The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-08-16
A STEPMOTiiER.
A Woman's Analysis of the Character
ofAbraham LincOln's Stcpmothcr

Great Men and Women" by Laura G..
Holloway, recently published, appears
the sketch of stepmother, one In whom
people at large have special interest:
When Mrs. Lincoln died there
was no funeral ceremony, and tho
child, perhaps inspired by others,
wrote TO the minister who had per-
formed the marriage ceremony for his
parents, and asked him to preach
his mothers funeral.
Time passed, and it was quite three
months before Mr.. Head appeared in
response to the appeal. The funeral was
preached over her grave in the presence
of the father, son and gathering Of
about twenty of the noighbOrs, and in
the course of his remarks the preacher
referred to the son ) share in securing
this tribute to the mothers memory,
and little Abe's filial conduct was
fayorabiy commented upon by the
neighbors.
The loneliest year of his life had
scarcely passed when the boy 5 father
married again, and his mothers place
was taken by kind-hearted woman
who frightened the chid's existence
from the day she set foot into the
cherries cabin of Thomas Lincoln.
She took an instant and especial
liking to the neglected boy, and won
in return his permanent affection.
Mrs. Johnston, Thomas Lincoln's
second wife, was widow, whom he had
known when they were both children
in Kentucky, and she went with him
to his Western home, carrying with
her son and two daughters of her
own.
SHE OPENED HER HEART.
to the ragged little boy, who gladly
welcomed her cheerful presence to this
comfortless home. When Abraham
Lincoln first saw her she was young
and cheerful, and full of energy and
determination. 1t is not to be wandered
al that he loved her so warmly. She
made his hard life easier, and her
influence over his father improved tho
aspect of affairs at home Mrs. Lincoln
was as energetic and industrious as
her husband was other wise, and she
had a difficult task before her when
she married. She had been greatly
disappointed in her new home, having
been led to believe that Mr.. Lincoln
was well-to-do farmer in Indiana,
whereas he was not farmer but
lived in great poverty, and gained
what little support he made by doing
odd Jobs and working for the surround
ing farmers.
Mrs. Lincoln's fondncss for the
tender lonely little boy enabled
her to read his character speedily,
and she soon discovered that he had
much natural ability and "A strong
desire to learn. As he grew older she
that 80 could lay his hand on, and
when he came across passage that
struck him, he would
WRITE IT DOWN ON BOARDS
if he had no paper. and keep it there
until he did get paper linen he would
rewrite it, look at it, repeat it. He
had a copy book. a kind of scrap-book,
in which he put down all things, and
thus preserved them.
Mrs. Lincoln must have been wise
mother, because she successfully man
aged her own children and stcpson,
and the ailcctionate relations existing
between them were remarkable. There
was nothing that Abe would not do
for his half-sisters or his mother,
and they in return gave him the |
tenderest affection.
These daughter, after they were
grown up and married, made there
new homes Abes's, and he was better !
loved by them than was their own
brother young man who gave his |
mother much trouble
The daughters when speaking of I.
their distinguished stepbrother after |
his tragic death, lnvarable referred to
his affection for their mother, and of /.
how worthy she was Of everyone's love.
Lincolns youth was frightened by her |
companionship, and when he left home, /
at the age of u, to care for himself, /
the pain he felt was in leaving his /
stepmOthcr.
The first money he earned he sent /
her share OF it, and As long rs she 7
lived he continued to provide for her ,
comfort though much of the money /
ne SEM WAS uoeu Dl lnOSt VINO llNtu /
on her kindness and imposed on her /
generosity.
From the time Lincoln left his .
fathers service, he never returned TO |
his home SO stay. During MS life at .
home
HIS ASPIRATIONS WERE CHILLED
and his ambition curbed by the work .
that was put before him, and the /
poverty of his family, which grieved /
him deeply
Twice only during his fathers life .
did he visit his home, but when his .
father died he wrote kindly to his step
brother, who had informed him of the .
event He was unable to see his .
mother at the time, because of illness /
his own household. but when he was .
elected president OF the United States .
Ae went to see her. Mr.. Lamon thus /
describes this last reunion:
ut was very pleasant to Mr.. Lincoln (
20 see such mnltitudes Of familiar faces /
milling upon his wonderful success,
out the chief object of his soltictude /
.yas not here. Mrs. Lincoln lived in the /
49, -.-t ~ the ooupfry and ba d