The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-08-07
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
A True Story Of LincOln's Youth.

ward boy of sixteen or seventeen,
looked in at the door of little log
cabin on the edge of one of the Western
prairies and said, pleasantly:
"rm going off into the woods to chop
tomorrow, mother. I've got dandy
job over at Laird's, and, as l shall be
obliged to start by daybreak, l quit
work early this evening so could at
tend to any chores you might like to
have DONE"
"You are good boy, Abram, to be
always thinking of helping me-" said
the woman addressed as mother. eff
/ was your own mother you could not
be better to me, and you will be re-
warded for all your kindness in the end,
Pm sure"
~ have right to be good to you,
mother; for have you not tried most
faithfully 10 take my own dead mothers
| placer" insisted Abraham. No one
who has been blessed with two such
good mothers as l have had could ever
be anything but good to women folks.
But you have not told me how can
help you yet, and it is almost dark"
Well, as l am going to wash to-
morrow, would be ever 80 thankful if
you would bring me few buckets of
water from the spring and call the COW
up for me to milk. 1t is hard telling
how far out over the prairie she may
have strayed," was the womans reply;
81 have not set eyes on her since
morning."
"Trust me for finding her." answered
Abraham. What's the use of my
long legs if they can't out-travel a cow2
But l reckon I'd best bring the water
first. And here is Sally waiting for a
ride,' he added, placing upon his Shout
der his little step-sister, who had come
running out the moment she heard the
water buckets begin to jingle.
"You see, sis, l am going to chop
myself out suit of Clothes" he said,
in answer to question from the little
girl perched 30 comfortably on his
shoulder.
aChop yourself suitl" laughed the
child. ''Whoever heard of wooden
clothes2''
1--WE shall see," Abraham replied, as
he set down his bucket of water and
deposited Sally on the steps and started
off in search of the missing COW.
"Bless the boy! 1 could not get
along without him." said his mother,
stopping her work to gaze fondly after
him.
"There is no call for your getting
along without him for many years to
come" remarked her husband, who had
entered the back door in time to catch
her words.
"He1l not stay here always, you may
set that down. Abraham Lincoln was
born for something better than he'll
find in the life we are living. You may
live to see the day that you'll be proud
to call him son." was the earnest reply.
"Abram is good boy, but your ideas
about him are somewhat visionary"
returned his father, with smile. "It
is not good for boys to get high notions
about themselves into their heads, and
I hope Abram will always be content
to make an honest living, as his father
has DONE"
Early in the morning, before it was
clearly light, Abraham was ready to set
off for the place where the rails were to
be split, but, early as it was, Sally was
up, too, determined to keep her big
brother company during his long walk
across the county.
"Can't / 60, Abram?" she begged,
after her mother had refused the de-
sired permission. "Can't l gof Say
yes, quick" demanded the impulsive
child.
"Just as mother says" replied the
big brother, pausing to give the little
girl an opportunity to consult her
mother.
But Sally had no intention of saying
anything more to her mother on the
subject, and tried to hurry him off be-
fore her absence would be noticed
Abraham would not move a foot, how
ever, until he knew his mothers wishes,
which very soon came in positive
command for Sally to come back into
The house.
1t was a very reluctant obedience
that Sally accorded, and as soon as her
brother was out of sight she determined
TO follow him, and at once cut across
the field, intending to reach the ravine
before him and give him genuine sur
prise by jumping out unannounced in
The path as he came up. She carried
out her plan successfully, and when she
heard his merry whistle in the distance
, she climbed up on the bank to be ready
to make the spring for his shoulders
when the proper moment should arrive.
But the poor child had forgotten all
dpout thO "a WhiOh iO SoiiiONs
. and although she gained her coveted
seat on his broad shoulders, her little
bare foot received cash from the cruel
ak which changed her merry laugh into
a bitter cry without moments warn
ing.
= "Why, Sally How did you get
here?" was all the boy could say as he
placed her tenderly on the bank and
I began an examination of the wounded
foot.
: Finding it to be deep cut, he gath.
cred some broad plantain leaves which
r grew near, and by their aid soon sue
:, ceeded in stanching the flow of blood
!. which had at first frightened both him
self and Sally. This accomplished, he
!. tore the sleeve from his shirt, and in
his clumsy way bandaged the injured
!. foot as we'll as he knew how. Then al
l. he carried the little girl home he drew