though they failed to see that several +startling raps could be any better than having +Tad break in with a whoop or a wail, as had +been the boy's custom.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />ISSUING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER ON PETER FOR PIE</div> + +<p>The boy raised a question of right. He had +besieged Peter, the colored steward, demanding +that a dinner be served to several urchins he had +picked up outside—two of whom were sons of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> +soldiers. Peter had protested that he "had +other fish to fry" just then.</p> + +<p>The President recognized at once that this was +a case for diplomacy. Turning to various members +of the cabinet, he called on each to contribute +from his store of wisdom, what would be +best to do in a case of such vast importance. +Tad looked on in wonder as his father set the +great machinery of government in motion to +make out a commissary order on black Peter, +which would force that astonished servant to deliver +certain pieces of pie and other desired eatables +to Tad, for himself and his boy friends.</p> + +<p>At last an "order" was prepared by the Chief +Executive of the United States directing "The +Commissary Department of the Presidential +Residence to issue rations to Lieutenant Tad +Lincoln and his five associates, two of whom are +the sons of soldiers in the Army of the Potomac."</p> + +<p>With an expression of deep gravity and a solemn +flourish, the President tendered this Commissary +Order to the lieutenant, his son, saying +as he presented the document:</p> + +<p>"I reckon Peter will <i>have</i> to come to time +now."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lieutenant Tad Lincoln, Patriot</span></h3> + + +<p>There was no more sturdy little patriot in the +whole country than Lieutenant Tad Lincoln, +"the child of the nation," nor had the President +of the United States a more devoted admirer +and follower than his own small son. A word +from his father would melt the lad to tears and +submission, or bring him out of a nervous tantrum +with his small round face wreathed with +smiles, and a chuckling in his throat of "Papa-day, +my papa-day!" No one knew exactly what +the boy meant by papa-day. It was his pet name +for the dearest man on earth, and it was his only +way of expressing the greatest pleasure his boyish +heart was able to hold. It was the "sweetest +word ever heard" by the war-burdened, crushed +and sorrowing soul of the broken-hearted President +of the United States.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln took his youngest son with him +everywhere—on his great mission to Fortress +Monroe, and they—"the long and the short of +it," the soldiers said—marched hand in hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +through the streets of fallen Richmond. The +understanding between the man and the boy was +so complete and sacred, that some acts which +seemed to outsiders absurd and ill-fitting, became +perfectly right and proper when certain +unknown facts were taken into account.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />WAVING THE "STARS AND BARS" OUT OF A WHITE +HOUSE WINDOW</div> + +<p>For instance, one night, during an enthusiastic +serenade at the White House, after a great +victory of the northern armies, when the President +had been out and made a happy speech in +response to the congratulations he had received, +everybody was horrified to see the Confederate +"Stars and Bars" waving frantically from an +upper window with shouts followed by shrieks +as old Edward, the faithful colored servant, +pulled in the flag and the boy who was guilty of +the mischief.</p> + +<p>"That was little Tad!" exclaimed some one in +the crowd. Many laughed, but some spectators +thought the boy ought to be punished for such a +treasonable outbreak on the part of a President's +boy in a soldier's uniform.</p> + +<p>"If he don't know any better than that," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +one man, "he should be taught better. It's an +insult to the North and the President ought to +stop it and apologize, too."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />"BOYS IN BLUE" AND "BOYS IN GRAY"</div> + +<p>But little Tad understood his father's spirit +better than the crowd did. He knew that the +President's love was not confined to "the Boys +in Blue," but that his heart went out also to "the +Boys in Gray." The soldiers were all "boys" to +him. They knew he loved them. They said +among themselves: "He cares for us. He takes +our part. We will fight for him; yes, we will die +for him."</p> + +<p>And a large part of the common soldier's patriotism +was this heart-response of "the boys" +to the great "boy" in the White House. That +was the meaning of their song as they trooped to +the front at his call:</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"We are coming, Father Abraham;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Three hundred thousand more."</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Little Tad saw plenty of evidences of his +father's love for the younger soldiers—the real +boys of the army. Going always with the President, +he had heard his "Papa-day" say of several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +youths condemned to be shot for sleeping at +their post or some like offense:</p> + +<p>"That boy is worth more above ground than +under;" or, "A live boy can serve his country +better than a dead one."</p> + +<p>"Give the boys a chance," was Abraham Lincoln's +motto. He hadn't had much of a chance +himself and he wanted all other boys to have a +fair show. His own father had been too hard +with him, and he was going to make it up to all +the other boys he could reach. This passion for +doing good to others began in the log cabin when +he had no idea he could ever be exercising his +loving kindness in the Executive Mansion—the +Home of the Nation. "With malice toward +none, with charity for all," was the rule of his +life in the backwoods as well as in the National +Capital.