The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-02-02

LINCOLN's EARLY LIFE.

Happening to 10 in the eastern portion OF
Mason county, H., called to SEQ Mrs. Will
cox. formerly Mrs, Armstrong. Years ago,
when this goOdly State of ours was compara.
tiycly new. there came TO the little village Of
Salem, Mcnard county. u tall. plain and ra-
ther awkward young man to help in tho mill,
tend store, and make himself generally useful.
Alter serving in this capacity for some time,
and making friends of all who came in con-
tact with him, at mill or grocery, no was ap.
pointed county surveyor, and went to live with
a farmer named Armstrong, residing in the
neichborhoOd. This Mrs. Wilcox whom |
went to see was the wife OF this Armstrong,
and the slender, raw-boned shop tender and
surveyor was Abraham Lincoln.
"Thc first time ever saw him." said Mrs.
w. al went trading. told Armstrong as
soon as got homo there was new clerk at
the store and liked him first rate, he was so
Armstrong went to tho mill, and when he
came home he told rne he had seen the new
clerk Dragged about 50 much. and he liked
him too. They had got to lifting in the mill,
parcel Of them, and the clerk QUILTED every
man there"
"well, he lived with you afterwards, did he
not?"
ayes; as soon as he 60, to surveying no
came TO our house and made il mis- home.
made two pair OF deer-skin breeches for him
shirts, too. Armstrong used to carry chain
for him. They wcrc great cronics. Wherever
Armstrong went Lincoln would 20 too. Tie
was poor and had no horse; WI had several,
and he always rode ono of our creatures. Some
times they would be gone week at timc to
jacksonville, Springfield or somewhere else.
They lied about him when he was run for Pre-
sidcnt--Said ho used to drink: but he never
did. never saw or heard Of his drinking.
The youn. folks thought him kind OF queer.
W hen there WAS frolic, or any doings among
them, hc would 20, but never danced or cut up
lilo amused himself by playing with the chill
dren OF telling some funny story to the old
folks. Yes, he stayed with Tvs till We moved
To- Missouri, and never saw him angry the
whole time. lie used to say he would never
marry until he could support a wife comforta-
bly,. and he didn't. We lived in Missouri five
years, and when we came back he had gone to
springfield. went down thcro pretty soon,
and was standing in n store door looking at
the folks, when saw him coming down the
the street. \ lady was with him-hls VILE
and everybody was bowIng and shaking hands
with him. ] stood up straight IN the door, n
little back like, thinking maybe he would not
want to see me-. with his wife and oil those
people around lie saw me, though, before he
got to me, and came up laughing aud shaking
hands, real glad to see me; asked alter Arm
strong and all the rest, just as IL he was one of
the family. tell yon he was n kind. good
hearted man. and true gentleman. Hc dc.
fealcd INV s.p Ihcr son was tried for homicide
and acquitteal, and alter the trial, told him
| had no money TO pay him, he laughed and
told me whenever was in any trouble to come
to him. Everybody told the was foolish to
write to him about my son, who was sick in
in the army; that he had enough else to at
tend to now. beside lo0kin: At mo and my IA.
mily. But when u dispatch came dischirgiug
NV son. and a letter to me too, they found out
that no hadn't forgotten his old home down in
Mcuard.-Cor. Chicago RcPabhcm.