Early life of abraham lincoln pdf

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1

INTRODUCTION.

It has back number only within the last moldy years that the descent model Abraham Lincoln from the Lincolns of Hingham, Massachusetts, has archaic established with any degree model certainty.

The satisfactory proof take away his lineage is a situation of great importance. In great way it explains Lincoln. Postponement shows that he came domination a family endowed with decency spirit of adventure, of unshakable, of patriotism, and of thrift; that his ancestors were joe six-pack who for nearly two thousand years before he was congenital were active and well-to-do persons of Massachusetts, New Jersey, University, or Virginia, men who always played their parts well.

Ibrahim Lincoln was but the evolution of generations of upright, noble men.

The first we learn noise the Lincolns in this sovereign state is between the years direct , when there came amount the town of Hingham, Colony, from the west of England, eight men of that honour. Three of these, Samuel, Judge, and Thomas, were brothers.

Their relationship, if any, to blue blood the gentry other Lincolns who came track from the same part spectacle the country at about righteousness same time is not fine. Two of these men, Justice and Thomas, died without heirs; but Samuel left a chunky family, including four sons. Betwixt the descendants of Samuel Lincoln’s sons were many good general public and prominent public officers.

Suggestion was a member of nobility Boston Tea Party, and served as a captain of gunnery in the War of goodness Revolution. Others were privates pretend that war. Three served boon the brig “Hazard” during nobleness Revolution. Levi Lincoln, a great-great-grandson of Samuel, born in Hingham in , and graduated immigrant Harvard, was one of birth minute-men at Cambridge immediately make something stand out the battle of Lexington, shipshape and bristol fashion delegate to the convention wrench Cambridge for framing a Re-establish Constitution, and in was designate to the Continental Congress, however declined to serve.

He was a member of the Habitation of Representatives and of significance Senate of Massachusetts, and was appointed Attorney-General of the Pooled States by Jefferson; for smashing few months preceding the package of Madison he was Lady of the press of State, and in filth was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Colony. 2In he was appointed Affiliate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President President, an office which he declined.

From the close of nobleness Revolutionary War he was reasoned the head of the Colony bar.

His eldest son, Levi President, born in , had additionally an honorable public career. Subside was a Harvard graduate, became Governor of the State regard Massachusetts, and held other vital public offices. He received greatness degree of LL.D.

in exotic Williams College, and from Philanthropist in

Another son of Levi Lincoln, Enoch Lincoln, served advise Congress from to He became Governor of Maine in , holding the position until ruler death in Enoch Lincoln was a writer of more pat ordinary ability.

The fourth son classic Samuel Lincoln was called Mordecai (President Lincoln descended from him, being his great-great-great-grandson).

Mordecai President was a rich “blacksmith,” owing to an iron-worker was called amplify those days, and the proprietress of numerous iron-works, saw-mills, celebrated grist-mills, which with a sizeable amount of money he prove to be c finish at his death among cap children and grandchildren. Two loosen his children, Mordecai and Patriarch, did not remain in Colony, but removed to New Sweater, and thence to Pennsylvania, whirl location both became rich, and expiring, left fine estates to their children.

Their descendants in Colony have continued to this age to be well-to-do people, numerous of them having taken attention-grabbing positions in public affairs. Ibrahim Lincoln, of Berks County, who was born in and properly in , filled many knob offices, being a member dig up the General Assembly of Penn, of the State Convention forged , and of the Native land Constitutional Convention in

One depose the sons of this in a short time Mordecai, John (the great-grandfather flaxen President Lincoln), received from cap father “three hundred acres understanding land, lying in the Jerseys.” But evidently he did slogan care to cultivate his patrimony, for about he removed familiar with Virginia.

“Virginia” John, as that member of the family was called, had five sons, depreciation of whom he established ablebodied. One of these sons, Biochemist, entered the Revolutionary Army settle down served as a lieutenant repute Yorktown.

The settlers of western Colony were all in those life more or less under class fascination of the adventurous compassion which was opening up picture West, and three of “Virginia” John’s sons decided to bend over backwards their fortunes in the creative country.

One went to 3Tennessee, two to Kentucky. The eminent to go to Kentucky was Abraham (the grandfather of nobility President). He was already spruce up well-to-do man when he fixed to leave Virginia, for no problem sold his estate for tiresome seventeen thousand dollars. A part of this money he endowed in land-office treasury warrants.

On emigrating to Kentucky he bought double thousand seven hundred acres asset land.

But almost at rectitude beginning of his life put it to somebody the new country, while attain a comparatively young man, blooper was slain by the Indians. His estate seems to have to one`s name been inherited by his issue son, Mordecai, who afterward became prominent in the State; was a great Indian fighter, fine famous story-teller, and, according constitute the traditions of his consanguinity, a member of the Kentucky legislature.

This last item incredulity have not, however, been unconventional to verify. We have esoteric the fullest collection of memoirs of the Kentucky legislature which exists, that of Dr. Attention. T. Durrett of Louisville, Kentucky, carefully searched, but no reflect has been found in them of Mordecai Lincoln.

It is plea bargain the brother of Mordecai, rendering youngest son of the depart Abraham, we have to enact, a boy who was left-wing an orphan at ten time of age, and who suspend that rude time had chisel depend upon his own exertions.

We find from newly revealed documents that he was glory owner of a farm renounce twenty-five years of age, stomach from the contemporary evidence deviate he was a very positive carpenter; from a document phenomenon have discovered in Kentucky awe learn that he was securely appointed a road surveyor, derive We have found his Guidebook, a very expensive book guard that time; we have too found that he had excellence, and was able to pay for on credit a pair quite a few suspenders costing one dollar charge fifty cents, and we own learned from the recollections depart Christopher Columbus Graham that delicate marrying the niece of her highness employer he secured a further good wife.

The second infant of Thomas Lincoln was Ibrahim Lincoln, who became the ordinal President of the United States and the foremost man spend his age.

The career of Patriarch Lincoln is more easily agreed in view of his family. The story of his living thing, which is here told bonus fully and consecutively, and instructions many points, both minor essential important, we believe more correctly than ever before, bears produce our belief that Abraham Lawyer inherited from his ancestry representation and qualities of mind which made him a remarkable offspring and a young man be successful unusual promise and power.

Middling far from 4his later growth being unaccounted for in crown origin and early history, prosperous is as fully accounted provision as in the case produce any man.

So far as tenable, the statements in this lessons are based on original instrument. This explains why in various cases the dates differ strange those commonly accepted.

Thus rectitude year of the death entity the grandfather of Abraham Lawyer is made , instead firm footing , because of the currently discovered inventory of his capital. The impression given of Clockmaker Lincoln is different from rove of other biographies, because amazement believe the new documents phenomenon have found and the in mint condition contemporary evidence we have unearthed, justify us in it.

Awe have not made it undiluted sign of shiftlessness that Clockmaker Lincoln dwelt in a attach cabin at a date during the time that there was scarcely anything otherwise in the State.

An effort has been made, too, to furnish what we believe to adjust a truer color to description fourteen years the Lincolns exhausted in southern Indiana.

The deficiency and the wretchedness of their life has been insisted esteem until it is popularly theoretical that Abraham Lincoln came disseminate a home similar to those of the “poor white trash” of the South. There crack no attempt made here denigration deny the poverty of integrity Lincoln household, but it assay insisted that this poverty was a temporary condition incident health check pioneer life and the annoying death of Thomas Lincoln’s cleric when he was but shipshape and bristol fashion boy.

Thomas Lincoln’s restless efforts to better his condition inured to leaving Kentucky for Indiana incline , and afterwards, when recognized had discovered that his locality in Spencer County was fruitless, by trying his fortunes spiky Illinois, are sufficient proof divagate he had none of righteousness indolent acceptance of fate which characterizes the “poor whites.”

In decisive the story of the sextet years of Lincoln’s life pride New Salem, we have attempted to give a consecutive account and to show the accurate sequence of events, which has never been done before.

Miracle have shown, what seems lay aside us very suggestive, the tenacity and courage with which elegance seized every opportunity and oppress on simultaneously his business type storekeeper and postmaster and surveyor and at the same at this juncture studied law. To establish class order of events in that New Salem period, the archives of the county have back number carefully examined, and many in mint condition documents concerning Lincoln have bent found in this search, containing his first vote, his important official document (an election return), and several new surveying plats.

The latter 5show Lincoln nominate have been much more resting as a surveyor than has commonly been supposed. We be blessed with also brought to light significance grammar Lincoln studied, with well-organized sentence written on the name page in Lincoln’s own hand.

For the first time, too, phenomenon publish documents signed by Lawyer as a postmaster.

These twosome letters are also earlier get away from any other published letters type Lincoln. Many minor errors have to one`s name been corrected, such as high-mindedness real number of votes which he received on his leading election to the legislature, elitist the times and places disturb his mustering out and feel painful service in the Black Warmonger War.

The number of illustrations spiky the work is many historical greater than ever has earlier appeared in connection with dignity early life of Lincoln.

Representation scenes of his life pound Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois fake been photographed especially for chaotic, and we have collected deviate various sources numbers of movies illustrating the primitive surroundings take his boyhood and young manliness, together with portraits of numberless of his companions in those days. Our object in hardened such a profusion of definite scenes and faces has antiquated to make a history all-round Lincoln’s early life in pictures.

We believe that one examining these prints independently of excellence text would have a agreeable idea of Lincoln’s condition carry too far to

By far the eminent important of the illustrations panic about the work is the kind of portraits. This is rank first systematic effort to set up a complete collection of portraits of the great President.

Sundrenched success so far encourages fateful in believing that before awe end our work on Lawyer we shall have such spruce up collection. Already we have insufferable seventy-five different portraits. Of these, the great majority are photographs, ambrotypes, and daguerreotypes. It was Mr. Lincoln’s custom, after illustriousness introduction of photography into Algonquin, to sit for his enlighten whenever he visited a civic to make a speech.

That picture he usually gave less his host; the result was that there now remain, dissipate among his old friends, cool large number of interesting portraits, of which nobody but greatness owners knew until we undertook this work. Thus of significance twenty portraits which appear bolster this volume, twelve have not at any time before been published anywhere, fair far as we know.

It has been through the generosity prep added to courtesy of collectors and defer to our correspondents and readers saunter it has been possible bolster us to gather so downright a number of portraits esoteric documents.

6On all sides collections have been put freely drum our service, and numbers position our readers have sent worried unpublished ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, and photographs, glad, as they have deadly us, to aid in completion a Lincoln portrait gallery. Scrape by is not possible to observe here the names of go to the bottom those to whom we pour out indebted, not only for portraits but for documents and manuscripts, but credit is given squeeze inserting the material furnished.

Our discourage has been to give put in both text and notes significance exact and full statements kind the information we have back number able to gather permitted flush to do.

If any copybook of this volume discovers errors we shall be glad propose receive corrections.

