The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-08-12

LMOoLN's NoTH1R.
The Dsath-sosns 1t Twilight Be-
foro the Cabin Dooe.
The following interesting chap
ter Is from the historical novel, just
published ut Stuttgart, Germany, by
DR.. Theodore Canisius, entitled
abraham Lincoln" DR.. Canisius
was IN intimate friend Of President
Lincoln. and has come into pcsscs-
essiOn Of many interesting facts relat-
ing to the Lincoln family which
could tend to make him q faithful bi.
ographer:
Unfortunately, Abe was not allow
ed to follow bis inclination. The
summer season again called him
from bis etudies. Not only Vas there
work In abundance In the woodls and
fields, hut the state Of his mothers
health became more and more hors-
less, % that he was again compelled
to perform the hardest work Of tho
household which bis sister could not
accomplish alone. The noble-heartetl
Mrs. Lincoln had become the shad-
cw Of her former SELF Pale and cnla-
ciatcd size glided about the house,
aud when she attempted, now aud
then, to perform, with weak aud
trembling hands, some little task, she
felt AZ though the exertion had tx
haasted oil her energies. She seemed
like . moving corpse. and only her
strung will appeared to shield h:r
body from total dissolution. She
would NOT yet depart fro u her low.
i'g Ones-amd she lived. But how
miserable that lie during the whole
Of that summer: What y torture Il
had t,eco',le to her! How many sleep
lees feverixt nights had succeeded
each other: AT last she could no
longer even move about the Tut L,
direct and superintcnd the household
affairs. For days Sue lav prestrale
on her bed, with cls,se.l eyes, only
now and then Tipping fecbly u few
words, yet whatever she uttered In
such s:ati moments was flied with
tender care tor llcr family. Even In
the occasional ieveri~h wandering ~!
her mind her thoughts fingered on
that which in her lal,Or!ous existence
had formed the very essence Of her
life, end disclosed the once untiring
activity Of u worthy, excellent and
industrious housewife. On warm,
sunny days Father Thomas would
carry tile weak and now ieniler-like
sufferer into the shade Of n tree In
front OF The li.llc house, where Ai,c
and his sister prepared with loving
hands couch of pillows and he'd
ding.
There Mother Nancy often s:,t for
hours together. cl,il!s creeping
through Der frame, even in the :yiow-
ing sun-hcat. Even then she l0okss!
with faint smile toward her h,,s-
tan,l, who worked in the adjoining
field, and VIII , cnst at inter, ais 4
careworn and anxious look toward
his suftsrin. wife; or her eyes follow
Cd the fight of iir,'s that seemed to
ascend t"a higher world. to that far
and unknown lanG toward which.
her soul WIS striving. for Mother
Nancy was about IL close her earthly
existence, although sl.e struggled
against her approaching .li>a'lu:i.'n.
How beautifully Ia such moments.
the sunlight transiigurcd the mild
cOunte,,ance Of the aren't and DIS
ing woman. How distinctly Was /.
then revealed that a pure, Go'l.ie,r-
iD.. soul WAS departing this li!c. The
quiet aud pi"lis xl,rsssicm of her
'at-e was truly spiritual. In" beautiful
eloquent eyes were clearer than ever,
AMI over her entire figure was poured
that ;,uli:ltxs> with which tie nature
OF just pc.s."i in The last i,our> Ut
life, like \ fre-:nt;:nc:'t +" eternal
happiness, Is cn:,n ", Il. Ard wluh
Sarah. who 20 cary l::.a to take the
l,o,s. 'w;'ir's place. icil Ike i,W new
and ti.cn I" aticiml IL ...r iuoii.cr'>
wants-wlIcn .Ai:e, awkward AMI
Nv he was. crclt with sOr-
rOwtul :ate to the sufferer side, ami
lo"kstl with his large, intelligent
eyes teariully u,n'n tire invalid. O!-
ten p!mc king shyry hut tei,,lerly AZ
the pillows upon which she rested,
or. overcome with grief. bent over
her lnweriess hands. n.inxiing the
scsiltiing tears with his ia rniug ( i~scs
even then she ha,i u smile t"r
them. and no worldly anxiety WAS
visible In her pale. sweet face, Cor ~
heaven shed it's glorious light over
her features, fGitl, and ho;c filled her
heart and robbed the thought Of
death cf its horrors.
A lovely autumn day was Dire wing
I" an end. The sun lad ju-t disar-
pearcd behind the tops Of the forest
trees: the other, with it, light. mo-
tiOnicss clouds. g!Owt,i in rosy huCx
and she'd u soft, golden light over i,'-
liage and field 1n,l over lire cabin Of
the I.iner'liIx. l. was yet daylight.
and the little family formed u quiet
and sad group before the house. L.
grand, who dur;n: il.c tirst stag: Of
Nancy'- illness had called repeatedly
ut the iM't'>e Of our settlers. now wan-
t!err'l again among the Indians IL
the tar West. No one was present
hut tile father. the suffering mother
and her two children. 1t wH:: u SUN
day evening. too. Abe had already
Oh many u sabbath und. rtakcn his
mothers holy Office Of reading the
Scripture t" The riou> and g'"lly :an.-
lily. Now again he sat upon Il lo::
near Mother Nancy. the oil family
Bible upon his knees. ryss.lihe the
gospel III Il SOFT Int clear voice. His
littl" sister sat beside t:,,. roughly.
;ilij'rs'vi>e.l couch q. tho mother. i.r';s-
ing int" her pale face ard su"k'n
eyes, while one a.; tine pale hands "f
the laticnt wonnn rested upon the
daughters G:r!y h.n.l. Father
Thomas leaned against the tail sy,:'-
more. wl,.'>'. mighty lram.hc> s',..'-
owed the log cabin and th. soIr"w-
ing little group. His broad chest.
across wi,;cl, his arms were :n'dci.
!leavcl and BETRAYED the ,ccir.> o.:
the hu>b nd. IL. xnzc,i n,M;unlc>s
into Lis wi;e's al mast tran-ii:ur,'d
over which at that .a"-
l,,cnt the evening east Il rt-cat" hre.
At times III, lips Etuv, ,l,S,avUi>iv'iy.
II. II unable I" rcprt>s the anguish
that cra'n!"H: his heart. His fearful
eyes cxrr. ~~,.! the terrible yriei aud
awful s',:icitm!c "f the plain hu. dcrj'-
l.y.f' cling Pinl."'r. Mother Nancy's
,.s rll.!v nun,,,o;.:y Nrssn uun,l,sr..}