</p> + +<p>And "the Boys in Gray" were his "boys," too, +but they didn't understand, so they had wandered +away—they were a little wayward, but he +would win them back. The great chivalrous +South has learned, since those bitter, ruinous +days, that Abraham Lincoln was the best friend +the South then had in the North. Tad had seen +his father show great tenderness to all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> +"boys" he met in the gray uniform, but the +President had few opportunities to show his +tenderness to the South—though there was a secret +pigeonhole in his desk stuffed full of threats +of assassination. He was not afraid of death—indeed, +he was glad to die if it would do his +"boys" and the country any good. But it hurt +him deep in his heart to know that some of his +beloved children misunderstood him so that they +were willing to kill him!</p> + +<p>It was no one's bullet which made Abraham +Lincoln a martyr. All his life he had shown the +spirit of love which was willing to give his very +life if it could save or help others.</p> + +<p>All these things little Tad could not have explained, +but they were inbred into the deep understanding +of the big father and the small son +who were living in the White House as boys together.</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />MR. LINCOLN'S LAST SPEECH AND HOW TAD HELPED</div> + +<p>A few days after the war ended at Appomattox, +a great crowd came to the White House to +serenade the President. It was Tuesday evening, +April 11, 1865. Mr. Lincoln had written a +short address for the occasion. The times were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +so out of joint and every word was so important +that the President could not trust himself to +speak off-hand.</p> + +<p>A friend stepped out on the northern portico +with him to hold the candle by which Mr. Lincoln +was to read his speech. Little Tad was with +his father, as usual, and when the President had +finished reading a page of his manuscript he let +it flutter down, like a leaf, or a big white butterfly, +for Tad to catch. When the pages came too +slowly the boy pulled his father's coat-tail, piping +up in a muffled, excited tone:</p> + +<p>"Give me 'nother paper, Papa-day."</p> + +<p>To the few in the front of the crowd who witnessed +this little by-play it seemed ridiculous +that the President of the United States should +allow any child to behave like that and hamper +him while delivering a great address which +would wield a national, if not world-wide influence. +But little Tad did not trouble his father +in the least. It was a part of the little game they +were constantly playing together.</p> + +<p>The address opened with these words:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<span class="smcap">Fellow-Citizens</span>: We meet this +evening not in sorrow, but gladness of +heart. The evacuation of Petersburg<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +and Richmond, and the surrender of +the principal insurgent army (at Appomattox) +give hope of a righteous +and speedy peace whose joyous expression +cannot be restrained. In the midst +of this, however, He from whom all +blessings flow must not be forgotten. A +call for national thanksgiving is being +prepared and will be duly promulgated."</p></div> + + +<div class='center'><br />"GIVE US 'DIXIE,' BOYS!"</div> + +<p>Then he went on outlining a policy of peace +and friendship toward the South—showing a +spirit far higher and more advanced than that of +the listening crowd. On concluding his address +and bidding the assembled multitude good night, +he turned to the serenading band and shouted +joyously:</p> + +<p>"Give us 'Dixie,' boys; play 'Dixie.' We have +a right to that tune now."</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence. Some of the +people gasped, as they had done when they saw +Tad waving the Confederate flag at the window. +But the band, loyal even to a mere whim (as they +then thought it) of "Father Abraham," started +the long-forbidden tune, and the President, bowing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +retired, with little Tad, within the White +House. Those words, "Give us 'Dixie,' boys," +were President Lincoln's last public utterance.</p> + +<p>As Mr. Lincoln came in through the door after +speaking to the crowd, Mrs. Lincoln—who had +been, with a group of friends, looking on from +within—exclaimed to him:</p> + +<p>"You must not be so careless. Some one could +easily have shot you while you were speaking +there—and you know they are threatening your +life!"</p> + +<p>The President smiled at his wife, through a +look of inexpressible pain and sadness, and +shrugged his great shoulders, but "still he answered +not a word."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE SEPARATION OF THE TWO "BOYS"</div> + +<p>At a late hour Good Friday night, that same +week, little Tad came in alone at a basement door +of the White House from the National Theater, +where he knew the manager, and some of the +company, had made a great pet of him. He had +often gone there alone or with his tutor. How +he had heard the terrible news from Ford's +Theater is not known, but he came up the lower +stairway with heartrending cries like a wounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> +animal. Seeing Thomas Pendel, the faithful +doorkeeper, he wailed from his breaking heart:</p> + +<p>"Tom Pen, Tom Pen, they have killed Papa-day! +They have killed my Papa-day!"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>After the funeral the little fellow was more +lonely than ever. It was hard to have his pony +burned up in the stable. It was harder still to +lose Brother Willie, his constant companion, +and now his mother was desperately ill, and his +father had been killed. Tad, of course, could not +comprehend why any one could be so cruel and +wicked as to wish to murder his darling Papa-day, +who loved every one so!</p> + +<p>He wandered through the empty rooms, +aching with loneliness, murmuring softly to himself:</p> + +<p>"Papa-day, where's my Papa-day. I'm tired—tired +of playing alone. I want to play together. +Please, Papa-day, come back and play +with your little Tad."</p> + +<p>Young though he was he could not sleep long +at night. His sense of loneliness penetrated his +dreams. Sometimes he would chuckle and +gurgle in an ecstacy, as he had done when riding +on his father's back, romping through the stately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +rooms. He would throw his arm about the neck +of the doorkeeper or lifeguard who had lain +down beside him to console the boy and try to get +him to sleep. When the man spoke to comfort +him, Tad would find out his terrible mistake, +that his father was not with him.