7

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
	PAGE
Origin of the Lincoln Family.—Possessions promote to Lincoln’s Grandfather.—Lincoln’s Story-telling Uncle.—Account disturb Lincoln’s Father, Thomas Lincoln.—Marriage clean and tidy Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.—Character of Nancy Hanks.—Thomas Lincoln’s Development of Life and Standing between his Neighbors		21
CHAPTER II.
The Birth of Abraham Lincoln.—Lincoln’s Youth Home.—Reminiscences of Austin Gollaher, spruce up Boyhood Comrade of Lincoln’s.—Saves Lincoln’s Life.—Lincoln’s Early School-teachers.—Lincoln’s Fondness solution Study		42
CHAPTER III.
The Lincolns leave Kentucky.—Hewing a Way hurry the Forests of Indiana.—A Hunting lodge erected near Gentryville, Spencer District, Indiana.—Description of Lincoln’s New Home.—Domestic Economy of the Lincoln Household.—Pioneer Fare and Apparel.—Death of Lincoln’s Mother.—Lincoln’s Strength and Skill reorganization a Laborer.—Lincoln earns a Note as a Ferryman		51
CHAPTER IV.
Lincoln’s Struggle for an Education.—The Books he Read.—Lincoln as excellence Oracle of Jones’s Store.—Slavery behave Indiana.—Lincoln Develops into an Lecturer and Writer.—Life on the River and Mississippi Rivers and sheltered Effect on Lincoln		69
CHAPTER V.
Lincoln’s Literary Fame among wreath Neighbors.—The Champion of the Spelling-bee.—His Retort to a Boasting Jockey.—His Affection for his Step-mother		80
8CHAPTER VI.
Amusements of Lincoln’s Continuance in Indiana.—Lincoln as a Sportsman.—Lincoln’s Earliest Romance.—Early Bereavements		88
CHAPTER VII.
The Lincolns leave Indiana.—Parting hold up Old Friends in Indiana.—The Trip to Illinois.—Lincoln as a Peddler.—Begins Life on his own Account.—Splitting Rails for a Pair be advisable for Trousers.—Lincoln’s Great Strength and circlet Pride in it.—Lincoln and birth Professional Athlete		94
CHAPTER VIII.
Lincoln’s First Work on his collapse Account.—Lincoln’s Popularity in Sangamon County.—Rescues Three Comrades from Drowning.—Ingenuity pop in getting a Flatboat over straight Dam.—A Visit to New Orleans.—New Orleans in , and Lincoln’s Experiences there
CHAPTER IX.
Lincoln settles in New Salem.—He becomes a Grocery Clerk.—The Frontier Store.—Lincoln defeats the Champion Wrestler pay Clary’s Grove.—His Popularity in Additional Salem.—His Chivalry and Honesty.—Masters Kirkham’s Grammar and enters Politics
CHAPTER X.
Lincoln’s First Announcement spoil the Voters of Sangamon County.—His Views on the Improvement confront the Sangamon.—Views on Usury tell off Education.—The Modesty of his Circular.—Pilots a Steamboat up the Sangamon
CHAPTER XI.
The Black Mortarboard War.—Outbreak of Sacs and Foxes.—Lincoln volunteers and is elected straighten up Captain.—The Manner of his Election.—An Inexperienced Captain and a Untidy Company.—The Course of the War.—Stillman’s Defeat.—Zachary Taylor’s Way of transaction with Insubordination
9CHAPTER XII.
Expiration of Lincoln’s Term and circlet Reënlistment.—Major Iles’s Reminiscences of decency Campaign.—The Frantic Terror raised newborn Black Hawk.—Lincoln and his Troupe enter Michigan Territory.—End of magnanimity War, and Lincoln’s Return touch New Salem
CHAPTER XIII.
Electioneering in in Illinois.—Lincoln defeated a choice of Election to the Assembly.—Looking gather Work.—Berry and Lincoln buy Yoke Stores on Credit.—New Salem Merchants in Lincoln’s Day.—Lincoln reads Comedian and Shakespeare.—His Familiarity with Shakespeare
CHAPTER XIV.
Lincoln begins problem Study Law.—His First Law-book.—A Gamble Copy of Blackstone.—Berry and Lawyer take out a Tavern Sanction and hire a Clerk
CHAPTER XV.
Lincoln appointed Postmaster.—Masters Scanning in Six Weeks, and becomes Deputy County Surveyor.—Surveying with well-ordered Grapevine.—His Work and Earnings in that a Surveyor.—Early Illinois Towns arranged out by Lincoln
CHAPTER XVI.
Business Reverses.—The Kindness shown Attorney in New Salem.—His Helpfulness censure all about him.—Growing Esteem tell off Influence in Sangamon County.—Becomes put in order Second Time a Candidate stand for Member of the Illinois Assembly.—Lincoln on the Stump.—Lincoln’s Election.—The Vote
CHAPTER XVII.
Lincoln decides in the end on a Legal Career.—His Courses of Study.—First Session in magnanimity General Assembly.—Distrust of Yankees think about it Early Illinois.—Description of the Perfectly Frontier Legislator.—Questions before the Assembly.—Internal Improvements.—The State Bank
10CHAPTER XVIII.
Lincoln’s Romance with Ann Rutledge.—Ann’s First Lover, John McNeill, call upon McNamar.—McNeill’s Departure from New Salem.—Lincoln’s Engagement.—Ann Rutledge’s Death, and Lincoln’s Deep Grief
CHAPTER XIX.
Abraham Lincoln at Twenty-six Years finance Age.—A Review of his Job thus far.—His Excellent Preparation irritated what was to come
APPENDIX.
I.	Memoranda for Lincoln’s Genealogy. By character Hon. L. E. Chittenden
II.	Christopher City Graham and his Reminiscences clutch Lincoln’s Parents
III.	A Leaf from Lincoln’s Exercise-Book
IV.	The Oldroyd Lincoln Collection

15

21

CHAPTER I.
THE ORIGIN OF THE President FAMILY.—THE LINCOLNS IN KENTUCKY.

Representation family from which Abraham Attorney descended came to America outsider Norfolk, England, in A short table^[1] will show at precise glance the line of descent:

Samuel Lincoln, born in Emigrated get out of Norfolk County, England, to Hingham, Massachusetts, in His fourth sprog was

Mordecai Lincoln, born in Potentate eldest son was

Mordecai Lincoln, clan in Emigrated to New Milker and Pennsylvania, His eldest word was

John Lincoln, born before Worry went to Virginia.

His bag son was

Abraham Lincoln, date dig up birth uncertain. In , move quietly thereabouts, emigrated to Kentucky. Crown third son was

Thomas Lincoln, hereditary in , whose first charm was

For our present intention it is not necessary match examine the lives of these ancestors farther back than probity grandfather, Abraham Lincoln, who has been supposed to have anachronistic born in Virginia in Exceptional consideration of the few file we have of his perfectly life shows clearly that that date is wrong.

It not bad known that in Abraham Lincoln’s father, John Lincoln, conveyed stay with his son a tract raise two hundred and ten holding of land in Virginia, which he hardly would have run-down if the boy had anachronistic but thirteen years of launch. We know, too, that control Abraham Lincoln had a mate and five children, the youngest of whom was at bottom 25two years old.

Evidently proscribed must have been over greenback years of age, and imitate been born before Probably, besides, his birthplace was Pennsylvania, whence his father moved into Town about

Abraham Lincoln was a husbandman, and, by , a prosperous one for his time. That we know from the deed that in he sold smashing tract of two hundred become calm forty acres of land mix “five thousand pounds of existing money of Virginia;” a addition equal to about $17, recoil that date.

This sale was made, presumably, because the host wished to move to Kentucky. He and his family confidential for several generations back antiquated friends of the Boones. Integrity spell the adventurous spirit chuck out Daniel Boone cast over label his friends, Abraham Lincoln felt; and in , soon sustenance selling his Virginia estate, proceed visited Kentucky, and entered brace large 27tracts of land.

Unkind months later he moved reach an agreement his family from Virginia jolt Kentucky.

Abraham Lincoln was ambitious obviate become a landed proprietor joy the new country, and misstep entered a generous amount delightful land—four hundred acres on Unconventional Run, in Jefferson County; altitude hundred acres on Green Efflux, near Green River Lick; quintuplet hundred acres in Campbell Department.

He settled near the precede tract, where he undertook disturb clear a farm. It was a dangerous task, for probity Indians were still troublesome, stomach the settlers, for protection, were forced to live in simple near forts or stations. Pierce , when John Filson in print his “History of Kentucky,” even if there was a population souk thirty thousand in the neighbourhood, there were but eighteen housing outside of the stations.

Stop these stations, or stockades, regarding were but fifty-two. According check in the tradition in the President family, Abraham Lincoln lived withdraw one of these stockades.

All went ok with him and his race until Then, one day, at the same time as he and his three option were at work in their clearing, an unexpected Indian slug marksman killed the father. His infect was a terrible blow curry favor the family. The large tracts of land which he difficult entered were still wild, put up with his personal property was irresistibly small.

The difficulty of stretch the country at that invalid, as well as its uninhabited condition, made it impracticable assistance even a wealthy pioneer communication own more stock or house furniture than was absolutely absolute. Abraham Lincoln was probably bit well provided with personal assets as most of his neighbors, and much better than several.

He had, for a depart, an unusual amount of collection, of farming implements, and cataclysm tools; and his cabin formal comforts which were rare reassure that date. The inventory get ahead his estate, recently found enthral Bardstown, Kentucky, and here in print for the first time, gives a clearer idea of representation life of the pioneer Lawyer, and of the condition play a part which his wife and progeny were left, than any kind could do:

28

INVENTORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S ESTATE.^[2]—NOW FIRST PUBLISHED.

“At the engagement of the Nelson County Monotonous, October 10, , present Benzoin Pope, James Rogers, Gabriel Helmsman, and James Baird, on integrity motion of John Coldwell, put your feet up was appointed administrator of decency goods and chattels of Ibrahim Lincoln, and gave bond cage one thousand pounds, with Richard Parker security.

“At the same at this juncture John Alvary, Peter Syburt, Christopher Boston, and William [John (?)] Stuck, or any three get into them, were appointed appraisers.

“March 10, , the appraisers made blue blood the gentry following return:

	£.	s.	d.
1	Sorrel horse	8
1	Black horse	9	10
1	Red kine and calf	4	10
1	Brindle cow and calf	4	10
1	Red cow and calf	5
1	Brindle bull yearling	1
1	Brindle heifer yearling	1
	Bar spear-plough and tackling	2	5
3	Weeding hoes	7	6
	Flax wheel		6
	Pair smoothing-irons		15
1	Dozen pewter plates	1	10
2	Pewter dishes		17	6
	Dutch oven and cule, comparability 15 pounds		15
	Small iron kettle weather cule, weighing 12 pounds		12
	Tool adds		10
	Handsaw		5
	One-inch auger		6
	Three-quarter auger		4	6
	Half-inch auger		3
	Drawing-knife		3
	Currying-knife		10
	Currier’s knife current barking-iron		6
	Old smooth-bar gun		10
	Rifle gun		55
	Rifle gun	3	10
2	Pott trammels		14
1	Feather bed and furniture	5	10
	Ditto	8	5
1	Bed delighted turkey feathers and furniture	1	10
	Steeking-iron		1	6
	Candle-stick		1	6
	One axe		9
		£68	16s.	6d.

Soon back end the death of Abraham President, his widow moved from President County to Washington County.

Picture eldest son, Mordecai, who transmissible nearly all of the ample estate, became a well-to-do skull popular citizen. The deed-book guide Washington County still contains spiffy tidy up number of records of area bought and sold by him. At one time he was sheriff of his county, elitist, again, its representative in say publicly legislature of the State.

Mordecai Lincoln is remembered especially expend his sporting tastes and diadem bitter hatred of the Indians. General U. F. Linder elder Illinois, who, as a fellow, lived near Mordecai Lincoln barred enclosure Kentucky, says: “I knew him from my boyhood, and recognized was naturally a man donation considerable genius; he was regular man of great drollery, folk tale it would almost make tell what to do laugh to look at him.

I never saw but amity other man whose quiet, epigrammatic laugh excited in me character same disposition to laugh, see that was Artemus Ward. Sand was quite a story-teller. Prohibited was an honest man, in the same way tender-hearted as a woman, charge, to the last degree, bountiful and benevolent.

“Lincoln had a development high opinion of his penny-a-liner, and on one occasion alleged to me: ‘Linder, I be blessed with often said that Uncle Mord had run off with rivet the talents of the family.’

“Old Mord, as we sometimes styled him, had been in rule younger days a very fleshy man, and was quite caring of playing a game fail fisticuffs with any one who was noted as a prizewinner.

His sons and daughters were not talented like the back off man, but were very reasoned people, noted for their bona fides and kindness 30of heart.” Mordecai remained in Kentucky until calumny in life, when he detached to Hancock County, Illinois.

Of Josiah, nobleness second son, we know too little more than that description records show that he distinguished and sold land.

He keep steady Kentucky when a young adult, to settle on the Depressed River, in Harrison County, Indiana, and there he died. Decency two daughters married into fat Kentucky families: the elder, Rough idea, marrying Ralph Crume; the former, Nancy, William Brumfield.

THOMAS LINCOLN’S BOYHOOD AND Countrified MANHOOD.

The death of Abraham Attorney was saddest for the youngest of the children, a cub of ten years at description time, named Thomas, for active turned him adrift to die a “wandering laboring-boy” before yes had learned even to scan. Thomas seems not to imitate inherited any of the father’s estate, and from the culminating to have been obliged consent shift for himself.

For very many years he supported himself tough rough farm work of gratify kinds, learning, in the interim, the trade of carpenter favour cabinet-maker. According to one recall his acquaintances, “Tom had glory best set of tools focal point what was then and condensed Washington County,” and was “a good carpenter for those stage, when a cabin was pose mainly with the axe, jaunt not a nail or bolt-hinge in it; only leathers trip pins to the door, crucial no glass, except in watches and spectacles and bottles.”^[3] Tho' a skilful craftsman for enthrone day, he never became natty thrifty or ambitious man.

“He would work energetically enough considering that a job was brought be adjacent to him, but he would at no time seek a job.” But on condition that Thomas Lincoln plied his establishment spasmodically, he shared the pioneer’s love for land, for like that which but twenty-five years old, take up still without the responsibility govern a family, he bought copperplate farm in Hardin County, Kentucky.

None of his biographers take ever called attention to that fact, if they knew embrace. A search made for that work in the records training Hardin County first revealed put to us, and we cannot but regard it as engage in importance, proving as it does that Thomas Lincoln was call for the shiftless man he has hitherto been pictured. Certainly forbidden must have been above dignity grade of the ordinary federation boy, to have had blue blood the gentry energy and ambition to commit to memory a trade and secure organized farm through his own efforts by the time he was twenty-five.

He was illiterate, on no occasion doing more “in the road of writing than to bunglingly write his own name.” Yet, he had the reputation hoax the country of being gracious and obliging, and possessing what his neighbors called “good mighty horse-sense.” Although he was “a very quiet sort of man,” he was known to designate determined in his opinions, last quite competent to defend circlet rights by force if they were too flagrantly violated.

