New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-01
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

,,,o,,o WIZ or LINCOLN - IINCoLN's FATHER
AND MoTHERs-LECoLNs LoVEs-ANN nut
IEpGE--MARY owENs-MATILDA EDWARDS
MARY ToDD-HIs RELUCTANCE 10 MAahf
INA INSANITY - WAS HE CHRIsTIAN1-
BOSTON IN PICTURE-BooK - CROSSING
THE ATLANTIC BY HoPPN - SWITCHED
GuIDF-NR. FIELDs's PLAN FOR UNIVERSITY
LECTURES FOR WOMEN. - -, .-u,o,,..,,
rFROM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE lhibUhhi
Bosroy. May 3O.-There can never have been
biography that closely resembed those archives OF
the recording angel with which, according TO the ath OF
the orthodox, he is to regale the assembled universe al
the last day. the Life OF Abraham Lincoln rom ms
birth to his Inauguration President, by Ward H.
Iamon" which j. r. 0sgood ~ Co. are about TO publish
II work Of national interest," and no romance could be
more exciting; but If It sets down naught in malice, 1t
most certainly nothing extenuates Uneasy from hence
forth shall be his head who is President Tor he must de-
since that is appointed to all, and ne may nave
his biography written, II the race OF Lamon
survives. 1t is fearful thing 10 ial
into the hands Of the bographer with oil your errors
on your head. viii leave 1t to critic who Is mghtier
than to sit in Judgment the scope and execution OF
this remarkable book and only give you, in advance,
few Of the personal revelations, to which, as all the
world is so soon to know them, may be pardoned 1or
directing your attention Mr. Lamon delights particu-
larry In love affairs and gives u.s. accordingly the heart
history OF LincOn's father, as well as his own Inc
maiden name Of LiDcolns mother Nancy Hanks but
con the father was idle thriftless, poor hunter
and rover" He was not tall and Thin like Abraham,
but comparatively short and stout standing about hVe
feet ten inches in his shoes His hair was dark ana
coarse his complexion brown his face round and fuu'
his eyes gray, and his nose large and prominent he
weighed different times, from 10 TO le6 pounds he
was O little stoop-shoudered, but was sinewy ana
brave and foe TO be feared in q rough and tumble
fight Like most Of those who surrounded Mr. Lincoln
In early years. Lincoln senior could neither read nor
WRITE though after his marriage his wife dd teach nun
TO write his name instead Of making his mark He feh
in love with girl named Sally Bush, modest ana pous
young woman much too good for him, who rejected MN
and married Johnston the Tailor. Thomas Lincoln then
consoled himself with Nancy Hanks, the mother OF
Abraham She a slender, symmetrical woman Vi
medium stature, brunette with dark halr regular Ioa-
lures and soft, sparkling hazel eyes Deheatey hur-
tured she might have been beautfmj but nara usage
and hard labor bent her handsome form and impaired
an unnatural TO her features DURING INC
latter part Of her life her face the same sad long
ing woeful expression which characterized that OF her
SON. Abraham when repOse. IL appears tn. reckless
Thomas never gave her all his heart. lie had
still o laundering for Sally Bush, ana doupuess
Nancys womany instinct OWNED this, ana her sau race
grew sadder for the knowledge. In 1873 she deu her
son Abraham being at that time nine years Old dhr
teen months afterward the bereaved husband presented
himself in the attitude OF a sutton before Mrs saly
Johnston the Sally Bush Of his early love, who HAD De-
come widow He opened his suit in strain OF uhcoA
yentional eloquence owen, Miss Johnston" said he
"I have no wife, and you have no husband. came
purpose to marry YOU knowed you from gal, and
Won knowed me from a boy. I have no time to lose
and II YOU are win', let it be done straight Off, To
this the lady Of his loveaanswered: Tommy, know
Won we'll and haye no objection TO marrying youi puJ
cannot straight off, as owe some debts that must
fret be paid" This difficulty seems to have been Ia
some manner overcome for they married the next
In set nj W
Indiana clearing She possessed household goods
which I'm his eyes were OF unparalleled mag
niacence. Among other things, she o"hed
q bureau that cost so. Thomas toid
her that to him it seemed sinful to be the proprietor OF
such a thing and tired to persuade heg 10 turn II into
cash. but in vain. She went with all her household
GODS and carried comfort with her into the barren
comfortless home where Abe and his young sister were
shverug 10 wonder that they loved her. Tor she TOOK
them to ner heart as If they her own. They were
half naked and she clothed them dirty and she washed
them; nl-used and che treated them with mOthery ten
derness. She especially fond Of young A0e and IN
after years when lie spoke, he often did with great
| tenderness, Of his mother It always this second
mother TO whom he referred and never to sadfaced,
darleyed Nancy Hanks the mother OF his infancy. lie
said II was she who first made him feel " like human
being" whose goodness first touched his childish heart
and taught him that blows and taunts and degradation
were not to be his only portion in this world. Soon after
|
| school education. We have picture Of him al 10.
"He was growing at tremendous rate, and two years
later attained his full hight o. six feet four inches lie
and the length Of his legs and arms, were out Of an pro-
portion TO his small trunk and head His complexion
was very swarthy, and Mrs Gentry saws that his skin
was shrveed and yellow even then he wore low shoes
buckskn brooches, nseywocsey shirt. and cap made
Of the skin OF an op0s5um or coon ire breocAes chung
close his thighs and LEGS, bat failed by large space
70 meet the tops OF his shoes. Twelve inches remained
uncovered, and exposed that much OF sbnbone sharp
blue, and narrow He would always come 70 school
thus, gOod-hunorcdly and laughing says his old friend
Nat Grgsuy lie was always M good htath hcNefMas
SICK had an excellent constitution ana TOOK care Of it,"
The last school to which Abe went was taught by
Mr. swaney in 1876 The future President was then H.
and Mr.. Jurnham tells that nc had eXcciled all his
masters, aud il use" for MIN TO attempt 20 learn
anything from them. Some OF his neghbors pronounced
him awful lazy" but he seems to have been always
ready to study fight make speech, do anybody who
was need OF IL good turn. At home, with his step
mother and the children he the most agreeable fe
low in the world. Mrs Lincoln able TO speak
OF Abes conduct TO her without tears In her interview
with Mr.. HeTndOn when the sands of her life were
nearly run out she spoke with deep emotion OF her own
son. but said that she thought Abe was kinder better
| truer, than the other.
| "Abe was poor boy" said she; "and can say what
| scarcely one woman-a mother-can say in thousand
| Abe gave q word look, and never re-
fused fact appearance, TO do anything eQuested
him never gave HIM cross word In all my life. 4. .
| HIS mind ard mine-what little had-seemed to run
| together. He was here after he elected Pres
dent" at this point the aged speaker turned away 70
| with the stOryl He was dutiiul TO mo always. 1
think he loved me truly. had son, John, who was
both being dead. that Abe the best boy ever
saw, expect to wish had died when my bus
band died did not want Abe 10 run for President; did
not want him elected was afraid somehOwfelt in my
heart and when ne came down TO see me- after he
something would befall Abe, and that should him
no more" Is there anything in the language speak
more touching than That simple plant OF tho woman
| whom We must regard as Abraham LdncOlns motherl