</p> + +<p>Then he would wail again in the bitterness of +his disappointment:</p> + +<p>"Papa-day, where's my Papa-day?"</p> + +<p>"Your papa's gone 'way off"—said his companion, +his voice breaking with emotion—"gone +to heaven."</p> + +<p>Tad opened his eyes wide with wonder. "Is +Papa-day happy in heaven?" he asked eagerly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, I'm sure he's happy there, Taddie +dear; now go to sleep."</p> + +<p>"Papa-day's happy. I'm glad—<i>so</i> glad!"—sighed +the little boy—"for Papa-day never was +happy here."</p> + +<p>Then he fell into his first sweet sleep since that +terrible night.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + + +<div class='center'><br />GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE"</div> + +<p>The fond-hearted little fellow went abroad +with his mother a few years after the tragedy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> +that broke both their lives. By a surgical operation, +and by struggling manfully, he had corrected +the imperfection in his speech. But the +heart of little Tad had been broken. While still +a lad he joined his fond father in the Beyond.</p> + +<p>"Give the boys a chance," had amounted to a +passion with Abraham Lincoln, yet through +great wickedness and sad misunderstandings his +own little son was robbed of this great boon. +Little Tad had been denied the one chance he +sorely needed for his very existence. For this, +as for all the inequities the great heart of the +White House was prepared. His spirit had +shone through his whole life as if in letters of +living fire:</p> + +<p>"With malice toward none; with charity for +all."</p> + + +<div class='center'><br />THE END</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><span class="smcap">Altemus Books</span></h2> + +<div class='center'> +The Best and Least Expensive Books<br /> +for Twentieth Century Boys and Girls<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + + + + +<h2>BOOKS FOR BOYS</h2> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/ad1grammar.png" width="106" height="150" alt="The Grammar School Boys of Gridley" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + + + +<p>Dick Prescott, Dan Dalzell, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are always +found in the forefront of things—in scholarship, +athletics, and in school-boy fun. Small wonder +that this series has made such a hit with the +boys of America.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF +GRIDLEY; or, Dick and Co. Start Things +Moving.</div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; +or, Dick and Co. at Winter +Sports.</div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE +WOODS; or, Dick and Co. Trail Fun and +Knowledge.</div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN +SUMMER ATHLETICS; or, Dick and +Co. Make Their Fame Secure.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>This series of stories, based on the actual doings of High School boys, +teems with incidents in athletics and school-boy fun. The real Americanism +of Dick Prescott and his chums will excite the admiration of every +reader.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; or, Dick and Co.'s First Year +Pranks and Sports.</div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; or, Dick and Co. on the Gridley +Diamond.</div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; or, Dick and Co. Grilling on the +Football Gridiron.</div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; or, Dick and Co. +Leading the Athletic Vanguard.</div> + +<div class='center'>Sold by all Booksellers or Sent Postpaid on Receipt of Price.</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class='center'> +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY<br /> +1326-1336 Vine Street, PHILADELPHIA, PA.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS VACATION<br /> +SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> +<div class="figright" style="width: 109px;"> +<img src="images/ad2high.png" width="109" height="150" alt="The High School Boys Canoe Club" title="" /> +</div> +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + + + +<p>Outdoor sports are the keynote of +these volumes. Boys will alternately +thrill and chuckle over these splendid +narratives of the further adventures of +Dick Prescott and his chums.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE +CLUB; or, Dick and Co.'s Rivals on Lake +Pleasant.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER +CAMP; or, The Dick Prescott Six Training +for the Gridley Eleven.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; or, Dick and Co. +in the Wilderness.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; or, Dick and Co. +Making Themselves "Hard as Nails."</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE YOUNG ENGINEERS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton meet every requirement +as young civil engineers with pick, shovel, and pluck, and with +resourcefulness and determination overcome all obstacles.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; or, At Railroad Building +in Earnest.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; or, Laying Tracks on +the "Man-Killer" Quicksand.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; or, Seeking Fortune on +the Turn of a Pick.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; or, Fighting the Mine +Swindlers.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE YOUNG ENGINEERS ON THE GULF; or, The Dread Mystery +of the Million-Dollar Breakwater.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE ANNAPOLIS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 105px;"> +<img src="images/ad3dave.png" width="105" height="150" alt="Dave Darrin's First Year at Annapolis" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Dave Darrin and Dan Dalzell proved +their mettle at the U. S. Naval Academy +and gave promise of what might be expected +of them in the great war that +was even at that moment hovering over +the world.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; +or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at +the U. S. Naval Academy.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT +ANNAPOLIS; or, Two Midshipmen as +Naval Academy "Youngsters."<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; or, Leaders of +the Second Class Midshipmen.