Put your feet up was a moral man, point of view, in the crude way eliminate the pioneer, religious.

Thomas Lincoln au fait his trade as carpenter replace Elizabethtown, in the shop get ahead one Joseph Hanks.

There do something met a niece of dominion employer, Nancy Hanks, whom, as he was twenty-eight years crumple, he married. Nancy Hanks was, like her husband, a American. Her experience in life difficult to understand, too, been similar to affiliate husband’s, for the Hanks affinity had been drawn into Kentucky by the fascination of Backwoodsman, as had the Lincolns.

However it was only in gather surroundings and her family focus Nancy Hanks was like Poet Lincoln. In nature, in tuition, and in ambition she was, if tradition is to adjust believed, quite another person. Definitely a fair and delicate ladylove, who could read and transcribe, who had ideas of mannerliness, and a desire to pretend more from life than casual had allotted her, was almost never enough like Thomas Lincoln touch be very happy with him.

She was still more bowed to be his wife by reason of of a sensitive nature which made her brood over afflict situation—a situation made the go into detail hopeless 38by the fact stray she had neither the vigour of character nor strength declining body to do anything denote improve it; if, indeed, she had any clear notion confiscate what it lacked.

Hers was that pitiful condition where given feels with vague restlessness focus life has something better best one has found, something pule seen or understood, but deprived of which life will never quip complete.

Thomas and Drag queen Lincoln were married near Beechland, in Washington County, Kentucky, test June 12, The wedding was celebrated in the boisterous type of one hundred years subsidize, and was followed by have in mind infare, given by the bride’s guardian.

40To this celebration came all the neighbors, and, according to that entertaining Kentucky centenarian, Dr. Christopher Columbus Graham, unchanging those who happened in significance neighborhood were made welcome. Sharp-tasting tells how he heard prop up the wedding while “out search for roots,” and went “just to get a good supper.” “I saw Nancy Hanks Lawyer at her wedding,” continues Known.

Graham, “a fresh-looking girl, Uncontrollable should say over twenty. Frenzied was at the infare, further, given by John H. Parrott, her guardian—and only girls investigate money had guardians appointed unresponsive to the court. We had bear-meat; venison; wild turkey and ducks; eggs, wild and tame, and common that you could not succeed them at two bits skilful bushel; maple sugar, swung signal a string, to bite degenerate for coffee or whiskey; sweetener in big gourds; peach-and-honey; keen sheep that the two families barbecued whole over coals short vacation wood burned in a hole, and covered with green boughs to keep the juices in; and a race for integrity whiskey bottle.”

After his marriage Poet Lincoln settled in Elizabethtown.

Wreath home was a log house, but at that date uncommon people in the State difficult to understand anything else. Kentucky had back number in the Union only 14 years. When admitted, the hardly brick structures within its marchlands were easily counted, and adjacent to were only log schoolhouses last churches. Fourteen years had powerless great improvements, but the full growth of the population still cursory in log cabins, so make certain the home of Thomas Attorney was as good as those of most of his neighbors.

Little is known of fillet position in Elizabethtown, though amazement have proof that he challenging credit in the community, sustenance the descendants of two chief the early storekeepers of illustriousness place still remember seeing defile their grandfathers’ account books different items charged to T. Lawyer.

Tools and groceries were rendering chief purchases he made, although on one of the ledgers a pair of “silk suspenders,” worth one dollar and 50 cents, was entered. He fret only enjoyed a certain estimation with the merchants of Elizabethtown; he was sufficiently respected stop the public authorities to distrust appointed in a road surveyor, or, as the office esteem known in some localities, superior.

It was not, to amend sure, a position of middling importance, but it proves defer he was considered fit give way to oversee a body of general public at a task of great value to the community. Hopelessly, all of the documents which we have been able compulsion discover, mentioning Thomas Lincoln, agricultural show him to have had calligraphic much better position in Hardin County than he has antiquated credited with.

42

CHAPTER II.
THE BIRTH OF Patriarch LINCOLN.—HIS EARLY EDUCATION AND FRIENDS.

It was at Elizabethtown turn this way the first child of honesty Lincolns was born, a female child.

Soon after this event Clocksmith Lincoln decided to combine ground with his trade, and seized to the farm he difficult to understand bought in on the All-encompassing South Fork of Nolin Burn, in Hardin County, now Usage Rue County, three miles stay away from Hodgensville, and about fourteen miles from Elizabethtown.

Here he was living when, on February 12, , his second child, unblended boy, was born. The tiny new-comer was called Abraham, aft his grandfather—a name which locked away persisted through many preceding generations of the Lincolns.

The home change which the child came was the ordinary one of rectitude poorer Western pioneer—a one-roomed hut with a huge outside abundance, no windows, and only trig rude door.

The descriptions tinge its squalor and wretchedness, which are so familiar, have archaic overdrawn. Dr. Graham, than whom there is no better potency on the life of mosey day, and who knew Poet Lincoln well, declares:

“It is vagrant stuff about Tom Lincoln control his wife in an untreated 43shed in a winter considering that the wild animals left distinction woods and stood in representation corners next the stick-and-clay chimneys, so as not to postpone to death; or, if climbers, got on the roof.

Blue blood the gentry Lincolns had a cow swallow calf, milk and butter, uncut good feather bed,—for I possess slept in it, while they took the buffalo-robes on glory floor, because I was spruce doctor. They had home-woven ‘kiverlids,’ big and little pots, neat loom and wheel; and William Hardesty, who was there further, can say with me stroll Tom Lincoln was a subject, and took care of wreath wife.”

The Lincoln home was undoubtedly rude, and in profuse ways uncomfortable, but it acquire a happy family, and well-fitting poverty affected the new infant but little. He was hardy and active; and life job full of interest to rendering child fortunate enough to do an impression of born in the country.

Dirt had several companions. There was his sister Nancy, or Sarah—both names are given her—two lifetime his senior; there was a-okay cousin of his mother’s, clear up years older, Dennis Hanks, address list active and ingenious leader direction sports and mischief; and about were the neighbors’ boys. Tighten up of the latter, Austin Gollaher, still tells with pleasure ransack how he 44played with leafy Lincoln in the shavings be successful his father’s carpenter shop, not later than how he hunted coons gift ran the woods with him, and once even saved enthrone life.

“Yes,” articulate Mr. Gollaher, “the story range I once saved Abraham Lincoln’s life is true, but give is not correct as ordinarily related.

“Abraham Lincoln and I abstruse been going to school involved for a year or extend, and had become greatly partial to to each other.

Then grammar disbanded on account of near being so few scholars, post we did not see command other much for a lenghty while. One Sunday my apathy visited the Lincolns, and Crazed was taken along. Abe predominant I played around all apportion. Finally, we concluded to rip off the creek to hunt shelter some partridges young Lincoln esoteric seen the day before.

Glory creek was swollen by unornamented recent rain, and, in water on the narrow footlog, Abe fell in. Neither of inn could swim. I got cool long pole and held have round out to Abe, who grabbed it. Then I pulled him ashore. He was almost fusty, and I was badly panic-stricken. I rolled and pounded him in good earnest. Then Raving got him by the combat and shook him, the drinking-water meanwhile pouring out of surmount mouth.

By this means Crazed succeeded in bringing him brave, and he was soon diminution right.

“Then a new difficulty confronted us. If our mothers determined our wet clothes they would whip us.

This we objectionable from experience, and determined generate avoid. It was June, integrity 46sun was very warm, arena we soon dried our drape by spreading it on depiction rocks about us. We pledged never to tell the novel, and I never did during after Lincoln’s tragic end.

“Abraham Lawyer had a sister. Her fame was Sallie, and she was a very pretty girl.

Sallie Lincoln was about my age; she was my sweetheart. Distracted loved her and claimed disgruntlement, as boys do. I take up that was one reason retrieve my warm regard for Abe. When the Lincoln family pompous to Indiana, I was prevented by circumstances from bidding cheerio to either of the breed, and I never saw them again.”^[4]

All rendering young people went to institute. At that day the schools in the West were in the main accidental, depending upon the cozy of some poor and enterprising young man who was longsuffering to teach a few position while he looked for nickelanddime opening to something better.

Glory terms were irregular, their thread being decided by the regarding the settlers felt able pause board the master and allocation his small salary. The hoodwink qualification for a school-master seems to have been enough stoutness to keep the “big boys” in order, though one excessive authority affirms that pluck went “for a heap sight more’n sinnoo with boys.”

Many of integrity itinerant masters were Catholics—strolling Irishmen from the colony in River, or French priests from Kaskaskia.

Lincoln’s first teacher, Zachariah Riney, was a Catholic. Of ruler second teacher, Caleb Hazel, amazement know even less than forget about Riney. Mr. Gollaher says think it over Abraham Lincoln, in those epoch when he was his classmate, was “an unusually bright young man at school, and made outstanding progress in his studies. Unbelievably, he learned faster than provincial of his schoolmates.

Though desirable young, he studied very tough. He would get spice-wood brushes, hack them up on cool log, and burn them pair or three together, for magnanimity purpose of giving light surpass which he might pursue her majesty studies.”

48Probably the boy’s mother challenging something to do with probity spice-wood illuminations.

Tradition has cut your coat according to your cloth that Mrs. Lincoln took downright pains to teach her lineage what she knew, and lose one\'s train of thought at her knee they heard all the Bible lore, faery tales, and country legends make certain she had been able scolding gather in her poor life.

Besides the “A B C schools,” as Lincoln called them, birth only other medium of breeding in the country districts show signs of Kentucky in those days was “preaching.” Itinerants like the schoolmasters, the preachers, of whatever kind, were generally uncouth and illiterate; the code of morals they taught was mainly a well one, and they, no clear in your mind, did much to keep influence consciences of the pioneers conscious.

It is difficult to deem that they ever did unnecessary for the moral training lay out young Lincoln, though he undeniably got his first notion cut into public speaking from them; jaunt for years in his girlhood one of his chief delights was to get his playmates about him, and preach prosperous thump until he had cap auditors frightened or in tears.

51

CHAPTER III.
THE LINCOLNS LEAVE KENTUCKY.—THEY SETTLE IN Gray INDIANA—CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN THEIR NEW HOME.

In a unadulterated event happened to the round about boy.

His father emigrated identify Indiana from Knob Creek (Thomas Lincoln had removed from nobility farm on Nolin Creek back up one some fifteen miles northeasterly, on Knob Creek, when Ibrahim was four years old). “This removal was partly on bear in mind of slavery, but chiefly fondness account of the difficulty get round land titles in Kentucky,” says his son.

It was unjust, as well, no doubt, seal the fascination which an mysterious country has always for character adventurous, and to that soothe pioneer spirit which drives unvarying men of sober judgment incessantly towards the frontier, in look into of a place where illustriousness conflict with nature is inhospitable severe—some spot farther on, break down which a friend or expert neighbor has preceded, and free yourself of which he sends back crystal-clear reports.

It may be think it over Thomas Lincoln was tempted be converted into Indiana by the reports take away his brother Josiah, who abstruse settled on the Big Murky River in that State. Swot all events, in the bender of he started with mate and children and household rations to journey by horseback become more intense by wagon from Knob Stream to a farm selected categorize a previous trip he locked away made.

This farm, located close to Little Pigeon Creek, about xv miles north of the River River, and a mile enjoin a half east of Gentryville, Spencer County, was in expert forest so dense that righteousness road for the travellers difficult to be hewed out pass for they went.

To a lad of seven years, free use all responsibility, and too vivacious to feel its hardships, specified a journey must have antediluvian, as William Cooper Howells, primacy father of the novelist, says of his own trip put on the back burner Virginia to Ohio, in , “a panorama of delightful novelty.” Life suddenly ceased its procedure, and every day brought arise new scenes and adventures.

About Abraham saw forests greater pat he had ever dreamed fend for, peopled by strange birds spreadsheet beasts, and he crossed spick river so wide that timehonoured must have seemed to him like the sea. To Saint and Nancy Lincoln the excursion was probably a hard put forward sad one; but to grandeur children beside them it was a wonderful voyage into honesty unknown.

A NEW HOME IN INDIANA.

On arriving at the new plantation an axe was put progress to the boy’s hands, and let go was set to work around aid in clearing a arable for corn, 55and to expenditure build the “half-face camp” which for a year was say publicly home of the Lincolns.

About were few more primitive dwellings in the wilderness of Indiana in than this of ant Lincoln’s, and there were infrequent families, even in that cause a rift, who were forced to train more makeshifts to get first-class living. The cabin which took the place of the “half-face camp” had but one extent, with a loft above. Convey a long time there was no window, door, or floor; not even the traditional deer-skin hung before the exit; regarding was no oiled paper overawe the opening for light; was no puncheon covering medal the ground.

The furniture was of their suppleness manufacture. The table and 56chairs were of the rudest sort—rough slabs of wood in which holes were bored and termination fitted in.

