The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04

If ever feel the soul within me elevate and
expaud to those dimensions not wholly un.
worthy of its Almighty Architect. it is when
contemplate the cause of my country, deserted
by all the world beside. and l standing uT
boldly. alone, and kurling defiance at her
victorious oppressors.
With malice toward none. with charity Tor
all with frmness in the right, as God gives us
to see the right, let US strive on to finish the
work we are in to bind up the Nation wounds;
to care for him who shall have borne the battle,
and for his widow and for his orphan 20 90
all which may achieve and cherish o just ana
lasting peace among ourselves and with all
nations.
LINCOLN AND PATRIOTISM.
Synopsis of a Paper by o. f. Sampson.
DEAR &C: IL any of you wish to know how
patriotism may be cultivated under adverse
circumstances, let them take up the life of
Abraham Lincoln. His father Thomas Lin
coin was poor carpenter, SO easy and shiftless
that his own house had neither loor nor fur
niture. The boy was no better cared for
than the house. He was iil-ciad, ill-fed, and
harshly treated. His bed was in the loft over
the cabin, and. as his father had made neither
stairs nor ladder. the little fellow was obliged
to climb to his bed by pegs driven into the wall
In that mysterious and terrible epidemic
known as milk disease which swept over our
country, little Abes mother, Nancy Hanks
Lincoln, was among the victims. Little IS
known of her beyond the fact that she never
had taught her son even the rudimentary
branches of education.
Thomas Lincoln married again, and this was
a turning point i'm little Abe's life His STEP
mother was Sally Bush Johnson. and she was
a real mother to the boy. 1t is her of whom
he spoke later in life as angel mother," the
woman who first made me feel like human
being" She, too. was an unlearned woman,
but she taught him to be clean, industrious; TO
cultivate principle, honor. and good sense.
Little Abe was nine years old at the time of
the marriage. She found him good-natured,
peaceable little boy, and bestowed her affection
ate care upon him. He. in his turn, learned to
love her, and she often said he never disobeyed
her or gave her a dsrespectful reply.
His step-mother clothed him and sent him to
school, where he made excellent progress, and
in time took up the study of law. lilo never
forgot his step-mother, aud when elected to the
Presidency he visited her before leaving for
Washington. i believe it was her loving care
which made him that gentle, benev0len pat
riot in sympathy with all mankind. as he is
known to US, and ever will be known in Ameri-
can history. She taught him to love his coan.
try and his Bible; and with him love of country
meant a love for all the people.
Abraham Lincoln never forgot his Bible, and
in the trying times of war it WAS his chief re-
lance. Once, when on a speaking eatnpaikn'
he stopped over night at the same place with
his friend, Mr.. Speed, who, coming in at the
dusk of the evening, found Mr.. Lincoln read
ing the Bible. After few words about the
reading of the Scriptures. Mr.. Speed said:
"Well, if you have recovered from your skep.
ticism, / am sorry to say have not"
Mr.. Lincoln arose. aud. quietly placing his
hand on his friends shoulder. said:
"You are wrong. Speed; take all OF this book
upon reason" he said. holding Up the Bible.
that yon can. The rest on faith, and you will
live and die happier man."
In the life OF Abraham Lincoln we learn
what can be accomplished BIZ the poorest boy
of our land with the Bible as his guide, il he
will study aud work his way, loving his coun-
try and his God. Let US never forget this glo-
rious man and his work.