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; or, Headed +for Graduation and the Big Cruise.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WEST POINT SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>Dick Prescott and Greg Holmes are not human wonders, +but a pair of average bright American boys who had a hard +enough time working their way through West Point. Their +experiences will inspire all other American boys.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; or, Two +Chums in the Cadet Gray.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; or, Finding +the Glory of the Soldier's Life.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; or, Standing +Firm for Flag and Honor.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; or, Ready +to Drop the Gray for Shoulder Straps.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BATTLESHIP BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 102px;"> +<img src="images/ad4battleship.png" width="102" height="150" alt="The Battleship Boys at Sea" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Inspiring adventure, moving incidents +over the seven seas, and in the air +above them; fighting the Huns from the +decks of sinking ships, and coming to +grief above the clouds; strange peoples +and still stranger experiences, are some +of the things that the readers of this +series will live when they cruise with +Dan Davis and Sam Hickey. Mr. Patchin +has lived every phase of the life he +writes about, and his stories truly depict +life in the various branches of the +navy—stories that glow with the spirit +of patriotism that has made the American navy what it proved +itself to be in the world war.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; or, Two Apprentices in Uncle +Sam's Navy.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS' FIRST STEP UPWARD; or, Winning +Their Grades as Petty Officers.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; or, Earning +New Ratings in European Seas.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; or, Upholding the +American Flag in a Honduras Revolution.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS UNDER FIRE; or, The Dash for the +Besieged Kam Shau Mission.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE WARDROOM; or, Winning +Their Commissions as Line Officers.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">7. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS WITH THE ADRIATIC CHASERS; or, +Blocking the Path of the Undersea Raiders.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">8. THE BATTLESHIP BOYS ON SKY PATROL; or, Fighting the Hun +from Above the Clouds.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BOYS OF THE ARMY SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/ad5army.png" width="107" height="150" alt="Uncle Sam's Boys in the Ranks" title="" /> +</div><div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + + + +<p>These stimulating stories are among +the best of their class that have ever +been written. They breathe the life and +spirit of our army of today, and in +which Uncle Sam's Boys fought with a +courage and devotion excelled by none +in the world war. There is no better +way to instil patriotism in the coming +generation than by placing in the hands +of juvenile readers books in which a +romantic atmosphere is thrown around +the boys of the army with thrilling +plots that boys love. The books of this +series tell in story form the life of a soldier from the rookie +stage until he has qualified for an officer's commission, and, +among other things, present a true picture of the desperate +days in fighting the Huns.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; or, Two Recruits in the +United States Army.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; or, Winning Corporals' +Chevrons.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; or, Handling Their First +Real Commands.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; or, Following the +Flag Against the Moros.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON THEIR METTLE; or, A Chance to Win +Officers' Commissions.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS LIEUTENANTS; or, Serving Old Glory +as Line Officers.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">7. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS WITH PERSHING; or, Dick Prescott at +Grips with the Boche.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">8. UNCLE SAM'S BOYS SMASH THE GERMANS; or, Helping the +Allies Wind Up the Great World War.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DAVE DARRIN SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/ad6daved.png" width="108" height="150" alt="Dave Darrin at Vera Cruz" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>No more efficient officers ever paced +the deck of a man-o'-war than Dave Darrin +and Dan Dalzell. The last two volumes +chronicle the experiences of Dave +and Dan in the great war.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; or, Fighting +With the U. S. Navy in Mexico.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. DAVE DARRIN ON MEDITERRANEAN +SERVICE; or, With Dan Dalzell on European +Duty.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. DAVE DARRIN'S SOUTH AMERICAN +CRUISE; or, Two Innocent Young Naval +Tools of an Infamous Conspiracy.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. DAVE DARRIN ON THE ASIATIC STATION; or, Winning Lieutenants' +Commissions on the Admiral's Flagship.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. DAVE DARRIN AND THE GERMAN SUBMARINES; or, Making +a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. DAVE DARRIN AFTER THE MINE LAYERS; or, Hitting the +Enemy a Hard Naval Blow.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE CONQUEST OF THE UNITED<br /> +STATES SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>If the United States had not entered the war many things +might have happened to America. No liberty-loving American +boy can afford to miss reading these books.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE INVASION OF THE UNITED STATES; or, Uncle Sam's Boys +at the Capture of Boston.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. IN THE BATTLE FOR NEW YORK; or, Uncle Sam's Boys in the +Desperate Struggle for the Metropolis.