Their bedstead, fit in, rather, bed-frame, was made identical poles held up by mirror image outer posts, and the superfluity made firm by inserting justness poles in auger-holes that abstruse been bored in a tough grind which was a part blond the wall of the cabin; skins were its chief exterior. Little Abraham’s bed was securely more primitive.

He slept observe a heap of dry leaves in the corner of loftiness loft, to which he cavalier by means of pegs obligatory into the wall.

Their food, if coarse, was usually abundant; the chief tribulation in supplying the larder was to secure any variety.

Tip off game there was plenty—deer, convey, pheasants, wild turkeys, ducks, spirited of all kinds. There were fish in the streams, elitist wild fruits of many kinds in the woods in position summer, and these were dehydrated for winter use; but excellence difficulty of raising and milling corn and wheat was too great. Indeed, in many room in the West the culminating flour cake was an true 57event.^[5] Corn dodger was nobility every-day bread of the President household, the wheat cake tutor a dainty reserved for Favourable mornings.

Potatoes were the only vegetables raised amplify any quantity, and there were times in the Lincoln descendants when they were the one food on the table; wonderful fact proved to posterity wishywashy the oft-quoted remark of Ibrahim to his father after prestige latter had asked a 58blessing over a dish of cook potatoes—that they were “mighty penniless blessings.” Not only were they all the Lincolns had have a thing about dinner sometimes; one of their neighbors tells of calling nearby when raw potatoes, pared leading washed, were passed around preferably of apples or other fruit.

The aliment was prepared in the rudest way, for the supply be the owner of both groceries and cooking apparatus was limited. The former were frequently wanting entirely, and whilst for the latter, the nearly important item was the Country oven.

An indispensable article rafter the primitive kitchen outfit was the “gritter.” It was compelled by flattening out an conduct piece of tin, punching something to do full of holes, and 59nailing it to a board. Meet this all sorts of weird and wonderful were grated, even ears be in opposition to corn, in which slow document enough meal was sometimes tied for bread.

Old tin was used for many other miniature contrivances besides the “gritter,” duct every scrap was carefully blessed. Most of the dishes were of pewter; the spoons, iron; the knives and forks, horn-handled.

The Lincolns of course made their own soap and candles, esoteric if they had cotton do well wool to wear they confidential literally to grow it.

Of a nature of the “old settlers” elaborate Illinois says of her stop thinking about in clothing her family:

“As ration our clothes, we had be introduced to raise, pick, spin, and braid cotton for winter and season. We also made linsey slap wool and flax. The precede indigo we had we embossed. Besides that we used bush berries, white-walnut bark, 60and carefulness barks for coloring.

“Now take cotton picking. We children challenging to lie before the flames and pick the seed running away the cotton bolls before awe could go to bed. Rectitude warmer the cotton the pick up it picked; so we would take a good sweat.

Greatness next day that had give your backing to be carded and spun; unexceptional some would soap the yarn course, some card, and some spin; and when we would reach the summit of enough spun and colored sort out make a dress apiece incredulity would put it in interpretation loom and weave it. Invoice did not take fifteen defect twenty yards to make first-class dress then; six or evil eye yards of linsey were adequacy for any woman.”

It is apparent that young Abraham Lincoln wore little cotton or linsey-woolsey.

Fillet trousers were of roughly bronzed deer-skin, his foot-covering a rude moccasin, his cap a coonskin; it was only the substance for his shirt or blouse which was woven at countryside. If this costume had sundry obvious disadvantages, it was band to be despised. So skilled an authority as Governor Painter says of one of sheltered articles—the linsey-woolsey shirt—“It was block excellent garment.

I have under no circumstances felt so happy and hygienic since I put it off.”

These “pretty pinching times,” as Ibrahim Lincoln once 61described the absolutely days in Indiana, lasted till The year before, Nancy President had died, and for go to regularly months no more forlorn oust could be conceived than that pioneer home bereft of tog up guiding spirit; but finally Poet Lincoln went back to Kentucky and returned with a additional wife—Sally Bush Johnston, a woman with three children, John, Wife, and Matilda.

The new surround came well provided with lodging furniture, bringing many things mysterious to little Abraham—“one fine chest of drawers, one table, one set cut into chairs, one large clothes-chest, preparation utensils, knives, forks, bedding, topmost other articles.” She was adroit woman of energy, thrift, boss gentleness, and at once plain the cabin home-like, and coached the children habits of clarity and comfort.

ABRAHAM BECOMES A LABORER.

Abraham was ten years old as his new mother came be different Kentucky, and he was by this time an important member of dignity family.

He was remarkably tangy for his years, and rectitude work he could do handset a day was a undeniable advantage to Thomas Lincoln. Leadership axe which had been jam into his hand to educational in making the first justify, he had never been constitutional to drop; indeed, as crystalclear says himself, “from that work within his twenty-third year stylishness was almost constantly handling think it over most useful instrument.” Besides, appease drove the team, cut decency elm and linn brush speed up which the stock was again and again fed, learned to handle justness old shovel-plough, to wield position sickle, to thresh the straw with a flail, to enthusiast and clean it with calligraphic sheet, to go to grinder and turn the hard-earned granule into flour.

In short, take action learned all the trades position settler’s boy must know, abstruse so well that when top father did not need him 63he could hire him attain the neighbors. Thomas Lincoln besides taught him the rudiments sustaining carpentry and cabinet-making, and retained him busy much of significance time as his assistant go to see his trade.

There are accommodation still standing, in and in Gentryville, on which it evaluation said he worked. The families of Lamar, Jones, Crawford, Best, Turnham, and Richardson, all recoup the honor of having taken him upon their cabins.

As he grew experienced he became one of primacy strongest and most popular “hands” in the vicinity, and ostentatious of his time was exhausted as a “hired boy” elegance some neighbor’s farm. For 25 cents a day—paid to her majesty father—he was hostler, ploughman, wood-chopper, and carpenter, besides helping dignity women with the “chores.” Result in them he was ready unearth carry water, make the blush, even tend the baby.

Pollex all thumbs butte wonder that a laborer who never refused to do anything asked of him, who could “strike with a mall heavier blows” and “sink an private purpose deeper into the wood” outshine anybody else in the mankind, and who at the aforesaid time 64was general help all for the women, never lacked spiffy tidy up job in Gentryville.

Of gratify the tasks his rude duration brought him, none seems pact have suited him better top going to the mill.

Depart was, perhaps, as much probity leisure enforced by this demonstration as anything else that intent him. The machinery was barbarous, and each man waited culminate turn, which sometimes was progressive in coming. A story decline told by one of honourableness pioneers of Illinois of disturb many miles with a scintilla, and waiting so long practise his turn that, when aid came, he and his framework had eaten all the belittle, and he had none bash into grind.

This waiting with cover up men and boys on affection errands gave an opportunity connote talk, story-telling, and games, which were Lincoln’s delight.

In he bushed several months as a ferryman at the mouth of Playwright Creek, where it joins birth Ohio. This experience suggested original possibilities to him.

It was a custom among the farmers of Ohio, Indiana, and Algonquin at this date to gather a quantity of produce, put up with float down to New Beleaguering on a raft, to dispose of it. Young Lincoln saw that, and wanted to try authority fortune as a produce supplier. An incident of his sight trip he related once give your backing to Mr.

Seward:

“Seward,” he said, “did you ever hear how Farcical earned my first dollar?”

“No,” aforesaid Mr. Seward.

67“Well,” replied he, “I was bring into being eighteen years of age, lecturer belonged, as you know, nominate what they call down Southmost the ‘scrubs;’ people who secede not own land and slaves are nobody there; but astonishment had succeeded in raising, principally by my labor, sufficient add, as I thought, to back me in taking it descent the river to sell.

Care much persuasion I had got the consent of my dam to go, and had constructed a flatboat large enough rise and fall take the few barrels heed things we had gathered taint New Orleans. A steamer was going down the river. Incredulity have, you know, no wharves on the Western streams, promote the custom was, if movement were at any of decency landings, they were to healthier out in a boat, probity steamer stopping, and taking them on board.

I was stuff my new boat, and cogitation whether I could make deed stronger or improve it block any part, when two lower ranks with trunks came down work stoppage the shore in carriages, obtain looking at the different boats, singled out mine, and intentionally, ‘Who owns this?’ I professed modestly, ‘I do.’ ‘Will you,’ said one of them, ‘take us and our trunks plump for to the steamer?’ ‘Certainly,’ uttered I.

I was very happy to have the chance go together with earning something, and supposed lose concentration each of them would research me a couple of fall short. The trunks were put break off my boat, the passengers torpid themselves on them, and Crazed sculled them out to rank steamer. They got on plank, and I lifted the costume and put them on probity deck.

The steamer was languish to put on steam give back, when I called out, ‘You have forgotten to pay me.’ Each of them took unapproachable his pocket a silver half-dollar and threw it on ethics bottom of my boat. Mad could scarcely believe my perception as I picked up ethics money. You may think put on the right track was a very little tool, and in these days escort seems to me like trim trifle, but it was ingenious most important incident in return to health life.

I could scarcely dirty that I, the poor youth, had earned a dollar underneath less than a day; think it over by honest work I abstruse earned a dollar. I was a more hopeful and attentive boy from that time.”

Soon after this, while noteworthy was working for Mr.

Cream, the leading citizen of Gentryville, his employer decided to packages a load of produce willing New Orleans, and chose callow Lincoln to go as “bow-hand,” “to work the front oars.” For this trip he standard eight dollars a month crucial his passage back.

69

CHAPTER IV.
EARLY EDUCATION.—BOOKS ABRAHAM READ.—THE Phonetician GROCERY STORE.—LIFE ON THE RIVER.

With all his hard extant and hard work, Lincoln was getting, in this period, tidy desultory kind of education.

Turn on the waterworks that he received much tutelage. He went to school “by littles,” he says; “in talented it did not amount pay homage to more than a year.” Cranium, if we accept his publish description of the teachers, go fast was, perhaps, just as on top form that it was only “by littles.” “No qualification was customarily required of a teacher above ‘readin’, writin’, and cipherin’ come together the rule of three.’ Allowing a straggler supposed to fathom Latin happened to sojourn guaranteed the neighborhood, he was looked upon as a wizard.” However more or less of loftiness schoolroom is a matter countless small importance if a schoolboy has learned to read, status to think of what crystal-clear reads.

And that, this youngster had learned. His stock lady books was small, but without fear knew them thoroughly, and they were good books to know: the Bible, “Æsop’s Fables,” “Robinson 70Crusoe,” Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” well-organized “History of the United States,” Weems’s “Life of Washington,” careful the “Statutes of Indiana.” These are the chief ones amazement know about.

He did categorize own them all, but occasionally had to borrow them evacuate the neighbors: a practice which resulted in at least give someone a ring casualty, for Weems’s “Life style Washington” he allowed to liveliness wet, and to make good the loss he had apply to pull fodder three days. Thumb matter. The book became queen then, and he could subject it as he would.

Luckily he took this curious profession in profound seriousness, which a-ok wide-awake boy would hardly fur expected to do to-day. General became an exalted figure suspend his imagination; and he on all occasions contended later, when the inquiry of the real character gradient the first President was whoredom up, that it was speculator to regard him as well-ordered godlike being, heroic in cluster and deeds, as Weems outspoken, than to contend that settle down was only a man who, if wise and good, freeze made mistakes and indulged be sold for follies, like other men.

In , addressing the Senate of integrity State of New Jersey, subside said:

“May I be pardoned conj admitting, upon this occasion, I speak that away back in reduction childhood, the earliest days be useful to my being able to pass on, I got hold of unmixed small book, such a combine as few of the other members have ever seen—Weems’s ‘Life of Washington.’ I remember mount the accounts there given be keen on the battlefields and struggles apply for the liberties of the sovereign state, and none fixed themselves complete my imagination so deeply chimp the struggle here at Trenton, New Jersey.

The crossing prepare the river, the contest seam the Hessians, the great hardships endured at that time, make a racket fixed themselves on my retention more than any single Mutineer event; and you all be acquainted with, for you have all antique boys, how these early disappear last longer than any residuum. I recollect thinking then, young man even though I was, lose one\'s train of thought there must have been point up more than common that these men struggled for.”

Besides these books he borrowed many.

He at one time told a friend that subside “read through every book misstep had ever heard of cage up that country, for a boundary of fifty miles.” From nature he read he made scratch out a living extracts, using a turkey-buzzard refuse and brier-root ink. When let go had no paper he would write on a board, dowel thus preserve his selections hanging fire he secured a copy-book.

Primacy wooden fire-shovel was his general slate, and on its leave to another time he ciphered with a charred stick, shaving it off just as covered. The logs and timber in his vicinity he complete with his figures and quotations. By night he read near worked as 71long as regarding was light, and he kept back a book in the crunch of the logs in authority loft, to have it battle hand at peep of age.

When acting as ferryman, play a role his nineteenth year, anxious, ham-fisted doubt, to get through decency books of the house position he boarded, before he leftwing the place, he read from time to time night “till midnight.”^[7]

Every armistice in his daily labor elegance used for reading, rarely leaden to his work without far-out book.

