Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-08-28
New Anecdote of Mr. Lincoln.

made to prolong his boyhood throughout
his life) this gentleman is known among
old friends by the name of Jim as
Lincoln was always called "Abe."
This gentleman relates that, soon after
Mr.. Lincoln's Cooper Institute speech,
he saw notice in the New York Trib-
une that Hon. A. Lincoln, of Illinois,
had delivered an address to the Sunday
School at the Five Points, which was
very well received by both teachers and
pupils. Knowing that Mr.. Lincoln was
not professor of religion, it struck him
that it was a good subject for banter
and SO, seizing the paper, he started for
"Old Abe's" office. Bursting into the
room impulsively, he was startled to find
n stranger in conversation with Mr.. Lin
coin; and turned to retrace his steps,
when the latter called out:
"Jim, what do you want" :"
Nothing"
eyes, you do; come back"
After some entreaty, Jim approached
,dr. Lincoln, and remarked, with mer
twinkle in his eye:
"Well, Abe, see you've been making
speech to Sunday school children
What's the matter?
"Sit down, Jim, and I'll tell you all
bout that"
And with that he put his feet on the
tove, and began:
"When Sunday morning came, did
OF know exactly what to do. Wash
,urne asked me where was going. |
DID him | had nowhere to go, and he
roposed to take me down to the Five
'oints Sunday school, to show me some
hing worth seeing. was very much
aterested by what saw. Presently Mr..
'ease came up and spoke to Washburne,
Tho introduced me. Mr.. Pease wanted
s to speak. Washburne spoke, and
hen I was urged to speak. told them
did not know anything about talking
Sunday schools; but Mr.. Pease said
here were many of them friendless and
omeless, and that few words would''do
hem good. Washburne said | must
ak And SO rose to speak; but ]
I'll you, Jim, I didn't know what to say
couldn't talk about Christ and religion
or didn't know much of either; but
emembered that Mr.. Pease had said
hey were homeless and friendless, and
hought of the time when | had beer
inched by terrible poverty. And so
I'D them that / had been poor; that
amembered when my toes stuck ou
through broken shoes in the winter
hen my arms were out at the elbows
hen | shivered with the cold. And
I'D them there was only one rule; tina
as, Ahoays do the gerry best you can.
I'D them / had always to do the best
ould; and that, if they would follow
hat rule, they would get along somehow
hat was about what said. And wheI
got through, Mr.. Pease said it was jus
he thing they needed. And when tn
,hool was dismissed, all the teacher
anne up and shook hands with me, an
banked me for it, though did not kno'
hat / was saying anything Of any az
ount. But the next morning | saw m
emarks noticed in the papers,
"Just here Mr.. Lincoln put his han
his pocket, and remarked that he neN
heard anything that touched him
ad the songs which those children SAM
| With that he drew forth little boo
smarking that they had given him Oh
| the books from which they sang.
"Did you ever hear any poetry iii
his, Jim p
And he began to read piece, with a
he earnestness of his great earnest sou
the middle of the second verse b
lend Jim " felt choking in his thro
nd tickling in his nose" AT the b
inning of the third verse he saw tn
ae stranger from the East was weepin
nd his own tears fell fast. Turning to
t rd Lincoln, who was reading straig
n, he saw the great binding tears in |
yes, so that he could not possibly see t
!, age. He was repeating that little sol
b rom memory How often he had re
t !, or how long its sweet and simple {
o ents continued to reverberate throu
is soul, no one can know. How mu
y nAuence may that little child's so
It ave had in bringing him to that tru
III ul attitude toward God which was
e characteristic of him during the wea
k losing years of his life!
II An Ohio school l-girl went through |
,alisthenic exercises at home for