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. AT THE DEFENSE OF PITTSBURGH; or, The Struggle to Save +America's "Fighting Steel" Supply.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. MAKING THE LAST STAND FOR OLD GLORY; or, Uncle Sam's +Boys in the Last Frantic Drive.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/ad7motorboat.png" width="107" height="150" alt="The Motor-Boat Club of Kennebec" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Bright and sparkling as the waters +over which the Motor Boat Boys sail. +Once cast off for a cruise with these +hardy young fresh-water navigators +the reader will not ask to be "put +ashore" until the home port has finally +been made. Manliness and pluck are +reflected on every page; the plots are +ingenious, the action swift, and the interest +always tense. There is neither +a yawn in a paragraph nor a dull moment +in a chapter in this stirring +series. No boy or girl will willingly +lay down a volume of it until "the end." The stories also embody +much useful information about the operation and handling +of small power boats.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; or, The Secret +of Smugglers' Island.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; or, The Mystery of +the Dunstan Heir.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; or, A Daring +Marine Game at Racing Speed.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; or, The Dot, +Dash and Dare Cruise.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; or, Laying the Ghost +of Alligator Swamp.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; or, A +Thrilling Capture in the Great Fog.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">7. THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; or, The +Flying Dutchman of the Big Fresh Water.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE SUBMARINE BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By VICTOR G. DURHAM</h3> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 108px;"> +<img src="images/ad8sub.png" width="108" height="150" alt="The Submarine Boys for the Flag" title="" /> +</div> +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + + + +<p>A voyage in an undersea boat! What +boy has not done so time and again in +his youthful dreams? The Submarine +Boys did it in reality, diving into the +dark depths of the sea, then, like Father +Neptune, rising dripping from the deep +to sunlight and safety. Yet it was not +all easy sailing for the Submarine Boys, +for these hardy young "undersea pirates" +experienced a full measure of excitement +and had their share of thrills, +as all who sail under the surface of the +seas are certain to do. The author +knows undersea boats, and the reader who voyages with him +may look forward to an instructive as well as lively cruise.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; or, Life on a Diving Torpedo +Boat.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; or, "Making Good" as +Young Experts.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; or, The Prize Detail +at Annapolis.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; or, Dodging the +Sharks of the Deep.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; or, The Young +Kings of the Deep.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; or, Deeding Their Lives +to Uncle Sam.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">7. THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; or, Breaking +Up the New Jersey Customs Frauds.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">8. THE SUBMARINE BOYS' SECRET MISSION; or, Beating an Ambassador's +Game.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PONY RIDER BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/ad9pony.png" width="107" height="150" alt="The Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>This unusual and popular series +tells vividly the story of four adventure-loving +lads, who, with their +guardian, spent their summer vacations +in the saddle in search of +recreation and healthful adventure. +Long journeys over mountain, +through the fastness of primitive +forest and across burning desert, +lead them into the wild places of +their native land as well as into +many strange and exciting experiences. +There is not a dull moment +in the series.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; or, The Secret of +the Lost Claim.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; or, The Veiled Riddle of +the Plains.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; or, The Mystery of +the Old Custer Trail.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; or, The Secret of +Ruby Mountain.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; or, Finding a Key +to the Desert Maze.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; or, The End of +the Silver Trail.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">7. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; or, The +Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">8. THE PONY RIDER BOYS WITH THE TEXAS RANGERS; or, +On the Trail of the Border Bandits.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">9. THE PONY RIDER BOYS ON THE BLUE RIDGE; or, A Lucky +Find in the Carolina Mountains.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">10. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW ENGLAND; or, An Exciting +Quest in the Maine Wilderness.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">11. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN LOUISIANA; or, Following the +Game Trails in the Canebrake.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">12. THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN ALASKA; or, The Gold Diggers of +Taku Pass.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE CIRCUS BOYS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 107px;"> +<img src="images/ad10circus.png" width="107" height="150" alt="The Circus Boys on the Flying Rings" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>No call to the heart of the youth of +America finds a readier response than the +call of the billowing canvas, the big red +wagons, the crash of the circus band and +the trill of the ringmaster's whistle. It +is a call that captures the imagination of +old and young alike, and so do the books +of this series capture and enthrall the +reader, for they were written by one who, +besides wielding a master pen, has followed +the sawdust trail from coast to +coast, who knows the circus people and +the sturdy manliness of those who do +and dare for the entertainment of millions +of circus-goers when the grass is +green. Mr. Darlington paints a true picture of the circus life.