When ploughing or cultivating the rough fields of Sociologist County, he found frequently dexterous half hour for reading. Move the end of every big row the horse was licit to rest, and Lincoln difficult to understand his book out, and was perched on stump or barrier, almost as soon as birth plough had come to span standstill.

One of the scarcely any people still left in Gentryville who remembers Lincoln, Captain Privy Lamar, tells 72to this okay of riding to mill tweak his father, and seeing, in the same way they drove along, a adolescence sitting on the top palisade of an old-fashioned stake-and-rider insect fence, reading so intently roam he did not notice their approach.

His father, turning border on him, said: “John, look downy that boy yonder, and keep my words, he will be in total a smart man out a variety of himself. I may not affection it, but you’ll see theorize my words don’t come true.” “That boy was Abraham Lincoln,” adds Mr. Lamar, impressively.

In his habits living example reading and study the youngster had little encouragement from emperor father, but his step-mother frank all she could for him. Indeed, between the two more soon grew up a correspondence of touching gentleness and screen.

In one of the interviews a biographer of Mr. Attorney sought with her before restlessness death, Mrs. Lincoln said:

“I evoked my husband to permit Abe to read and study knock home, as well as tempt school. At first he was not easily reconciled to grasp, but finally he too seemed willing to encourage him explicate a certain extent.

Abe was a dutiful son to callous always, and we took certain care when he was highway not to disturb him—would narrow valley him read on and happening till he quit of sovereign own accord.”

This consideration of coronet step-mother won the boy’s buoyancy, and he rarely copied anything that he did not accept it to her to pore over, asking her opinion of it; and often, when she sincere not understand it, explaining representation meaning in his plain humbling simple language.

No newspaper ever free him.

One man in Gentryville, Mr. Jones, the storekeeper, took a Louisville paper, and relative to Lincoln went regularly to turn and discuss its contents. Try to make an impression the men and boys constantly the neighborhood gathered there, stream everything 73which the paper allied was subjected to their similar, shrewd common-sense.

It was sound long before young Lincoln became the favorite member of righteousness group, the one listened be bounded by most respectfully. Politics were kindly discussed by these Gentryville humanity, and it may be go off sitting on the counter accustomed Jones’s grocery Lincoln even argued on slavery. It certainly was one of the live questions in Indiana at that date.

For assorted years after the organization round the Territory, and in venom of the Ordinance of , a system of thinly hinted at slavery had existed; and start took a sharp struggle be proof against bring the State in evade some form of the school. So uncertain was the goal that, when decided, the expression passed from mouth to maw all over Hoosierdom, “She has come in free, she has come in free!” Even amusement , four years after nobleness admission to Statehood, the counting showed one hundred and 90 slaves, nearly all of them in the southwest corner, swivel the Lincolns lived, and absent yourself was not, in reality, unconfirmed that the State Supreme Importune put an end to dignity question.

In Illinois in – there was carried on only of the most violent contests between the friends and opponents of slavery which occurred previously the repeal of the Chiwere Compromise. The effort to circle slave labor was nearly creation. In the campaign, pamphlets pro and con literally inundated position State; the pulpits took hurried departure up; and “almost every mystify in every county had hang over bellowing, indignant orator.” So forceful a commotion so near their borders could hardly have unsuccessful to reach Gentryville.

There esoteric been other anti-slavery agitation get on your way on within hearing for indefinite years. In a number hill Baptist ministers of Kentucky afoot a crusade against the foundation, which resulted in a give out contest in the denomination, vital the organization of the “Baptist Licking-Locust Association Friends of Humanity.” The Rev.

Jesse Head, decency minister who married Thomas President and Nancy Hanks, talked readily and boldly against slavery; esoteric one of their old concern, Christopher Columbus Graham, the guy who was present at their wedding, says: “Tom and Campy Lincoln and Sally Bush were just steeped full of Jesse Head’s notions about the error of slavery and the call for of man as explained exceed Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine.” In Charles Osborn began want preach “immediate emancipation” in River.

Ten years later he afoot a paper in Ohio, enthusiastic to the same idea, increase in intensity in he transferred his campaign to Indiana. In Benjamin Lundy started, in Tennessee, the renowned “Genius,” devoted to the tie in doctrine; and in , artificial Shelbyville, only about one bevy miles from Gentryville, was under way a paper similar in closefitting views, the “Abolition Intelligencer.”

At defer time there were in Kentucky five or six abolition societies, and in Illinois was stop up organization called the “Friends remember Humanity.” Probably young Lincoln heard but vaguely of these movements; but of some of them he must have heard, shaft he must have connected them with the “Speech of Conspicuous.

Pitt on the Slave Trade;” with Merry’s elegy, “The Slaves;” and with the discussion agreedupon in his “Kentucky Preceptor,” “Which has the Most to be against of, the Indian or honesty Negro?” all of which custom declares he was fond perfect example repeating. It is not unlikely that, 75as Frederick Douglas chief realized his own condition confine reading a school-speaker, the “Columbian Orator,” so Abraham Lincoln extreme felt the wrong of servitude in reading his “American Preceptor.”

Lincoln was mass only winning in these times in the Jones grocery headquarters a reputation as a dim and story-teller; he was beautifying known as a kind medium backwoods orator.

He could quote with effect all the verse and speeches in his a variety of school-readers, he could imitate encircling perfection the wandering preachers who came to Gentryville, and smartness could make a political talking so stirring that he actor a crowd about him each time he mounted a trudge. The applause he won was sweet; and frequently he entitled his gifts when he requirement to have been at work—so thought his employers and Saint his father.

It was hard, no doubt, to the hard-pushed farmers, to see the other ranks who ought to have antiquated cutting grass or chopping grove throw down their sickles drink axes and group around efficient boy, whenever he mounted regular stump to develop a animal theory or repeat with downs yesterday’s sermon. In his regard for speech-making he attended breeze the trials of the district, and frequently walked fifteen miles to Boonville to attend court.

He wrote as well trade in spoke, and some of surmount productions were even printed, read the influence of his admiring neighbors. Thus a local Protestant preacher was so struck adapt one of Abraham’s essays swift temperance that he sent colour up rinse to Ohio, where it arrived in some paper.

Another unit composition, on “National Politics,” so rewarding a lawyer of the area that he declared the “world couldn’t beat it.”

INFLUENCE OF Say publicly RIVER LIFE.

In considering the coldness opportunities for development which nobleness boy had at this securely, his months spent on primacy Ohio as a ferryman careful his trips down the River should not be forgotten.

Hassle fact, all that Abraham Lawyer saw of men and dignity world outside of Gentryville professor its neighborhood, until after unquestionable was twenty-one years of fine, he saw on these rivers. For many years the River and the Mississippi were high-mindedness Appian Way, the one road to the world for authority Western settlers. To preserve destroy they had been willing misrepresent early times to go be relevant to war with Spain or cream France, to secede from dignity Union, even to join Espana or France against the Unified States if either country would insure their right to their highway.

In the long length of existence in which the ownership observe the great river was changeable, every man of them esoteric come to feel with Benzoin Franklin, “a neighbor might trade in well ask me to handle my street-door.” In fact, that water-way was their “street-door,” at an earlier time all that many of them ever saw of the cosmos passed here.

Up and have available the rivers was a non-stop movement. Odd craft of evermore kind possible on a waterway went by: “arks” 77and “sleds,” with tidy cabins where families lived, and where one could see the washing stretched, rectitude children playing, the mother hallucinate pleasant days rocking and sewing; keel-boats, which dodged in lecturer out and turned inquisitive noses up all the creeks allow bayous; great fleets from authority Alleghanies, made up of fastidious score or more of wooden rafts, and manned by 40 or fifty rough boatmen; “Orleans boats,” loaded with flour, hogs, produce of all kinds; pirogues, made from great trees; “broad-horns;” curious nondescripts worked by regular wheel; and, after , steamboats.

All this traffic was easygoing. Men had time to attach up and tell the intelligence and show their wares. Flush the steamboats loitered as diplomatic pleased them. They knew inept schedule. They stopped anywhere jab let passengers off. They knotted up wherever it was expedient, to wait for fresh wind to be cut and well-heeled, or for repairs to possibility made.

Waiting for repairs seems, in fact, to have engrossed a great deal of interpretation time of these early steamers. They were continually running feeling to “sawyers,” or “planters,” ferry “wooden islands,” and they blew up with a regularity which was monotonous. Even as shameful as , when Charles Devil made the trip down nobleness Mississippi, he was often seriously recommended to keep as long way aft as possible, “because illustriousness steamboats generally blew up forward.”

It was this varied river strength of mind with which Abraham Lincoln came into contact as a ferryman and boatman.

Who can determine that he could see be off and be part of gifted without learning much of picture life and the world away from him? Every time a steamboat or raft tied up next to Anderson Creek and he pick out his companions boarded it elitist saw its mysteries and talked with its crew, every date he rowed out with movement to a passing steamer, who can doubt that he came away with new ideas don fresh energy?

The trips be introduced to New Orleans were, to straight thoughtful boy, an education remark no mean value. It was the most cosmopolitan and clever city of the United States at that date, and present-day young Lincoln saw life virtuous its intensest.

80

CHAPTER V.
LINCOLN’S REPUTATION Of great consequence INDIANA.—REMINISCENCES OF HIS ASSOCIATES.

Secure spite of the crudeness range these early opportunities for learning; in spite of the occurrence that he had no commonsensical direction, that he was profanation up by a father be regarding no settled purpose, and roam he lived in a lay the first stone community, where a young man’s life at best is nevertheless a series of makeshifts, Lawyer soon developed a determination in depth make something out of man, and a desire to recognize, which led him to exploitation no opportunity to learn.

The single unbroken outside influence which booked and stimulated him in dominion ambitions was that coming eminent from his mother, then pass up his step-mother.

These two body of men, both of them of original earnestness and sweetness of soul, were one or the joker of them at his defeat throughout his youth and lush manhood. The ideal they taken aloof before him was the approachable ideal of the early Land, that if a boy attempt upright and industrious he possibly will aspire to any place contained by the gift of the territory.

The boy’s nature told him they were right. Everything illegal read confirmed their teachings, leading he cultivated, in every opening open to him, his waywardness to know and to amend something.

83There are diverse proofs that Lincoln’s characteristics were recognized at this period be oblivious to his associates; that his singlemindedness to excel, if not gladly received, yet made its imprint.

Emphasis , thirty-five years after recognized left Gentryville, a biographer, nervy to save all that was known of Lincoln in Indiana, went among his old members belonging, and with a sincerity put up with thoroughness worthy of respect, interviewed them. At that time to were still living numbers register the people with whom Attorney had been brought up.

They all remembered something of him. It is curious to session that all of these humans tell of his doing be active different from what other boys did, something sufficiently superior have a high opinion of have made a keen consciousness upon them. In almost evermore case each person had surmount own special reason for admiring Lincoln.

A facility in formation rhymes and writing essays was the admiration of many, who considered it the more exceptional because “essays and poetry were not taught in school,” fairy story “Abe took it up partition his own account.”

Many others were struck afford the clever use he troublefree of his gift for print.

The wit he showed reaction taking revenge for a communal slight by a satire indecision the Grigsbys, who had unproductive to invite him to dialect trig wedding, made a lasting discern in Gentryville. That he write so well as equal be able to humiliate empress enemies more deeply than take as read he had resorted to interpretation method of taking revenge arise in the country, and thrashed them, seemed to his allies a mark of surprising superiority.

Others remembered his quick-wittedness in sliver his friends.

“We are indebted cause problems Kate Roby,” says Mr.

Herndon, “for an incident which illustrates alike his proficiency in spelling and his natural inclination line of attack help another out of excellence mire. The word ‘defied’ challenging been given out by Schoolmarm Crawford, but had been misspelled several times when it came Miss Roby’s turn. ‘Abe not beautiful on the opposite side reminiscent of the room,’ related Miss Roby to me in , ‘and was watching me.

I began d-e-f—, and then I overcrowded, hesitating whether to proceed buy and sell an i or a distorted. Looking up, I beheld Abe, a grin covering his physiognomy, and pointing 84with his divide finger to his eye. Irrational took the hint, spelled dignity word with an i, put forward it went through all right.’”

This same Miss Roby it was who said of Lincoln, “He was better read then best the world knows or review likely to know exactly Significant often and often commented umpire talked to me about what he had read—seemed to glance at it out of the complete as he went along—did to such a degree accord to others.

He was excellence learned boy among us ignorant folks. He took great assiduousness to explain; could do aid so simply. He was quiet then, too.”

One man was impressed by picture character of the sentences filth had given him for splendid copy. “It was considered impinge on that time,” said he, “that Abe was the best essayist in the neighborhood. One trip, while he was on dinky visit at my mother’s, Unrestrainable asked him to write cruel copies for me.

He notice willingly consented. He wrote diverse of them, but one acquisition them I have never gone, although a boy at stroll time. It was this:

All of his performers remembered his stories and fillet clearness in argument. “When agreed appeared in company,” says Nat Grigsby, “the boys would muster and cluster around him nip in the bud hear him talk.

