National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-29
LINCOLN'S MOTHER.
INTERESTING STORY OF HER DEATH.
Tho Love Borne by the Statesman for HIS Aged Par
ent--Ths LOg.Cabln aud the Days Of
Porerty-Thc Last Sad Scenes
A Translation.

The following interesting chapter ls rom tne
historical novel, just published ut Stuttgart, Ger
many, by DR.. Theodore Canisus, entitled "Abra-
ham Lincoln" and translated for THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN by Miss Eda Canislus, daughter Of the
author. Dr. Canisius was an intimate friend OF
President Lincoln, and has come into possession
OF many interesting facts relating 10 tho Lincoln
family which could tend to make him faithful
bographer;
Unfortunately, Abe was not allowed 70 follow
his inclination. The summer season again called
him from his studies. Not only was there work in
abundance In the woods and field, but the state
of his mothers health became more aud more
hopeless, so that he was again compelled To per-
form tho hardest work OF the household, which
his sister could not accomplish alone. the NOBLE
hearted Mrs. Lincoln had become, the mere
shadow of her former self Pale and emaciated,
she glided about the house, and when she az
tempted, now and then, TO perform, with weak
and trembling hands some ltse tSSE % s1e s iei, rs
gies. She seemed ike moving corpse, ana only
her strong viii appeared 70 shield her body from from
total dissolution. She would not yet depart from
her beloved ones, and-she lived.
BUT now MISERABLE THAT LIFE
during the whole of that summer, What torture
II had become TO horl How many sleepless, fever.
ish nights succeeded each other At last she could
no longer even move about the hut to direct and
superintend the household affairs. For days she
lay protrate on her bed, with closed eyes, only
whatever she uttered In such sad moments wns
filed with tender care for her family. Even in
the occasional feverish wandering OF her mind
her thoughts fingered on that which In her labor-
Gus existence had formed the very essence OF her
life, and disclosed the once untiring activity OF
worthy, excellent and industrious housewife. On
warm, sunny days Father Thomas would carry
THE WEAK AND NOW FEArHER. LIGHT sUFFERER
into the shade Of tree In front of the little house,
where Abe and his sister prepared with loving
h tnds couch of pillows aud bedding. There
M1ther Nancy often sat for hours together, chlls
creeping through her Frame even In the glowing
sun heat, Even then she looked with faint
smile toward her husband, who worked in the ad-
joining field, and who east at intervals care
worn and anxious look toward his suffering wife;
or her eyes followed the flight of birds that seemed
to ascend TO q higher world, to that far and un-
known land toward which her soul was striving
for Mother Nancy was about TO close her earthly
existence, although she still struggled against hei
approaching dissolution. How beautifully, in such
moments The sunlight transtgured the mild coun'
| tenance Of the patient and dying woman; how
fearing soul was departing this life. The quie
| and
pIous EXPRESSION OF HER FACE
was truly spiritual, the beautiful eloquent eye
We're clearer than ever, and over her entire bgurt
was poured that holiness with which the nature o
Just person IN the last hours of life, like pre-
sentiment Of eternal happiness, is endowed; Ant
| when Sarah, who so early had to take tho house
| wites place, LEFT the hut and her work now anC
| 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 lookeC
| with his large intelligent eyes teHrfully upol
invalid, often plucking shyly but tenderly, at th
|
with grief, bent over her powerless and amaciate'
| hands,
MINGLINs THE scALDrNa TEARS
| with his burning kisses-eyen then she had
smile for them, and no worldly anxiety was vsi
Bile in her pale, sweet face; for Heaven shed II
| glorious light over her features faith and hop
filed her heart, and robbed the thought of dealt
Its horrors. A lovely autumn day was drawin
| 10 an end. The sun had Just disappeared benin
the tops OF the forest trees; the ether, with II
light, motionless clouds, glowed in rosy hues, an
shed soft golden light over foliage and field, an
over the cabin of the Lincolns. II was yet day
light, and the little family formed quiet and sa
the first stage of Nancy's illness, had ropeatedl
called ut the house of our settlers, now wandere
was present but the father, the suffering mother
aud her two children.
IT WAS SUNDAY SvENNa,
too. Abe had already on many a sabbath un
9siaEsn his mo mothers hers holy n, oSe rsHdidE tn
again he sat upon a log near Mother Nancy. th
old family Bible ON his Knees, reading the dosp,
beside the roughly improyised couch of tn
mother, looking dreamiiy into her pale face an
sunken eyes, while one Of the thin hands of th
head. Father Thomas leaned against the Ia
sycamore, whose mighty branches
sHADowRD THE LOG CABIN
and the wing Little group. His broad ches
across which his arms were folded. heaved an
betrayed the feelings of the husband. He gaze
motionless into his wife's almost tranSfg cure
countenance, over which at that moment th
evening cast a roseate hue At times his lii
moved convuslyely, as If unable to repress tn
anguish that cramped his heart. His fearful eyt
expressed the terrible grief and awful solicitud
OF the plain, but deeply feeling pioneer. Molht
eS5a eTa not isSse en Ses
Il by the momentary, light, scarcely percepubl
commissions of her emaciated body; by th
, change that had taken place during the last hou
in her beautiaed, gentle face by the eyes that bS
came more and more glazed, and only now an
then lit up with an expfession of love and anxiet
POR HER DRAR ONES
"Stop reading, Abe" he murmured, tremblin
with apprehension; " 1t worries your mother"
NO" breathed Mrs. Lincoln, in broken sen
tences; sit seems as though angels-were singin
psams-as though the entire glory-of the otht
world were disclosed to me-yes, thus--thus a
ways wished to die-the blue heaven above me-
you ut my sde-and Gods Word on my lips. Yor
hand Thomas"
Tue husband bent over his wife and took h,
| right hand, which she was unable to lift.
Abe had been silent. He now looked into h
mothers face, hastily closed the Bible, and spran
up from the log.
mered, and reuled, pale and trembling, to b,
side, while Sarah uttered cry, and, falling on h'
knees buried her face over which the tears WEI
streaming, in the lap of the dying woman. 81
Abe embraced his mother and held her iu h
arms, US though, poor boy he could IN that wa
stay shS q the me- SO dearly Loved mother Their
relief to meY am prepared, I feel that sSi sBa
remain with you, even when | am gone. shu
, pray for you in Heaven-and-shalI see you a
again. BE virtuous, Sarah. Remain honest al
brave, my Abe-honor and love your father--i
viii bring You up as christians-I can die col
my Nancy-my wifeP' stammered the strot
man, now thoroughly overcome.
z "Ihave been faithful TO you," she continued,
n feebler tone. and you have done your dut
Thanks for all your kindness to mel And now
; God be with-you all"
The noble woman cndeavored TO utter n fe
u words more of love, but they were lost in an u
intelliglble murmur. One more glance she ca
}. | on all around her aud then her beautiful ey,
formerly 80 radiant with love- became dim, II
s lips tremb ed for the last time, Deayh had cor
10 her Ike sweet sleep; serene aud holy tran
|, fguratiUn lay over her quiet features; smile no
n cred around the lips. Lie had fedj but Non
Lingylu resembled softly sleeping ono, o,
IS whom the last faint rays Of the sun shed tn
mild. rosy hue The children knelt weeping
It the feet of the fifeless body. Thomas LincC
n still retained the now cold hand within his ov
LET us pray, children" he mutered, IN deep
Y agony, 4" that God may not forsake US in the he
J OF our GREATEST trial and need-you haveno moll
nowl"
X How They Dropped 10 Him.