Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-08-10
Ahrnllam lincoln at school.

From Lannon's Lifc Of Abraham Lincoln
HAIL Dorsey was his FIRST master.
lie presided in a small house near
the Pigeon Creek Meeting house, II
mile and q half from the Lincoln
cabin. 1t was built OF unhown logs,
and had "holcs for windows IN
which CREASED paper' seryoi for
glass. Tho roof was jus thigh enough
for n man to stand erect. Here he
was taught reading, writing and ci-
phering, They spelled in classes,
and trapped" up and down. These
juvenile contests were very exciting
to the participants; and it is sad by
the survivors, that Abe was even then
the equal il not the superior OF any
scholar in his class
The next teacher was Andrew
Crawford. Mrs Gentry says he be.
gan pcdagogue in the ncighborhood
in the winter of 1922 3, while most
Of his scholars are unable 10 fix an
exact date. He "kept" in the Same
littlo 5cho1lhous9 which had been
the scene Of Dorsey 3 time Abe was
now in his rinteouth year, and be-
gan to exhibit symptoms Of gallant
ry toward the weaker sex. rs we
shall presently discover. lIo was
growing at u tremendous rate, and
two years l1tcr attained his full
height Of six fcot four inches. He
was long, wiry, aud strong; while his
BIG feet aud hands, and the l.n%th
Of his lego and arms were out Of al
proportion 10 bis small trunk and
head. His c)mployion WAS very
5Tarthy, and Mrs Gentry says that
his skin VAS shriyeled and yellow
even then. He wore low shoes,
breeches, lnsey-woolsey
shirt and q cap made Of the skin OF
m opossum or coon. The brooches
hung close to his thighs and legs,
but failed by large space to meet
the tops OF his shoes. Twelve inches
remained uncovered, and exposed
that much Of his "shinbone. sharp,
blue aud narrow" Gle would al.
ways come to school thus, good hu-
and laughing" says his old
friend, Nat Grisby. "Hs was always
in good health, never sick, had an
excellent constitution, and took care
Of it.
Crawford taught "manners. This
wss feature Of backwoods educa-
ton to which Dorsey had not in
5pired, and Crawford had doubtless
introduced it rs Il refinement which
W uid put to shame the humber ef-
forts Of his predecessor. One of tho
scholars was required to retire, and
re-entcr as a polite gentleman is sup
posed to enter a drawing-room. lie
was received at the door by another
scholar, and conducted from bench
to bench, until he had been intro
luced to all the "young Indies and
in the room. Abe went
through the ordeal countless times.
II lie took 4 serious view Of tue bust
less, it must have put him to cA-
luisite torture; for he was conscious
hat he was not a perfect tyre Of
manly beauty, with his long legs
md blue skins, lis small head, his
;rcat ears, and shriyelod skin. If,
however, it struck him as tail funny,
t must have filed him with unspeak-
.ble ninth, and given rise to many
mite tricks and sly jokes, as he was
gayely led about, shamcGaced and
,awky, under the very eye of the
Precise Crawford, to be introduced
0 the boys and girls of his most an
.icnt acquaintance.
manners, he by no means neglected
pelliug. Abo was a good sPcllor,
md liked to use his knowledge, not
,uly to secure honors for himself,
,ut to help his less fortunate school
mates ont Of their troubles, and he
yas exceedingly ingenious in the Sc
cction OF c1rcdients for conveying
'rohibited hints. One day Crawford
ave cut the difficult word "deied."
large class was on the floor, but
hey all provoking failed to spell IT
j-e-f-l-d,e, said one; d-e-i-y-d-c,
aid another; d-c.f-y-d-d-cf-y-e-d,
ricd arolhcr and another. But il
vas all wrong; it was shameful that
mong all these big boys and girls,
lobody could spell "deGed;' and
wrath gathered in clouds
'yer his terrible brow. lie made the
.clpless culprits shake with fear. He
declared he would keep the whole
lass in al day and all night, if de
led" WAS not spelled Yhoro was
mong them a Miss Roby, u youug
irl Of fifteen years of age, whom We
aust suppose to have been pretty,
Jr Abe was evidently half in love
With her. II saw Lincoln ut the
says she; "he had his fin
.cr in his eye and Il smile on his
ace; | instantly took the hint, that
must change the letter "y' into an
i, Hence | spelled the word-tho
lass was let out. felt grateful to
lincoln for this simple thing.
James Madison,