Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-07-19
LINCOLN'S MOTHER.

The following interesting chapter is
from the historical novel, published at
Stuttgart, Germany, by DIR. Theodore
Canisius, entitled abraham Lincoln"
DR.. Canisius was an intimate friend of
President Lincoln, and has come into
possession of many interesting facts re-
lsting to the Lincoln family which could
tend to make him a faithful biographer {:
Unfortunately, Abe was not allowed
to 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 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
hericrmer self. Pale and emaciated, she
glided about the house, and when she
attempted, now aud then, TO perform,
with weak and trembling hands, some
little task, she felt as though the exer-
ton had exhausted all her energies
She seemed like n moving corpse, and
only her strong will appeared to shield
her body from total dissolution. She
would not yet depart from her beloved
ones, and-she lived. -.'s '
But how miserable that life during
the whole Of that summerl What o
torture it had become to her How
many sleepless, feverish nights succeed
ed each other At last she could no
longer even move about the hut TO di-
rect and superintend the household
affairs, For days she lay prostrate on
her bed, with closed eyes, only now and
then lisping feebly few words, yet
whatever she uttered in such sal no.
ments was filled with tender care for
her family. Even in the occasional
ieverish wanderings of her mind her
thoughts fingered on that which in her
iaoorious existence had formed the very
essence Of her life, and disclosed the
once-untiring activity of a worthy, ex-
ceiient and industrious housewife. On
warm, sunny days Father Thomas
would carry the weak and now feather
night sufferer into the shade of tree in
nont OF the little house, where Abe and
MS sister prepared with loving hands q
couch Of pillows and bedding. There
Mother Nancy often sat for hours to-
eether, chills creeping through her
irame, even in the glowing sun heat.
Even then she looked with faint smile
'oward her husband, who worked in
'ne adjoining field. and who cast at
Intervals a careworn and anxious look
oward his suffering wife; or her eyes
'oliowed the fight of the birds that
seemed to ascend to q higher world, to
mat far and unknown land tow*ri which
ner soul was striving. for Mother Nance
was about to close her earthly existence,
A'hough she still struggled against her
.pproaching dissolution. How beauti-
.niy, In such moments, the sunlight
sansfgured the mild countenance OF
ae patient and dying woman; how
1A''ihctiy was ii then revealed that
spure, God-fearing soul was departing
'ais lfel The quiet and pious express
won OF her face was truly spiritual, tho
eautifui, eloquent eyes were clearer
'isn ever, and over her entire figure was
poured that holiness with which the pa-
y. e OF just person in the last hours Of
e' IKE a presentiment Of eternal hap
pa'ess, Is endowed. And when Sarah,
no 80 early had TO take the housewives
p'A'e left the hut now and then to at