The sun., 1872-07-26

the authors previously expressed view (p. 40e),
as TO the motives which prompted Mr.. Lincoln
to make this celebrated "house-diyided " speech.
"Mr. Lincoln was looking further than this cam
pagn; he was quietly dreaming of tho Presi-
dency, and edglng himself TO place in advance,
where he thought the tide might take him up In
1890 He sure that sectional animosities,
far from subsldne, would grow deeper and
stronger with time, and for that reason the next
nominee of the exclusively Northern party must
he man OF radical views. Il think says Mr..
Herndon, the speech was intended to take the
wind out Of Stewards sails;' and Mr.. Hern-
don is not alone in his opinion"
The author who gives this rs his carefully
formed opinion and deliberate belief, certainly
does not believe that Mr.. Lincoln was "im-
pressed with the gravity OF the great issues
which then loomed just above the political ho-
rizon," or that he consciously announced a
great truth, whom he only trying to take
the wind out OF Stewards salsi" 7
There are some mutilations and excislonsfn
the first two or three chapters, which/will
be Justified on the ground of decency shd re-
spoct for the feelings Of the living, well ~ for
the memory of the dead. Thoy relate princl-
pally to Lncolns paternity and early youth,
and we will not discuss their proprlety. We
do not agree with the opinion OF Mr.. Herndon,
by whom the facts were collected; but his idea
is not without It's force. He appears to hold that
there Ia no subject OF more interest to observ-
ing minds than the growth and development of
the mental and moral character Of great man.
More especially Ia this true when the great man
has risen from the lowliest walks OF life, in the
face OF mountains Of dlfIiculty, to the very acme
Of worldly fame and power.
And what wonderful story that OF Lincoln Is
On the confines of civilization, In Kentucky,
"in amiserable cabin, which stood on a little
knoll in the midst OF barren glade" surround
ed by an extremely desolate" landscape, and
among rude and almost barbarous people, Abra-
ham Lincoln first saw the light of day. A dark
suspicion "a to his paternity clouded his birth,
and domestic infellcIties rendered unhappy and
miserable his early childhood. His father was
thriftless no'er do weel, who seems to have had
but little regard for his offspring, while his mo-
thcr, though blessed with some virtues, was evil
IDENTIFY cursed with greater vices. That portion
Of his boyhood which was spent in Kentucky
is graphically narrated by the author:
=" In the mean time, Denis Hanks endeavorcd 10 ini.
nae N ne ySns s D S s nm his on sS
branch whose waters were so pure that yhi pebble
hunted sroudho win an Older boy Who S% has ne snse nee
SS SSssf se he Win
SRsn e%PHs to R Rs ops .ssm 81
.snfST a oyer n tree Abraham lost hold
ne utmost eIerilons Of the other boy But. with al
ne eares, dawn OF reason he began to suffer and en-
sRc ssv.epsd hi Ss.f sSa n ;F'nef f
leet with such singular and astonishing ra
straw aSSs, Il. a.e :; TGm IT, n.5 GpsSs SsIe
sas and ;sS 70 have sd@.e% more
to sssSe foT few day a, time he was sent slons
than s he ses oS sGSRS
much, much h.mset One Gi the masters. zsehsras ney
Kept his school nearly four miles away the Friend
ue that long ans weary distance "s win sPens So6 S
Hqd srroI, later Lunch q corn erea Tom
writing after fashion, and little arithmetic. But ms
sarn and HE power and readiness to whip the big
Soon after a terrible ngnt VIII lch Tom Lincoln
had with one Abraham Enlow on account Of
domestic in.elicities," he determined to seek
relief from the prosecutions OF his domestic foe
in the wilds Of Indiana This hegira was made
on pack horses, which bore, In addition to his
ride and two children, all his worldly goods
The biographer tells us they we're not many or
valuable. Besides clothing and bedding they
carried such cooking utensils as would be needed
by the way, and would be Indispensable when
they reached their destination. The stock was
not large. IL consisted OF one oven and lid
one skillet and lid, and some tin ware" The
journey through the wilderness must have been
both tedious and trying, but at length, after
many detenuons and difficulties, he reached the
point where he intended TO make his future
home. 1t was situated between the forks of Big
Pigeon and Little Pigeon creeks, a mile and a
half east Of Gentryyille, a village VIII ich grew
up afterward, and now numbers about three
hundred Inhabitants" Here, under new but not
much different circumstances, the youth OF the
future President passed. We are told that
" Lincoln laid OF his curtilage on gentle hill
lock having slope on every side. The spot was
very beautiful, and the soil was excellent. The
selection was wise in every respect but one
There was no water near, except what was col |
lected In holes in the ground after rain; but It
was very foul, and had To be strained before
using. At a later period we find Abraham and
his step sister carrying water from spring stu
ated mile away" The donlcile was "a half
faced camp-a cabin enclosed on three sides and
open on the fourth. 1t was built, not OF logs
but Of poles, and was therefore denominated a |
camp TO distinguish 1t from cabin It
was about fourteen feet square, and had no
aoor.' Here in this rude shelter they lived a |
whole year until a" rough log cabin was reared |
But 1t was not until two years afterward, when
the good sally Burt, Toms second wife, and
Abe's devoted stepmother, arrived that it was
furnished with floor of rough-hewed pun
rheons, "A door Of similar material. and "A win
dow of creased paper. The furniture was equally
rude and scanty.
rhreelcggcd stools served for chairs \ hcdsfoaI
corner OF the cabin while the other end rested iu the
'roich a. iotAtd slick SUM M tuc floor. on these
ere laid some boards, and the boards shake.
Town OF leaves covered with skns and ola petit 'ulls,
ht taulr was a hcWei puuChrna, supported hy four
eg They had few pewter and tin dishes 20 eat from,
mention of knives or forks. Their cooking utensils
Ntfe Dutch oven and skillet. Abraham slept In the
olcg IN the wall"
In the summer OF ISIS Ahc's mother died, and
thirteen months aftcrward his father made his
way back to Elilabethtown, Kentucky, courted
lis arst love, sally Burt now tho widow Of
ohnson the iailer and married her The ad-
ent OF this woman in their rude home
vas tho beginning OF q new era in Abe's life.
he possessed what was esteemed In those DAYS
N the frontier rich store OF household goods,
md with commendable energy she seems TO
AVE set aboutimpro,ing the dcsolate home and
he still more dcsolate children she found.
Her own gooda furnished the cabin with tolerable
ccrhcy, she made Lincoln put down a door, and hang
udoNs and doors II was In the depth OF winter and
ur children as they nestled In the warm beds she pTu
Id d them enjoying the stTHnge luxury Of security
rom the cold winds of December must have thank. |
sr from the bottoms OF their newly comfOred hearts
ht hAd brought son anu two daughters o. ne nWn-