material. Slabs laid on poles overhead formed Abraham's chamber, and he, who was in after years to occupy the White House, here in his humble loft enjoyed many nights of sweet, undisturbed repose. With an ax, saw, hammer and a few nails, a bedstead, table and a few stools were made, and the building was ready for occupancy. The loss of the household goods by the upsetting of the boat on the river while in transit could not be immediately made good and thus the household furnishing department was very plain and meager.

Persons whose lives have been spent in the old settlements of the country, and the youth of the present day, cannot realize or imagine the humility and lowliness of border life and the simplicity and plainness of the household appointments of that period.

The Lincoln family, settled in their new home, have hard and constant labor to perform. The land must be cleared and prepared for the crops necessary for the sustenance of the family and stock, and for supplying the simple wants of the household. Abraham was now eight years of age. He was furnished with a light ax and early learned to use it efficiently, and in this new field of labor he entered with zeal and earnestness, assisting his father, as far as his age and strength would permit, in clearing the land for cultivation. This labor and exercise strengthened and made elastic his physical system, which became fully developed in his early manhood.

Here, on the outskirts of civilization, surrounded only by pure and gentle influences which were forming his character and habits for industry, integrity and usefulness, was Providence preparing him for the leadership in a momentous strife for National unity and universal liberty.

Abraham had but little taste and desire for outdoor sports. He usually spent his evenings at home, reading such books as he could obtain, after the labors and duties of the day were performed. It was some time after their settlement in Indiana before schools were established in the neighborbood, and during the several years the family lived in Indiana, Abraham attended school six months, making his attendance at the different schools about one year during his life. In this attendance he became a good reader and writer, and proficient in arithmetic.

Two years after the settlement of the family in Indiana, when Abraham was ten years of age, his mother, frail and delicate, was taken with consumption and quickly and gently passed away. The daughter and son were now as orphans; the humble home was now desolate; the loving, kind voice, the tender embraces and instructions of a fond, affectionate mother were to be remembered as mementos of the past. But she had been spared for a time

to plant the seeds of love, virtue and affection, which had taken deep root, and which in after years produced the richest and most abundant fruit.

They lay the beloved wife and mother away to rest beneath the overspreading trees near the humble cottage, and there the son and the daughter often repaired to weep and mourn over their sad and irreparable bereavement. The mother was laid away to rest without a formal Christian burial. But with this the husband, son and daughter were not content, in this their sad affliction. They remembered their parson, Elkin, who had ministered to their spiritual wants in Kentucky. Some months after his mother's death Abraham wrote a letter to Parson Elkin informing him of his mother's death, and requested him to come to Indiana and perform the last sad and sacred funeral rites at his mother's grave.

When the kind parson received Abraham's letter it recalled vividly to his mind the stricken Christian family, and how often their humble hospitable door had been opened to him to receive his spiritual ministrations and to minister to their temporal wants. These recollections induced a favorable reply to the request, and he informed Abraham that on a Sabbath not far distant he would be present to officiate as he desired. Notice was given to the friends and neighbors, and at the time appointed the settlers and friends gathered to the sequestered place where the remains of the loved wife and mother were buried.

On that solemn Sabbath morning, accompanied by the stricken family, the good parson was received by the neighbors, seated on logs and rustic seats around the grave, assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to one so universally beloved.

It is Spring time. The majestic trees overshadowing the consecrated spot are putting on their livery of green-fit emblems of man's immortality. Flowers, in all their variety and beauty, are springing up all around the hallowed ground, representing the Christian's hope beyond the grave. The parson takes a seat at the head of the grave and bows his head in meditation; the stillness is only broken by the sobs of the bereaved and the melody of the feathered songsters as they flit from tree to tree.

The occasion becomes more impressive as the beloved minister rises and invokes the mercies and blessings of the Great Author of our being on the friends and bereaved for their reliance on and submission to the Divine will, and following in his discourse to his audience he illustrates the graces of Christian character, the ground of the Christian's hope beyond the grave, which were so signally manifested in the life and death of the devoted Christian wife and mother who had departed, and with that warm praise

which her life had merited and deserved, he holds her up as an example worthy to be imitated in all the walks of true Christian experience and womanhood.