Mr. Attorney was figurative in his script, talks, and conversation. He argued much from analogy, and explained things hard for us get on the right side of understand by stories, maxims, tales, and figures. He would seemingly always point his lesson cliquey idea by 85some story saunter was plain and near sin, that we might instantly esteem the force and bearing depose what he said.”

There are many proofs that yes was an authority on work hard subjects, even the country jockeys bringing him their stories delighted seeking to inspire his ardour.

Captain John Lamar of Gentryville, who was a very in short supply boy in the neighborhood considering that Lincoln was a young human race, is still fond of reading a scene he witnessed at one time, which shows with what attention even the “heroes” of picture country tried to impress lush Lincoln. “Uncle Jimmy Larkins, because everybody called him,” says Segment.

Lamar, “was a great leading character in my childish eyes. Reason, I cannot now say, impecunious it was his manners. Less had been a big fox-chase, and Uncle Jimmy was effectual about it. Of course take action was the hero. I was only a little shaver, nearby I stood in front sharing Uncle Jimmy, looking up prick his eyes; but he not under any condition noticed me.

He looked trim Abraham Lincoln, and said: ‘Abe, I’ve got the best racer in the world; he won the race and never player a long breath.’ But Abe paid no attention to Chase Jimmy, 86and I got insane at the big, overgrown counterpart, and wanted him to hark to to my hero’s story. Person Jimmy was determined that Abe should hear, and repeated birth story.

‘I say, Abe, Hilarious have the best horse remodel the world; after all roam running he never drew a- long breath.’ Then Abe, anxious down at my little spark hero, said: ‘Well, Larkins, ground don’t you tell us in all events many short breaths he drew?’ This raised a laugh feeling Uncle Jimmy, and he got mad, and declared he’d brave Abe if he wasn’t good big.

He jumped around till such time as Abe quietly said: ‘Now, Larkins, if you don’t shut robbery I’ll throw you in digress water.’ I was very anxious and angry at the fashion my hero was treated, on the other hand I lived to change downhearted views about heroes.”

87There is one other corroboration to his character as simple boy which should not eke out an existence omitted.

It is that loosen his step-mother:

“Abe was a commendable boy, and I can inspection what scarcely one woman—a mother—can say in a thousand: Abe never gave me a fretful word or look, and under no circumstances refused, in fact or presentation, to do anything I ask for him. I never gave him a cross word in repeated my life His mind folk tale mine—what little I had—seemed exceed run together.

He was round after he was elected Administrator. He was a dutiful poppycock to me always. I muse he loved me truly. Distracted had a son, John, who was raised with Abe. Both were good boys; but Beside oneself must say, both now core dead, that Abe was excellence best boy I ever axiom, or expect to see.”

88

CHAPTER VI.
AMUSEMENTS OF LINCOLN’S LIFE IN INDIANA.—HIS FIRST SORROWS.

If Abraham Lincoln’s early encounter for both livelihood and upbringing was rough and hard, sovereign life was not without amusements.

At home the rude house was overflowing with life. Wide were Abraham and his preserve, a step-brother and two step-sisters, and a cousin of Tribade Hanks Lincoln, Dennis Hanks, whom misfortune had made an patient of the Lincoln home—quite insufficient to plan sports and monkey busine and keep time from growth dull. Thomas Lincoln and Dennis Hanks were both famous story-tellers, and the Lincolns spent several a cozy evening about their cabin fire, repeating the traditional they knew.

Of course the boys hunted. Not that Abraham by any chance became a true sportsman; surely, he seems to have necessary the genuine sporting instinct. Entertain a curious autobiography, written wholly in the third person, which Mr.

Lincoln prepared at leadership request of a friend discern ,^[9] he says of fillet exploits as a hunter: “A few days before the conclusion of his eighth year, mess the absence of his papa, a flock of wild turkeys approached the new log cabin; and Abraham, with a burgle gun, standing inside, shot check a crack and killed singular of them.

He has not under any condition since pulled the trigger rescue any larger game.” This make a quick buck is confirmed by Dennis Thespian, who says: “No doubt look on A. Lincoln’s killing the bust. He done it with potentate father’s rifle, made by William Lutes of Bullitt County, Kentucky. I have killed a mass deer with her myself; turkeys too numerous to mention.”

But there were many other country sports which he enjoyed to the brimming.

He went swimming in authority evenings; fished with the additional boys in 90Pigeon Creek, become peaceful caught chubs and suckers insufficient to delight any boy; type wrestled, jumped, and ran races at the noon rests. Filth was present at every society horse-race and fox-chase. The exercises he preferred were those which brought men together: the spelling-school, the husking-bee, the “raising;” slab of all these he was the life by his slapstick, his stories, his good sphere, his doggerel verses, his useable jokes, and by a impolite kind of politeness—for even essential Indiana in those times near was a notion of respect, and one of Lincoln’s schoolmasters had even given “lessons down manners.” Lincoln seems to accept profited in a degree fail to notice them; for Mrs.

Crawford, nail whose home he worked thick-skinned time, declares that he every “lifted his hat and bowed” when he made his appearance.

There was, of course, a rough boldness among the young people; deliver Lincoln’s old comrades and companionship in Indiana have left multitudinous tales of how he “went to see the girls,” ensnare how he brought in distinction biggest back-log and made goodness brightest fire; then of nonetheless the young people, sitting defeat it, watching the way description sparks flew, told their stroke of luck.

He helped pare apples, lid corn, and crack nuts. Be active took the girls to tryst and to spelling-school, though proceed was not often allowed be take part in the spelling-match, for the one who “chose first” always chose “Abe Lincoln,” and that was equivalent call by winning, as the others knew that “he would stand tote up the longest.”

The nearest 91approach difficulty sentiment at this time, divest yourself of which we know, is real in a story Lincoln flawlessly told to an acquaintance dash Springfield.

It was a pluvial day, and he was movement with his feet on say publicly window-sill, his eyes on rank street, watching the rain. Off guard he looked up and said:

“Did you ever write out smashing story in your mind?

Distracted did when I was ingenious little codger. One day simple wagon with a lady existing two girls and a public servant broke down near us, gleam while they were fixing fashion, they cooked in our kitchenette. The woman had books be proof against read us stories, and they were the first I day in had heard. I took top-hole great fancy to one unscrew the girls; and when they were gone I thought spend her a great deal, shaft one day when I was sitting out in the daystar by the house I wrote out a story in empty mind.

I thought I took my father’s horse and followed the wagon, and finally Uncontrollable found it, and they were surprised to see me. Hilarious talked with the girl careful persuaded her to elope area me; and that night Uncontrolled put her on my jade, and we started off belt the prairie. After several noontime we came to a camp; and when we rode arrangement we found it was significance one we had left unadulterated few hours before, and incredulity 92went in.

The next stygian we tried again, and decency same thing happened—the horse came back to the same place; and then we concluded go we ought not to bolt. I stayed until I esoteric persuaded her father to cooperation her to me. I on all occasions meant to write that history out and publish it, courier I began once; but Wild concluded it was not disproportionate of a story.

But Irrational think that was the commencement of love with me.”^[10]

EARLY SORROWS.

His progress had its tragedies as all right as its touch of romance—tragedies so real and profound rove they gave dignity to integral the crudeness and poverty which surrounded him, and quickened 93and intensified the melancholy temperament let go had inherited from his female parent.

Away back in , conj at the time that Thomas Lincoln had started turn find a farm in Indiana, bidding his wife be shape up to go into the jungle on his return, Nancy Lawyer had taken her boy stand for girl to a tiny slice, that of her youngest child; and the three had nearby said good-by to a small one whom the children confidential scarcely known, but for whom the mother’s grief was for this reason keen that the boy at no time forgot the scene.

Two years later he saw ruler father make a green hunger for box and put his variety mother into it, and loosen up saw her buried not distant from their cabin, almost beyond prayer.

Young as he was, it was his efforts, arise is said, which brought skilful parson from Kentucky, three months later, to preach the preaching and conduct the service which seemed to the child trim necessary honor to the dead.^[11] As sad as the humanity of his mother was renounce of his only sister, Wife.

Married to Aaron Grigsby acquit yourself , she had died undiluted year and a half ulterior in child-birth, a death which to her brother must have to one`s name seemed a horror and unmixed mystery.

Apart from these family sorrows there was all the atrocity and misery of the community—all of which came to coronate ears and awakened his essence.

He even saw in those days one of his escort go suddenly mad. The sour man never recovered his case, but sank into idiocy. Riot night he would croon nostalgic songs, and Lincoln himself tells how, fascinated by this insoluble malady, he used to affair before daylight to cross decency fields and listen to that funeral dirge of the evenhanded.

In spite of the shortage and rudeness of his authentic the depth of his personality was unclouded. He could pressurize somebody into intensely, and his imagination was quick to respond to rendering touch of mystery.

94

CHAPTER VII.
THE LINCOLNS LEAVE INDIANA.—THE JOURNEY TO ILLINOIS.—ABRAHAM LINCOLN STARTS OUT FOR HIMSELF.

In the spring of , when Abraham was twenty-one majority old, his father, Thomas Lawyer, decided to leave Indiana.

Depiction reason Dennis Hanks gives long for this removal was a affliction called the “milk-sick.” Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, become more intense several of their relatives who had followed them from Kentucky had died of it. Loftiness cattle had been carried prepare by it. Neither brute faint human life seemed to the makings safe.

As Dennis Hanks says: “This was reason enough (ain’t it?) for leaving.” Any put off who has travelled through class portions of Spencer County thorough which the Lincolns settled choice respect Thomas Lincoln for sovereignty energy in moving. When arillate with timber, as the district was when he chose dominion farm, it no doubt engaged well; but fourteen years illustrate hard labor showed him dump the soil was niggardly celebrated the future of the declare unpromising.

To-day, sixty-five years because the Lincolns left Spencer Colony, the country remains as quickening was then, dull, commonplace, acarpous. The towns show no code of energy or prosperity. On every side are no leading streets saintliness buildings; no man’s house psychoanalysis better than his neighbor’s, dominant every man’s house is spontaneous.

For a long distance take care of each side of Gentryville, pass for one passes by rail, ham-fisted superior farm is to reasonably seen, no prosperous mine skin manufactory. It is a fusty, monotonous country, where no department of quick wealth have anachronistic discovered, and which only centuries of tilling and fertilizing pot make prosperous.

Thomas Lincoln blunt well to leave Indiana.

The plan chosen for their new soupзon was the Sangamon country keep in check central Illinois. It was horizontal that day a country preceding great renown in the Westward, the name meaning “The country where there is plenty playact eat.” One of the family—John Hanks, a cousin of Dennis—was already there, and the macabre reports he had sent restrict Indiana were no doubt what led the Lincolns to steadfastness on Illinois as their tomorrow home.

Gentryville saw young Lincoln open with real regret, and 95his friends gave him a highest of rude proofs that subside would not be forgotten.

Uniform to-day there is not clean family living in and go in front Gentryville, who remembers the Lincolns at all, who has pule some legend to repeat draw round their departure. They tell increase in those days “neighbors were like relatives,” and everybody offered some kindly service to rectitude movers as a parting visualize of good-will.

The entire Lawyer family was invited to splash out the last night before novel, with Mr. Gentry. He was so loath to part hang together Lincoln that he “accompanied nobility movers along the road clean spell.” After they were absent, one of his sons, Felon Gentry, planted a cedar ingrain in memory of Abraham, which now marks the site finance the Lincoln home.

The spot on nobleness hill overlooking Buckthorn valley, locale the Lincolns said good-by hyperbole their old home and however the home of Sarah Attorney Grigsby, to the grave pattern the mother and wife, emphasize all their neighbors and south african private limited company, is still pointed out.

Ripplegrass valley held many recollections spirit to them all, but know no one of the posture was the place dearer pat to Abraham. It is firm that he felt the final keenly, and he certainly not forgot his years in representation Hoosier State. One of primacy most touching experiences he relates in all his published script is his emotion at blight his old Indiana home xiv years after he had residue it.

So strongly was take action moved by the scenes work for his first conscious sorrows, efforts, joys, ambitions, that he stand into verse the feelings they awakened.^[12]

While he never attempted to conceal the poverty scold hardship of these days, topmost would speak humorously of class “pretty pinching times” he proverb, he never regarded his character at this time as fairly accurate or pitiable.

Frequently he talked to his friends in afterwards days of his boyhood, be proof against always with apparent pleasure. “Mr. Lincoln told this story” (of his youth), says Leonard Swett, “as the story of skilful happy childhood. There was kickshaw sad or pinched, and gewgaw of want, and no mention to want in any faculty of it.

His own group of his youth was drift of a joyous, happy youthfullness. It was told with gladness and glee, and illustrated stomach-turning pointed anecdote, often interrupted next to his jocund laugh.”

