The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-06-19

ground, a dresser and a few stools-alI
the work of Thomas Lincoln, who had
= kit OF tools and was at times a jack
leg carpenter. So in the midst of want
and cold and hardships Of all sorts
passed tho first winter IN this new
Oft for q shelter. Thomas Lincoln HAVING
built q log cabin. But meanwhile pooI
Nancy Lincoln had dropped by the wayside.
she died when Abe was only nine years old.
Forlorn a. had besn the condition Of the
little boy and girl before their mothers
death. it was infinitely worse when ths,
were left to the care Of their father. II il
said that Thomas Lincoln vas psolectful
about having Nancy Lincoln's funeral
sermon preached-a formalitv that usually
occurred some months after the death OF
the person ssommemorated, and to omit
which was considered a peculiar breach OF
the frontier proprietiss. But little Abe
begged his father to have this done. and
was SO insistent and persistent that the
sluggish father was At last stirred to action,
and poor Nancy Lincoln had her funeral
sermon like other respectable dead people.
The two children went t. school ftfully in
a rude school that was taught part Of the
year by a teacher who undertook to teach
reading, writing and arithmetic, but who
was not probably we'll qualified in any of
the three branches himself. Meanwhile a
change for the better Was In store for Abe
n Nancy In rather IN unlocked for way.
Thomas lincoln heard that an old sweet
heart OF his WAS q vol widow. Mrs.
johnson. with three children. Thereupon
Thomas sprucsa up and wen counting the
widow. who lived across the Ohio river.
Thomas represented himself to be in much
more Furnishing circumstances than he
really was. and after a while the widow
johnson agreed to marry him and return to
Ohio with him. Along with her she took
ner furniture. bedding and household stuff
generally, which was Of considerable value
for those times, including a bureau which
cost $40 and was the wonder and envy OF
the countryside. When the new Mrs. Lin
coln arrived At the log cabin she was con-.
siderably disgusted at the fraul that had
been pfaoticed upon her; but. being a
woman OF remarkable sense and kindness.
she set o to make the best of her CON
dition.
lhe two poo little step children were
for the first time in their lives properlv
clothed and fed. The Widows furniture
and her money made the cabin comfortable
and Thomas Lincoln WINS prodded into
more energy than he had ever shown ir
his life before.
The kindness Of his stepmothsr made an
instant impression upon the neglected boy,
lie conceived for her a powerful attach
maent, and this family OF two sets of chill
osen iiVsa together IN this most perfect har-
mony. MIS-. Lincoln had a son. John John
son. about the ago Of Abe, and the two boys
became as brothers. Mrs. LINCOLN, in her
old age, after tho death Of Proaident Lin
coin, said OF him: Il can say Of him whnt
scarcely one mother in IA thousand ear say
Aba never gave mo a cross wore or look. nor
Ger refused, in word or look, to do anv-
1hinR l told him. His mind and nine
chat little l had-seemed to run
together. He came to SEQ ma
after he was elected p~rss,dOnt"-
here tue old lady broke down
HE was always dutiful to me; l think he
loved me truly. l had n son. John, who
was raised with Abe. Both were good bows. |
but I must say. both being now dead, that
Abe was the best boy I ever saw or ever
expect to Sec"
From tho time Of his fathers second
marriage Abe's life underwent q happy
change. He had better chances Of cd ucn.
ton and became as good a spsllsr a. An
drew jackson was a bad one. He worked
and worked hard at tho toughest sort OF
labor, but all the while he was dsvourinp
such books as he could get hold of, and
probably never Thought for q moment Of
leading such n life always.
But although all OF his bovhood was not
sad. he never forgot the earliest and sad.
dsst part. Success came with his manhood.
He never saw a town until 1898. when hs
to New Orleans on = trading trip.
Abraham Lincoln WAS \ country boy II
evor there WINS ons.