Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-02-08

ulUluCIly luleISSL III tucm. oue Was
especially fond Of the boy, and SEEM
ed to discern in him qualities above
the average. Probably she pitied the
forlornness Of the silent, awkward lad.
At all events she was kind to him and
won the heart unused to kindness.
She encouraged him in his studies and
gave him the warmth OF sympathy
which expanded his nature and for the
first time made him feel that he was a
human being and that somebody shar-
ed his hopes and aspirations. Lincoln
always retained a loving remembrance
Of this woman. and in after life be re-
ferred to her as SANITY"
Abraham grew with amazing rapid
ity, and before his seventeenth birth
day was a strapping lad six feet -four
inches tall. He was strong and sin
envy, with enormous hands and feet.
He was described as having "dispro-
portionate length Of legs and arms,
and over all rather small head; his
skin was yellow and shrive,ed, and his
complexion swarthy. He wore coarse,
home made clothes, and coonskin
cap; his trousers, owing to his rapid
growth were nearly foot too short"
He attended school irregularly until he
was II years old. At that age he quit
school for good and all, but his studi-
Gus habits remained with him and
TO them he owed an education self
acquired.
After leaving school Lincoln earned
money by working at odd jobs, and at
the same time acquired a more or less
deserved name for laziness. But what
boy that had spindled up to six feet
four inches in seventeen years would
not be lazy at times? Even at that
time he was noted for his propensities
for story telling. He did not love work
perhaps, but he loved reading and
study. "He would lie under a tree or
in the loft of the house, and at night
sit in the freight to read, cipher and
scribble on the wooden fire shovel"
He read everything he could get hold
Of. He had retentive memory and
a taste for speaking in public. He ia
miliarized himself with grammar by
the study of borrowed book, and his
first dip into the law was through
reading the statutes Of Indiana bor-
rowed from constable. The year he
was 16 years old he worked on ferry
beat on the Ohio river for Sc month.
A couple of years later he went down
the Ohio and Mississippi as first mate
Of a fiat boat. This trip gave him
some knowledge of the outside world
and awakened in him a desire to do
something for himself.
But the Lincolns had remained In
Indiana as long as the restless Thomas
could stand 1t. so In 1880 the family
migrated to Illinois. settling at point
near Decatur. Shortly after arriving
at the destination, young Lincoln
came Of age and launched cut for him.
self. In 1882 he went into the Black
Hawk war in a company enlisted at
Sangamou. He served with credit, but
without particular distinction, and
ever afterward was disposed to speak
jestingly of his military experience.
Young Lincoln established consider
able popularity soon after reaching his
majority. His physical strength,
quaint humor and inimitable stories
appealed to the Westerners, and in
1882 he was candidate for the state
assembly. But he was not elected. His
platform was straight Wing doctrine.
TO quote his own words in declaring
himself a candidate: II presume you
all know who am; am humble
Abraham Lincoln. I have been solic-
tied by many friends to become a can
didate for the legislature. My politics
are short and sweet. like the old wo-
mans dance. I am in favor OF a ma
t;onal bank; am Ia favor Of internal
improvement anda high protective tar
III. These: are my sentiments and DO
!itical principles. II elected I shall be
thankful; IT not. It will bs al the
same"