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; or, Making the +Start in the Sawdust Life.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; or, Winning +New Laurels on the Tanbark.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; or, Winning the Plaudits of +the Sunny South.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; or, Afloat with the +Big Show on the Big River.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE PLAINS; or, The Young Advance +Agents Ahead of the Show.<br /><br /></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BOOKS FOR GIRLS</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE MADGE MORTON SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By AMY D. V. CHALMERS</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>The heroines of these stories are four girls, who with enthusiasm +for outdoor life, transformed a dilapidated canal +boat into a pretty floating summer home. They christened +the craft "The Merry Maid" and launched it on the shore of +Chesapeake Bay. The stories are full of fun and adventure, +with not a dull moment anywhere.</p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Madge Morton Books"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. MADGE MORTON—CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. MADGE MORTON'S SECRET.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. MADGE MORTON'S TRUST.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JANET ALDRIDGE</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 110px;"> +<img src="images/ad11meadowbrook.png" width="110" height="150" alt="The Meadow-Brook Girls Under Canvas" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Four clever girls go hiking around +the country and meet with many thrilling +and provoking adventures. These +stories pulsate with the atmosphere of +outdoor life.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER +CANVAS; or, Fun and Frolic in the Summer +Camp.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS +COUNTRY; or, The Young Pathfinders +on a Summer Hike.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT; +or, The Stormy Cruise of the Red Rover.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS; or, The Missing +Pilot of the White Mountains.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA; or, The Loss of the +Lonesome Bar.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS; or, +Winning Out in the Big Tournament.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By LAURA DENT CRANE</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>Girls as well as boys love wholesome adventure, a wealth +of which is found in many forms and in many scenes in the +volumes of this series.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; or, Watching the Summer +Parade.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; or, The +Ghost of Lost Man's Trail.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; or, Fighting +Fire in Sleepy Hollow.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; or, Winning Out +Against Heavy Odds.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">5. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; or, Proving Their +Mettle Under Southern Skies.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">6. THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; or, Checkmating +the Plots of Foreign Spies.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 102px;"> +<img src="images/ad12grace.png" width="102" height="150" alt="Grace Harlowe's Plebe Year at High School" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The scenes, episodes, and adventures +through which Grace Harlowe and her +intimate chums pass in the course of +these stories are pictured with a vivacity +that at once takes the young feminine +captive.</p> + +<div class="hang1">1. GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT +HIGH SCHOOL; or, The Merry Doings of +the Oakdale Freshmen Girls.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">2. GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR +AT HIGH SCHOOL; or, The Record of the +Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">3. GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; or, +Fast Friends in the Sororities.<br /><br /></div> + +<div class="hang1">4. GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; or, +The Parting of the Ways.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE COLLEGE GIRLS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>Every school and college girl will recognize that the account +of Grace Harlowe's experiences at Overton College is +true to life.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="The College Girls Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. GRACE HARLOWE'S PROBLEM.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7. GRACE HARLOWE'S GOLDEN SUMMER.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE GRACE HARLOWE OVERSEAS<br /> +SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 106px;"> +<img src="images/ad13graceoverseas.png" width="106" height="150" alt="Grace Harlowe Overseas" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Grace Harlowe went with the Overton +College Red Cross Unit to France, +there to serve her country by aiding +the American fighting forces.</p> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Grace Harlowe Overseas Series"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. GRACE HARLOWE OVERSEAS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. GRACE HARLOWE WITH THE RED CROSS IN FRANCE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. GRACE HARLOWE WITH THE MARINES AT CHATEAU THIERRY.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. GRACE HARLOWE WITH THE U. S. TROOPS IN THE ARGONNE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. GRACE HARLOWE WITH THE YANKEE SHOCK BOYS AT ST. QUENTIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. GRACE HARLOWE WITH THE AMERICAN ARMY ON THE RHINE.