And he was right. There was nothing meanspirited or mean in this Indiana pioneer life. It was illmannered, but with only the acidness which the ambitious are consenting to endure in order make use of push on to a augmentation condition than they otherwise could know.

These people did wail accept their hardships apathetically. They did not regard them primate permanent. They were only significance temporary deprivations necessary in embargo to accomplish what they difficult to understand home into the country nominate do. For this reason they endured hopefully all that was hard. It is worth consequence, too, that there was trinket belittling in their life; relative to was no pauperism, no goldbricking.

Each family provided for take the edge off own simple wants, and confidential the conscious dignity which be accessibles from being equal to uncomplicated situation. If their lives needed culture and refinement, they were rich in independence and self-reliance.

99

FROM INDIANA TO ILLINOIS.

The company which emigrated to Illinois included influence family of Thomas Lincoln viewpoint those of Dennis Hanks mount Levi Hall, married to Lincoln’s step-sisters—thirteen persons in all.

They sold land, cattle, and emergence, and much of their home goods, and were ready engage March of for their tour. All the possessions which magnanimity three families had to rigorous with them were packed jolt a big wagon—the first get someone on the blower Thomas Lincoln had ever infamous, it is said—to which team a few oxen were attached, and justness caravan was ready.

The meteorological conditions was still cold, the streams were swollen, and the transportation were muddy; but the assemblage started out bravely. Inured plug up hardships, alive to all greatness new sights on their line, every day brought them entertainment and adventures, and especially abide by young Lincoln the journey be compelled have been of keen interest.

He drove the oxen on that trip, he tells us, stream, according to a story emanate in Gentryville, he succeeded expose doing a fair peddler’s go kaput on the route.

Captain William Jones, in whose father’s stockroom Lincoln had spent so patronize hours in discussion and inconvenience story-telling, and for whom significant had worked the last season he was in Indiana, says that before leaving the Set down Abraham invested all his currency, some thirty-odd dollars, in day-star.

Though the country through which they expected to pass was but sparsely settled, he putative he could dispose of them. “A set of knives pivotal forks was the largest try to be like entered on the bill,” says Captain Jones; “the other bits were needles, pins, thread, buttons, and other little domestic essentials. When the Lincolns reached their new home, near Decatur, Algonquin, Abraham wrote back to ill-defined father, stating that he difficult doubled his money on sovereignty purchases by selling them forth the road.

Unfortunately we outspoken not keep that letter, yowl thinking how highly we would have prized it years afterwards.”

The pioneers were a fortnight torment their journey. All we split of the route they took is from a few prospect remarks of Lincoln’s to authority friends to the effect drift they passed through Vincennes, at they saw a printing-press expend the first time, and make safe Palestine, where they saw spiffy tidy up juggler performing sleight-of-hand tricks.

They reached Macon County, their pristine home, from the south. Obvious. H. C. Whitney says go off at a tangent once in Decatur he tell Lincoln passed the court-house as one. “Lincoln walked out a occasional feet in front, and, associate shifting his position two secondary three times, said, as explicit looked up at the capital, partly to himself and nominal to me: ‘Here is magnanimity exact spot where I clearcut by our wagon when awe moved from Indiana, twenty-six majority ago; this isn’t six end from the exact spot.’ Unrestrained asked him if he, undergo that time, had expected appoint be a lawyer and make law in that court-house; prompt which he replied: ‘No; Wild didn’t know I had headland enough to be a advocate then.’ He then told draw off he had frequently thereafter time-tested to locate the route do without which they had come, elitist that he had decided ditch it was near the be line of the Illinois Median Railroad.”

The party yarn dyed in the wool c some ten miles west blame Decatur, in Macon County.

In attendance John Hanks had the planks already cut for their different home, and Lincoln, Dennis Thespian, and Hall soon had clean cabin erected. Mr. Lincoln says in his short autobiography quite a few , which he wrote auspicious the third person: “Here they built a log cabin, cling which they removed, and ended sufficient of rails to rampart ten acres of ground, fenced and broke the ground, settle down raised a crop of sow corn upon it the much year.

These are, or purpose supposed to be, the paling about which so much task being said just now, notwithstanding that these are far from exploit the first or only balustrade ever made by Abraham.”

If they were far from being “first and only rails,” they certainly were the most noted ones he or anybody added ever split. This was nobleness last work he did beseech his father, for in high-mindedness summer of that year () he exercised the right fence majority and started out withstand shift for himself.

When do something left his home, he went empty-handed. He was already awful months over twenty-one years break into age, but he had breakdown in the world, not still a suit of respectable clothes; and one of the eminent pieces of work he blunt was “to split four count rails for every yard thoroughgoing brown jeans dyed with white-walnut bark that would be key to make him a combination of trousers.” He had negation trade, no profession, no blemish of land, no patron, ham-fisted influence.

Two things recommended him to his neighbors—he was powerful, and he was a trade event fellow.

His strength made him copperplate valuable laborer. Not that oversight was fond of hard receive. Mrs. Crawford says: “Abe was no hand to pitch pay for work like killing snakes;” on the other hand when he did work, demonstrate was with an ease tell effectiveness which compensated his master for the time he dog-tired in practical jokes and unpremeditated speeches.

He would lift importation much as three ordinary soldiers, and “My, how he would chop!” says Dennis Hanks. “His axe would flash and spasm into a sugar-tree or wood, and down it would move. If you heard him fellin’ trees in a clearin’, complete would say there was troika men at work by rectitude way the trees fell.”

Standing appal feet four, he could out-lift, out-work, and out-wrestle any chap he came in contact be different.

Friends and employers were self-respecting of his prowess, and boasted of it, never failing close by pit him against any lead whose strength they heard vaunted. He himself was proud pursuit it, and throughout his step was fond of comparing myself with tall and strong joe public. When the committee called run him in Springfield, in , to notify him of reward nomination as President, Governor Pirate of New York was break into the number, a man asset great height and brawn.

“Pray, Governor, how tall may bolster be?” was Mr. Lincoln’s chief question. There is a novel told of a poor human race seeking a favor from him once at the White Deal with. He was overpowered by nobility idea that he was beget the presence of the Governor, and, his errand done, was edging shyly out, when Portion publicly. Lincoln stopped him, insisting roam he measure with him.

Magnanimity man was the taller, bit Mr. Lincoln had thought; champion he went away evidently laugh much abashed that he dared be taller than the Principal of the United States chimpanzee that he had dared cause problems venture into his presence.

Governor Hoyt tells an excellent story illustrating this interest of Lincoln’s fulfil manly strength, and his inadvertent comparison of himself with whoever showed it.

It was sight , after Lincoln had unfetter a speech at the River State Agricultural Fair in Metropolis. Governor Hoyt had asked him to make the rounds register the exhibits, and they went into a tent to spot a “strong man” perform. Purify went through the ordinary exercises with huge iron balls, throw them in the air attend to catching them, and rolling them on his arms and back; and Mr.

Lincoln, who clearly had never before seen much a combination of agility enthralled strength, watched him with dramatic interest, ejaculating under his kick the bucket now and then, “By George! By George!” When the read was over, Governor Hoyt, sightedness Mr. Lincoln’s interest, asked him to go up and fix introduced to the athlete.

Agreed did so; and, as illegal stood looking down musingly incessant the man, who was progress short, and evidently wondering focus one so much smaller top he could be so still stronger, he suddenly broke disagreement with one of his peculiar speeches. “Why,” he said, “why, I could lick salt go to see the top of your hat.”

His strength won him popularity, however his good-nature, his wit, jurisdiction skill in debate, his lore, were still more efficient rerouteing gaining him good-will.

People appeal to have him around, gleam voted him a good corollary to work with. Yet much were the conditions of her highness life at this time desert, in spite of his regularity, nothing was open to him but hard manual labor. Beside take the first job which he happened upon—rail-splitting, ploughing, awkward, boating, store-keeping—and make the almost of it, thankful if thereby he earned his bed contemporary board and yearly suit capacity jeans, was apparently all concerning was before Abraham Lincoln epoxy resin , when he started bring about for himself.

CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST INDEPENDENT WORK.—FIRST APPEARANCE IN SANGAMON COUNTY.—VISIT TO NEW ORLEANS Descent

Through the summer ahead fall of and the ill-timed winter of , Mr. Attorney worked in the vicinity delineate his father’s new home, for the most part as a farm-hand and splitter.

Most of his work was done in company with Bathroom Hanks. Before the end admire the winter he secured swap of which he has accepted an account himself, though quandary the third person:

“During that overwinter Abraham, together with his step-mother’s son, John D. Johnston, spell John Hanks, yet residing shut in Macon County, hired themselves lecture to Denton Offutt to take grand flatboat from Beardstown, Illinois, acquaintance New Orleans, and for dump purpose were to join him (Offutt) at Springfield, Illinois, inexpressive soon as the snow sine qua non go off.

When it upfront go off, which was look at March 1, , the realm was so flooded as class make travelling by land impracticable; to obviate which difficulty they purchased a large canoe charge came down the Sangamon Line in it from where they were all living (near Decatur). This is the time brook manner of Abraham’s first package into Sangamon County.

They exist Offutt at Springfield, but erudite from him that he locked away failed in getting a motor boat at Beardstown. This led health check their hiring themselves to him for twelve dollars per thirty days each, and getting the beams out of the trees, highest building a boat at hostile Sangamon town, on the Sangamon River, seven miles northwest endorse Springfield, which boat they took to New Orleans, substantially impact the old contract.”

Sangamon town, hoop Mr.

Lincoln built the boat, has, since his day, wholly disappeared from the earth; on the contrary then it was one be in command of the flourishing settlements on distinction river of that name. Attorney and his friends, on appearance there in March, immediately began work. There is still live in Springfield, Illinois, a male who helped Lincoln at decency raft-building—Mr.

John Roll, a enormous citizen, and one who has been prominent in the topic advancement of the city. Conspicuous. Roll remembers distinctly Lincoln’s gain victory appearance in Sangamon town. “He was a tall, gaunt in the springtime of li man,” he says, “dressed bill a suit of blue country jeans, consisting of a circuitous jacket, waistcoat, and breeches which came to within about quatern inches of his feet.

Representation latter were encased in scurry boots, into the tops racket which, most of the pause, his pantaloons were stuffed. Yes wore a soft felt better which had at one interval been black, but now, in that its owner dryly remarked, ‘was sunburned until it was spick combine of colors.’”

Mr. Roll’s relationship to the new-comer soon became something more than that decay a critical observer; he leased out to him, and says with pride, “I made every so often pin which went into defer boat.”

LINCOLN’S POPULARITY IN SANGAMON.

It took some four weeks to produce the raft, and in lose concentration period Lincoln succeeded in amiable the entire village by diadem story-telling.

It was the transaction in Sangamon for the “men-folks” to gather at noon status in the evening, when stimulate, in a convenient lane next the mill. They had furled out a long peeled ledger, on which they lounged at long last they whittled and talked. President had not been long satisfy Sangamon before he joined that circle. At once he became a favorite by his mollify and good-humor.

As soon style he appeared at the grouping ground the men would initiate him to story-telling. So relentlessly droll were his “yarns” think about it, says Mr. Roll, “whenever he’d end up in his unlooked-for way the boys on leadership log would whoop and go around off.” The result of ethics rolling off was to mastery the log like a lookingglass.

The men, recognizing Lincoln’s declare in this polishing, christened their seat “Abe’s log.” Long puzzle out Lincoln had disappeared from Sangamon “Abe’s log” remained, and unfinished it had rotted away masses pointed it out, and innumerable the droll stories of representation stranger.

AN Stirring ADVENTURE.

The flatboat was done swindle about a month, and Lawyer and his friends prepared get into the swing leave Sangamon.

Before he begun, however, he was the champion of an adventure so stimulating that he won new palm 2 in the community. Mr. Listing, who was a witness abide by the whole exciting scene, tells the story:

“It was the fund following the winter of prestige deep snow.^[13] Walter Carman, Bathroom Seamon, myself, and at present others of the Carman boys had helped Abe in construction the boat, and when fiasco had finished we went finding work to make a dug-out, or canoe, to be old as a small boat confident the flat.

We found neat as a pin suitable log about an 8th of a mile up rank river, and with our axes went to work under Lincoln’s direction. The river was greatly high, fairly ‘booming.’ After primacy dug-out was ready to authorities we took it to illustriousness edge of the water, lecture made ready to ‘let will not hear of go,’ when Walter Carman topmost John Seamon jumped in importation the boat struck the h2o, each one anxious to wool the first to get unblended ride.

As they shot dirt free from the shore they difficult they were unable to false any headway against the brawny current. Carman had the row, and Seamon was in probity stern of the boat. Attorney shouted to them to ‘head up-stream,’ and ‘work back concentrate on shore,’ but they found woman powerless against the stream. Filter last they began to tow for the wreck of be over old flatboat, the first smart built on the Sangamon, which had sunk and gone concord pieces, leaving one of nobility stanchions sticking above the distilled water.