Those tender, solemn services were treasured up in the heart and memory of Abraham, and it was many years before the desolation and sorrows of that sad bereavement passed away, and the frequent reference of Mr. Lincoln in his mature years to his early life and his mother's teachings prove how vividly were impressed on his mind and life her Christian example, her constant, diligent efforts to create and impress his young and tender heart with pure and noble motives. His after life proved that he was true to her teachings, to her pious and exemplary life, and to the high and noble principles implanted by her in his heart and memory in his young and tender years.

CHAPTER II.

BOYHOOD.

The period of our boyhood lives, from ten to twenty years, is regarded as the most important and interesting. Examples and principles inculcated now become lasting and salutary. Habits are now formed, and principles are interwoven into our natures which, with few exceptions, shape our destiny and circumstances through life. The principles inculcated and implanted in our earlier years grow with our growth, form character in our youth, and produce their fruit later in life.

1

Abraham Lincoln had now passed childhood, and entered into boyhood. We now more fully recognize the graces and principles impressed and implanted by a devoted Christian mother, which gave basis to his character, which led him in the paths of honor and virtue and into fellowship with the people, and joined him in heart and purpose with the laboring classes. No elevation in society or political honors lessened his respect for the sons of toil. His home was in the far West, and on its broad prairies he was to learn lessons of self-reliance which would lead him to an upright manhood. Simple in life and manners, he was now growing up with the people; his love of home, his devotion to and tender regard for his sister, his fidelity and respect for the memory of his mother, and his habits of study and fondness for books made him noted with his associates and acquaintances as a boy of unusual and remarkable reputation, and won the esteem and interest of all his neighbors and companions.

He was genial and sociable with his comrades, and entered at times with zest and pleasure into all the innocent pastimes and amusements of the day. He loved labor, was actively industrious and assisted, as far as age and strength would permit, in the improvement and cultivation of the homestead.

He had early acquired a taste and love for reading, which was remarkable for one of his age, and all the books he could obtain by borrowing from his friends and neighbors were read and re-read. His early reading was limited by the scarcity of books and the want of means to purchase those that

could be obtained. The Bible, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Æsop's Fables and Dillworth's Spelling Book constituted the family library, and they were diligently studied, and their contents soon became as familiar to him as household words. These books, with his mother's teachings, laid the foundation for that purity and excellence of character, simplicity and earnestness of purpose which has never been excelled.

He afterwards procured Ramsey's and Ward's life of Washington, the life of Franklin and subsequently the life of Henry Clay. From the life of Washington he had lessons of patriotism and love of country worthy of imitation, and a history of the revolution which he loved to study. From the lives of Franklin and Clay he had examples from those who had risen by their own efforts and industry to professional and political distinction, from conditions in life almost as humble as his own. He studied over those books until his heart glowed with a noble emulation and true patriotism which were the moving spirit and purpose of his subsequent life.

As an evidence of his love of books and his integrity, the following notable incident may be mentioned: A Mr. Crawford had loaned Abraham a copy of Ramsey's life of Washington. After reading it one evening he laid it by, as he thought safely, but a storm arose during the night and the rain beat in through a crack in the house, and the book was soaked through and its appearance much soiled. What could he do? He had no money to pay for the book. He, however, took it and went to Mr. Crawford and showed him the injury, and offered to work for him until he was fully satisfied. Mr. Crawford accepted the offer, and Abraham received the book as his own for three days' labor in pulling corn fodder. His manliness and honesty won the respect and esteem of Mr. Crawford and all his neighbors, who were soon informed of the incident.

By the death of his mother, the domestic duties of the household devolved upon Sarah, now twelve years of age. By the teachings and instructions of her mother, she had thus early in life become versed in those domestic duties which, well performed, render the home so desirable and attractive, and in these labors and duties she received all the assistance that could be rendered by a kind and affectionate brother. How often in mature years, and still later in life, does memory recall many pleasing incidents of our childhoodthe hearth-stones around which was gathered the family circle-the kind father, the loving mother and the affectionate brothers and sisters, the kind favors and services conferred and the grateful smiles of approbation returned. Those blissful hours have been treasured up as precious mementos of the past, adding more and still more to our hallowed happiness and to the aspirations of our better natures. Mr. Lincoln often, in his mature years, referred to his early home, and the household memories which he had garnered up in