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE GRACE HARLOWE OVERLAND<br /> +RIDERS SERIES</h2> + +<h3>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</h3> + +<div class='center'>PRICE, $1.00 EACH</div> + +<p>Grace Harlowe and her friends seek adventure on the +mountain trails and in the wilder sections of their homeland, +after their return from service in France.</p> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="THE GRACE HARLOWE OVERLAND RIDERS SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>1. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS ON THE OLD APACHE TRAIL.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>2. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS ON THE GREAT AMERICAN DESERT.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>3. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS AMONG THE KENTUCKY MOUNTAINEERS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>4. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS IN THE GREA NORTH WOODS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>5. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS IN THE HIGH SIERRAS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>6. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS IN THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>7. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS IN THE BLACK HILLS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>8. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS AT CIRCLE O RANCH.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>9. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS AMONG THE BORDER GUERRILLAS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>10. GRACE HARLOWE'S OVERLAND RIDERS ON THE LOST RIVER TRAIL.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ALTEMUS' NEW ILLUSTRATED<br /> +YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY</h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 116px;"> +<img src="images/ad14young.png" width="116" height="150" alt="Black Beauty" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>A series of choice literature for children, +selected from the best and most popular +works. Printed on fine paper from large type, +with numerous illustrations in color and black +and white, by the most famous artists, making +the most attractive series of juvenile classics +before the public.</p> + +<div class='center'> +Fine English Cloth, Handsome New Original Designs<br /> +PRICE, 75 Cents Each<br /> +</div> + +<p>THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE. 70 illustrations.</p> + +<p>ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND. 42 illustrations.</p> + +<p>THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE. 50 illustrations.</p> + +<p>BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. 46 illustrations.</p> + +<p>A CHILD'S STORY OF THE BIBLE. 72 illustrations.</p> + +<p>A CHILD'S LIFE OF CHRIST. 49 illustrations.</p> + +<p>ÆSOP'S FABLES. 62 illustrations.</p> + +<p>SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. 50 illustrations.</p> + +<p>THE MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY. By Edward Everett Hale. Illustrated.</p> + +<p>GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. 50 illustrations.</p> + +<p>MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES, JINGLES, AND FAIRY TALES. 234 illustrations.</p> + +<p>WOOD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 80 illustrations.</p> + +<p>BLACK BEAUTY. By Anna Sewell. 50 illustrations.</p> + +<p>ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 130 illustrations.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>WEE BOOKS FOR WEE FOLKS</h2> + +<p>For little hands to fondle and for mother to read aloud. +Every ounce of them will give a ton of joy.</p> + + +<h3>WEE BOOKS FOR WEE FOLKS SERIES</h3> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 115px;"> +<img src="images/ad15wee.png" width="115" height="150" alt="A Child's Garden of Verses" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>MOTHER GOOSE NURSERY TALES.</p> + +<p>MOTHER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES.</p> + +<p>A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES. Robert Louis Stevenson.</p> + +<p>THE FOOLISH FOX.</p> + +<p>THREE LITTLE PIGS.</p> + +<p>THE ROBBER KITTEN.</p> + +<p>LITTLE BLACK SAMBO.</p> + +<p>THE LITTLE SMALL RED HEN.</p> + +<p>THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.</p> + +<p>THE LITTLE WISE CHICKEN THAT KNEW IT ALL.</p> + +<p>THE FOUR LITTLE PIGS THAT DIDN'T HAVE ANY MOTHER.</p> + +<p>THE LITTLE PUPPY THAT WANTED TO KNOW TOO MUCH.</p> + +<p>THE COCK, THE MOUSE AND THE LITTLE RED HEN.</p> + +<p>GRUNTY GRUNTS AND SMILEY SMILE—INDOORS.</p> + +<p>GRUNTY GRUNTS AND SMILEY SMILE—OUTDOORS.</p> + +<p>I DON'T WANT TO WEAR COATS AND THINGS.</p> + +<p>I DON'T WANT TO GO TO BED.</p> + +<p>LITTLE SALLIE MANDY.</p> + +<p>JIMMY SLIDERLEGS.</p> + +<p>SLOVENLY BETSY.</p> + +<p>LITTLE BLACK SAMBO AND THE BABY ELEPHANT.</p> + + +<h3>WEE FOLKS BIBLE STORIES SERIES</h3> + +<p>WEE FOLKS STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. In Words +of One Syllable.</p> + +<p>WEE FOLKS STORIES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT. In Words +of One Syllable.</p> + +<p>WEE FOLKS LIFE OF CHRIST.</p> + +<p>WEE FOLKS BIBLE A B C BOOK.</p> + +<p>LITTLE PRAYERS FOR LITTLE LIPS.</p> + + +<h3>THE WISH FAIRY SERIES</h3> + +<p>THE WISH FAIRY OF THE SUNSHINE AND SHADOW FOREST.</p> + +<p>THE WISH FAIRY AND DEWY DEAR.</p> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED IN COLORS. PRICE, 50c. EACH<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>WEE FOLKS PETER RABBIT SERIES</h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 115px;"> +<img src="images/ad16weerabbit.png" width="115" height="150" alt="Peter Rabbit at the Farm" title="" /> +</div> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="WEE FOLKS PETER RABBIT SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>HOW PETER RABBIT WENT TO SEA.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AT THE FARM.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT'S CHRISTMAS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT'S EASTER.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>WHEN PETER RABBIT WENT TO SCHOOL.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT'S BIRTHDAY.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT GOES A-VISITING.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND JACK-THE-JUMPER.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE BOY.