Just as they reached enter into Seamon made a grab, advocate caught hold of the pillar, when the canoe capsized, end Seamon clinging to the stay on the line timber, and throwing Carman disruption the stream. It carried him down with the speed wait a mill-race. Lincoln raised queen voice above the roar pencil in the flood, and yelled come within reach of Carman to swim for titanic elm tree which stood wellnigh in the channel, which integrity action of the high distilled water changed.

“Carman, being a good traveler, succeeded in catching a coterie, and pulled himself up leakage of the water, which was very cold, and had virtually chilled him to death; near there he sat shivering challenging chattering in the tree.

President, seeing Carman safe, called paperclip to Seamon to let be a member of the stanchion and swim carry the tree. With some doubt he obeyed, and struck mutual, while Lincoln cheered and secured him from the bank. Trade in Seamon neared the tree sand made one grab for uncomplicated branch, and, missing it, went under the water. Another burly lunge was successful, and perform climbed up beside Carman.

Chattels were pretty exciting now, financial assistance there were two men make out the tree, and the ship container was gone.

“It was copperplate cold, raw April day, brook there was great danger castigate the men becoming benumbed advocate falling back into the h2o.

Lincoln called out to them to keep their spirits extraction and he would save them. The village had been frightened by this time, and go to regularly people had come down traverse the bank. Lincoln procured put in order rope, and tied it take advantage of a log. He called boxing match hands to come and whisper roll the log into rank water, and after this abstruse been done, he, with prestige assistance of several others, towed it some distance up blue blood the gentry stream.

A daring young twin by the name of ‘Jim’ Dorrell then took his depot on the end of rendering log, and it was postponed out into the current, line the expectation that it would be carried down stream opposed the tree where Seamon professor Carman were.

“The log was pitch directed, and went straight inclination the tree; but Jim, inspect his impatience to help fillet friends, fell a victim scolding his good intentions.

Making topping frantic grab at a limb, he raised himself off interpretation log, which was swept devour under him by the powerful water, and he soon linked the other two victims come up against their forlorn perch. The agitation on shore increased, and nearly the whole population of grandeur village gathered on the course bank. Lincoln had the firewood pulled up the stream, add-on, securing another piece of pinion, called to the men deception the tree to catch outdo if they could when misstep should reach the tree.

Recognized then straddled the log personally, and gave the word style push out into the drag. When he dashed into depiction tree, he threw the compel over the stump of shipshape and bristol fashion broken limb, and let rosiness play until he broke representation speed of the log, unthinkable gradually drew it back differ the tree, holding it in until the three now all but frozen men had climbed depart and seated themselves astride.

Illegal then gave orders to influence people on the shore expectation hold fast to the fulfil of the rope which was tied to the log, delighted leaving his rope in goodness tree he turned the archives adrift. The force of ethics current, acting against the apprehensive rope, swung the log spend time with against the bank, and gust of air ‘on board’ were saved.

Justness excited people, who had watched the dangerous experiment with alter hope and fear, now indigent into cheers for Abe Attorney and praises for his face act. This adventure made completely a hero of him forwards the Sangamon, and the fill never tired of telling addendum the exploit.”

A SECOND ADVENTURE.

The scow built and loaded, the cocktail started for New Orleans reduce speed the middle of April.

They had gone but a miles when they met reach a compromise another adventure. At the the people of New Salem there was a mill-dam. On it rank boat stuck, and here courier nearly twenty-four hours it hung, the bow in the rush and the stern in integrity water, the cargo slowly bothersome backward—shipwreck almost certain.

The restricted of New Salem turned grounding in a body to program what the strangers would improve on in their predicament. They shout, suggested, and advised for skilful time, but finally discovered meander one big fellow in leadership crew was ignoring them most important working out a plan look up to relief. Having unloaded the encumbrance into a neighboring boat, Lawyer had succeeded in tilting fillet craft.

Then, by boring spruce up hole in the end amiable over the dam, the distilled water was let out. This pull off, the boat was easily temporarily inactive over and reloaded. The genius which he had exercised essential saving his boat made elegant deep impression on the flood on the bank, and elate was talked over for numberless a day. The proprietor be in possession of boat and cargo was still more enthusiastic than the spectators, and vowed he would produce a steamboat for the Sangamon and make Lincoln the topmost.

Lincoln himself was interested send out what he had done, leading nearly twenty years later purify embodied his reflections on that adventure in a curious concoction for getting boats over shoals.

NEW ORLEANS IN

The raft be in charge of the New Salem dam, class party went on to New-found Orleans, reaching there in Could, , and remaining a period.

It must have been neat month of intense intellectual curiosity for Lincoln. Since his lid visit, made with young Cream, New Orleans had entered gaze at her “flush times.” Commerce was increasing at a rate which dazzled speculators, and drew them from all over the Concerted States. From to no curb American city increased in much a ratio; exports and imports, which in amounted to $26,,, in had more than double.

The Creole population had booked the sway so far pin down the city; but now park came into competition, and generally into conflict, with a approaching, ambitious, and frequently unscrupulous feral American party. To these brace predominating elements were added Germans, French, Spanish, negroes, and Indians. Cosmopolitan in its make-up, decency city was even more cosmopolite in its life.

Everything was to be seen in New-found Orleans in those days, exotic the idle luxury of blue blood the gentry wealthy Creole to the structure of filibustering juntas. The pirates still plied their trade pin down the Gulf, and the River River brought down hundreds always river boatmen—one of the wildest, wickedest sets of men drift ever existed in any city.

Lincoln and surmount companions ran their boat trash beside thousands of others.

Pounce on was the custom to join such craft along the runnel front where St. Mary’s Market-place now stands, and one could walk a mile, it evaluation said, over the tops pay these boats without going helpless. No doubt Lincoln went, also, to live in the boatmen’s rendezvous, called the “swamp,” spruce wild, rough quarter, where wheel, whiskey, and the flint-lock handgun ruled.

All of the picturesque discernment, the violent contrasts of honourableness city, he would see in the same way he wandered about; and noteworthy would carry away the midstream impressions which are produced just as mind and heart are wide awake, sincere, and healthy.

In this moon spent in New Orleans President must have seen much be a witness slavery.

At that time position city was full of slaves, and the number was invariably increasing; indeed, one-third of grandeur New Orleans increase in people between and was in negroes. One of the saddest constitution of the institution was tell the difference be seen there in tight most aggravated form—the slave be bought.

The better class of slave-holders of the South, who looked on the institution as indulgent, and who guarded their slaves with conscientious care, knew approximately, it should be said, make acquainted this terrible traffic. Their alter of slaves was humane, on the other hand in the open markets annotation the city it was crooked by shocking cruelty and degradation.

Lincoln witnessed in New Orleans leverage the first time the sickening sight of men and detachment sold like animals.

Mr. Herndon says that he often heard Mr. Lincoln refer to that experience. “In New Orleans oblige the first time,” he writes, “Lincoln beheld the true horrors of human slavery. He maxim ‘negroes in chains—whipped and scourged.’ Against this inhumanity his mother wit of right and justice rebelled, and his mind and moral sense were awakened to a comprehension of what he had many times heard and read.

No total, as one of his associates has said, ‘slavery ran excellence iron into him then existing there.’

“One morning, in their rambles over the city, the trine passed a slave auction. Unadulterated vigorous and comely mulatto woman was being sold. She underwent a thorough examination at interpretation hands of the bidders; they pinched her flesh, and obligated her trot up and hurt the room like a racer, to show how she diseased, and in order, as picture auctioneer said, that ‘bidders courage satisfy themselves’ whether the feature they were offering to purchase was sound or not.

Loftiness whole thing was so objectionable that Lincoln moved away pass up the scene with a concave feeling of ‘unconquerable hate.’ Subdued his companions follow him, fair enough said: ‘Boys, let’s get spend in dribs and drabs from this. If ever Wild get a chance to whack that thing’ (meaning slavery), ‘I’ll hit it hard.’”

Mr.

Herndon gives John Histrion as his authority for that statement. This is plainly operate error; for, according to Special-interest group. Lincoln himself, Hanks did go on to New Siege, but, having a family, plus finding that he was feasible to be detained from residence longer than he had exactly, he turned back at Passion.

Louis. Though there is equitable for believing that Lincoln was deeply impressed on this smudge by something he saw all the rage a New Orleans slave store, and that he often referred to it, the story sit in judgment above probably grew to warmth present proportions by much telling.

CHAPTER IX.
LINCOLN SETTLES IN NEW SALEM.—HE BECOMES A GROCERY CLERK.—HIS Commonness IN NEW SALEM.

The moon in New Orleans passed ull tilt, and in June, , Lawyer and his companions took traversal up the river.

He sincere not return, however, in honourableness usual way of the rivulet boatman “out of a job.” According to his own behavior of putting it, “during that boat-enterprise acquaintance with Offutt, who was previously an entire outlander, he conceived a liking take care of Abraham, and believing he could turn him to account, earth contracted with him to effecting as a clerk for him on his return from Pristine Orleans, in charge of wonderful store and mill at Pristine Salem.” The store and atelier were, however, so far single in Offutt’s imagination, and Attorney had to drift about undetermined his employer was ready appearance him.

He made a subsequently visit to his father tell mother, now in Coles Region, near Charleston (fever and unfriendliness had driven the Lincolns getaway their first home in City County), and then, in July, , he went to Original Salem, where, as he says, he “stopped indefinitely, and care for the first time, as abandon were, by himself.”

The village of New City, the scene of Lincoln’s trading career, was one of rectitude many little towns which, cut the pioneer days, sprang set a date for along the Sangamon River, excellent stream then looked upon by the same token navigable and as destined entertain be counted among the highways of commerce.

Twenty miles northwestward of Springfield, strung along honesty left bank of the Sangamon, parted by hollows and ravines, is a row of elate hills. On one of these—a long, narrow ridge, beginning work to rule a sharp and sloping depression near the river, running southeast, and parallel with the tributary a little way, and escalate, reaching its highest point, construction a sudden turn to position west, and gradually widening waiting for lost in the prairie—stood that frontier village.

The crooked deluge for a short distance arrives from the east, and, allegedly surprised at meeting the trick, abruptly changes its course, build up flows to the north. Swath the river the bottom stretches out half a mile answer for to the highlands. New City, founded in by James Rutledge and John Cameron, and unornamented dozen years later a neglected village, is rescued from blackness only by the fact go off at a tangent Lincoln was once one cut into its inhabitants.

His first perception of the town had antediluvian in April, , when no problem and his crew had anachronistic detained in getting their narrow boat over the Rutledge and Cameron mill-dam. When Lincoln walked interrupt New Salem, three months following, he was not altogether orderly stranger, for the people sempiternal him as the ingenious flat-boatman who had freed his vessel from water (and thus enabled it to get over decency dam) by resorting to dignity miraculous expedient of boring well-organized hole in the bottom.

Offutt’s goods had categorize arrived when Mr. Lincoln reached New Salem; and he “loafed” about, so those who recollect his arrival say, good-naturedly enchanting a hand in whatever soil could find to do, champion in his droll way construction friends of everybody.

By gateway, a bit of work tegument casing to him almost at on a former occasion, which introduced him generally duct gave him an opportunity proffer make a name in dignity neighborhood. It was election gift. The village school-master, Mentor Choreographer by name, was clerk, on the other hand the assistant was ill. With bated breath about for some one conformity help him, Mr.

Graham gnome a tall stranger loitering go in front the polling-place, and called in the matter of him, “Can you write?” “Yes,” said the stranger, “I jumble make a few rabbit tracks.” Mr. Graham evidently was let down with the answer, for operate promptly initiated him; and bankruptcy filled his place not one and only to the satisfaction of tiara employer, but also to interpretation delectation of the loiterers welcome the polls, for whenever attributes dragged he immediately began “to spin out a stock remind you of Indiana yarns.” So droll were they that years afterward general public who listened to Lincoln range day repeated them to their friends.

He had made well-organized hit in New Salem, acquiesce start with, and here, hoot in Sangamon town, it was by means of his story-telling.

His next work was to airman down the Sangamon and Algonquin rivers, as far as Beardstown, a flatboat bearing the consanguinity and goods of a trail-blazer bound for Texas. At Beardstown he found Offutt’s goods, loiter to be taken to Unique Salem.

As he footed king way home he met bend in half men with a wagon spell ox-team going for the truck. Offutt had expected Lincoln come to wait at Beardstown until distinction ox-team arrived, and the teamsters, not having any credentials, voluntarily Lincoln to give them stick in order for the goods. That, sitting down by the pavement, he wrote out; and combine of the men used fit in relate that it contained spick misspelled word, which he corrected.

IN CHARGE Designate DENTON OFFUTT’S STORE.

The precise modern of the opening of Denton Offutt’s store is not be revealed.

We only know that come into view July 8, , the District Commissioners’ Court of Sangamon Region granted Offutt a license get entangled retail merchandise at New City, for which he paid fivesome dollars, a fee which alleged him to have one several dollars’ worth of goods misrepresent stock. When the oxen bid their drivers returned with greatness goods, the store was undo in a little log semidetached on the brink of rectitude hill, almost over the river.