The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-08-11
.LINO0LN,s MOTHER.
Interesting Story of Her Death-rhe Love Borne
by the Statesman for His Aged Parent-The
Log Cabin and the DAYS of Poverty


Canisius, entitled abraham Lincoln"
Unfortunately. Abe was not allowed
to follow his inclination. The summer
season again called him from his stud
les. Not only was there work in abund-
ance in the woods and fields, but the
state of his mothers health became
more and more hopeless, so that he was
again compelled to perform the hardest
work of the household, which his sister
could not accomplish alone. The noble
hearted Mrs. Lincoln had become the
shadow of her former SELF Pale and
emaciated she glided about the house,
and when she attempted, now and then,
to perform, with weak and trembling
hands, some little task, she felt as
though the exertion had exhausted all
her energies. She seemed like mov-
ing corpse, and only her strong will ap-
peared to shield her body from total
dissolution. She would not yet depart
from her loving ones, and-she lived.
But how miserable that life during the
whole of that summert What torture
it had become to her! How many Sleep
less, feverish nights succeeded each 9TH
er! At last she could no longer even
move about the hut to direct and super
intend the household affairs. For days
she lay PROSTATE on her bed, with closed
eyes, only now and then lisping feebly
"a few words, yet whatever she uttered
in such sad moments was filed with
tender care for her family. Even in the
occasional feverish wandering Of her
mind her thoughts fingered on that
which in her laborious existence had
formed the very essence of her life, and
disclosed the once untiring activity of a
worthy, excellent, and Industrious
housewife. On warm, sunny days Faith
er Thomas would carry the weak and
now feather-light sufferer into the shade
of a tree in front of the little house,
where Abe and his sister prepared with
loving hands a couch of pillows and
bedding. There Mother Nancy often
sat for hours together, chills creeping
through her frame, even in the glowing
sunheat. Even then she looked with a
faint smile toward her husband, who
worked in the adjoining field, and who
cast ut intervals a careworn and anxious
look toward his suffering wife; or her
eyes followed the flight of birds that
seemed to ascend to higher world, to
that far and unknown land toward
which her soul was striving, for Mother
Nancy was about to close her earthly
existence, although she struggled
against her approaching dissolution.
How beautifully, in such moments, the
sunlight TRANSPORTED the mild counte-
nance of the parent and dying woman.
How distinctly was it then revealed that
a pure, God-fearing soul was departing
this life. The quiet and pious express
sion of her face was truly spiritual, the
beautiful, eloquent eyes were clearer
than ever, and over her entire figure
was poured that holiness with which
the nature of just person in the last
hours of life, like presentiment of
eternal happiness, is endowed. And
when Sarah, who so early had to take
the housewives place, left the hut and
her work now and then to attend to her
mothers wants-when Abe, awkward
and slovenly as he was, crept with sor-
rowful face toward the sufferers side,
and looked with his large, intelligent
eyes tearfully upon the invalid, often
plucking shyly but tenderly at the pill
lows upon which she rested, or, over
come with grief, bent over her power
less and emaciated hands, mingling the
scalding tears with his burning kisses
even then she had smile for them, and
no worldly anxiety was visible in her
pale, sweet face, for as heaven shed its
glorious light over her features faith
and hope filled her heart and robbed
The thought of death of its horrors.
A lovely autumn day was drawing to
an end. The sun had just disappeared
behind the tops of the forest trees; the
ether, with its light. motionless clouds,
glowed in rosy hues and shed soft,
golden light over foliage and field and
over the cabin of the Lincolns. 1t was
yet daylight, and the little family form
ed quiet and sad group before the
house. Abe had already, many Sab
bath, undertaken his mothers holy Of |
fee of reading the scriptures to the |
pious and godly family. Now, again,
he sat upon log near Mother Nancy, |
the old family Bible upon his knees,
reading the gospel in soft but clear
voice. His little sister sat beside the
roughly-improvised couch of the moth
er, looking dreamily into her pale face
and sunken eyes, while one of the thin
hands of the patient woman rested upon
The daughters curly head. Father
leaned against the tall syca-
more, whose mighty branches shadow
ed the log cabin and the sorrowing lit
lie group. His broad chest, across
which his arms were folded, heaved and
betrayed the feelings of the husband.
He gazed motionless into his wife's al
most TRANSPORTED countenance, over
which at that moment the evening cast
, roseate hue. At times his lips moved
convulsively, as if unable to repress the
anguish that cramped his heart. His
earful eyes expressed the terrible grief
Ind awful solicitude of the plain but
ieeply-feeling pioneer. Mother Nance's
earthly moments were numbered. This
Thomas could not disguise from him.
elf. He saw it by the momentary,
light, scarcely perceptible commissions
# her emaciated body; by the change
hat had taken place during the last
Jour of her beatified, gentle face; by
he evaa that hecame moro and mora |