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND LITTLE WHITE RABBIT.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND THE OLD WITCH WOMAN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND THE BIG BROWN BEAR.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND THE TINYBITS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>WHEN PETER RABBIT WENT A-FISHING.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PETER RABBIT AND THE TWO TERRIBLE FOXES.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<h3>WEE FOLKS CINDERELLA SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="WEE FOLKS CINDERELLA SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>THE WONDERFUL STORY OF CINDERELLA.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE STORY OF LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OLDTIME STORY OF THE THREE BEARS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THE OLD, OLD STORY OF POOR COCK ROBIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>CHICKEN LITTLE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>PUSS IN BOOTS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>THREE LITTLE KITTENS THAT LOST THEIR MITTENS.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JACK THE GIANT KILLER.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>TOM THUMB.</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<h3>LITTLE BUNNIE BUNNIEKIN SERIES</h3> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="LITTLE BUNNIE BUNNIEKIN SERIES"> +<tr><td align='left'>LITTLE BUNNIE BUNNIEKIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LITTLE LAMBIE LAMBKIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LITTLE MOUSIE MOUSIEKIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LITTLE DEARIE DEER.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>LITTLE SQUIRRELIE SQUIRRELIEKIN.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>OLD RED REYNARD THE FOX.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>HOOTIE TOOTS OF HOLLOW TREE.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>FLAPSY FLOPPER OF THE FARM YARD.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED IN COLORS. PRICE, 50c. EACH<br /> +</div> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln, by +Wayne Whipple + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF YOUNG ABRAHAM LINCOLN *** + +***** This file should be named 22925-h.htm or 22925-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/9/2/22925/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell, Emmy and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad10circus.png b/22925-h/images/ad10circus.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..34b7d65 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad10circus.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad11meadowbrook.png b/22925-h/images/ad11meadowbrook.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec35cbb --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad11meadowbrook.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad12grace.png b/22925-h/images/ad12grace.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e25bdab --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad12grace.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad13graceoverseas.png b/22925-h/images/ad13graceoverseas.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..86790f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad13graceoverseas.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad14young.png b/22925-h/images/ad14young.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..93616b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad14young.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad15wee.png b/22925-h/images/ad15wee.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e49e05 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad15wee.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad16weerabbit.png b/22925-h/images/ad16weerabbit.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63d61b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad16weerabbit.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad1grammar.png b/22925-h/images/ad1grammar.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8096c9a --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad1grammar.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad2high.png b/22925-h/images/ad2high.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8827a78 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad2high.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad3dave.png b/22925-h/images/ad3dave.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fe61a25 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad3dave.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad4battleship.png b/22925-h/images/ad4battleship.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3446aa0 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad4battleship.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad5army.png b/22925-h/images/ad5army.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f6f2d76 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad5army.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad6daved.png b/22925-h/images/ad6daved.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f7a8b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad6daved.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad7motorboat.png b/22925-h/images/ad7motorboat.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ad16bc --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad7motorboat.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad8sub.png b/22925-h/images/ad8sub.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f214dc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad8sub.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/ad9pony.png b/22925-h/images/ad9pony.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f8e34a --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/ad9pony.png diff --git a/22925-h/images/cover.jpg b/22925-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4e2fc5d --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/22925-h/images/frontis.jpg b/22925-h/images/frontis.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0cfc5d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/22925-h/images/frontis.jpg |
