The silver star., 1901-02-15

scuoOi toketHer IOuT score years aBO
All the old structures that clustered
around the hills Of that section have
one by one rotted and disappeared.
until now the little log hut stands
alone. and she. the last OF little Abe's
companions, its sole occupant, is quiet
iy winding up the last years OF her
allotted time. Retiring and unassum-
ing, Miss Castleman is beloved by
those of her acQuaintances, and her
memory. which is remarkable. has
gained her considerable notoriety. II
Is seldom. though. that she assumes a
retrospective mood when she con-
verses.
Yes. she said. II knew Abe Lincoln
when he was boy. but l don't think
that 1t is anything wonderful that I
should. just because he was president
went to school with Abe in a little
schoolhouse that stood up there on the
hill. He was Just such a common,
green country chap. like the rest Of
US in those days. only that he was
awfully smart. more intelligent than
the average boy. Yes. I felt glad when
they told me that Abe was made presi-
dent. and when the papers referred to
him as President II sounded a little
strange TO me. as always called him
Abe. and would have done so had I
met him on the streets in Washington
after he was president
"Oh yes. I know OF several incidents
connected with the boyhood life Of
Little Abe. Yes, ! was a part to one
OF them. You know. nowadays a girl
amt girl unless there is a bit Of
romance connected with her life. and
] suppose II was always thus. Well.
! was Abes sweetheart.
Well. l guess I'll have to tell the
whole story Of mine and Abes life
Ny father was a pioneer He came
here from Virginia and settled where
We now live. This is the same old
house that he built II was a plain old
log house then, but II was weather
boarded many years ago. I was born
In 1908 In this very house. Abe's par
ents came to this county in 1908 and
settled on the now famous Lincoln
homestead. on the other side Of Hodg-
enville. Abe was born In 1909. When
Abe was but nine years old his par
ents moved from near Hodgenville to
, this section. They lived on q farm
near this one They were poor. but
hard-working people. Abe's father
was a carpenter. but didn't make much.
He couldn't in those days My father
was tolerably we'll on The next year
Abe and ! started to school together.
About twenty Of us chaps were going.
Austin Gollaher was among the mum.
ber. Austin was Abe's best boy friend
ana was his best girl friend, 10 Abe
said. No. Abe wouldn't tell a story.
You see. Abe was too poor boy to
buy any books. and 30 was Austin. %
] let them use mine. Abe was Q good
student and when We had hard lessons
he always knew his. When Iessons
were hard ] was glad to let him use
my hooks. because he would then help
me get my lessons. In that way va
were thrown together q heap, and na-
turally. common liking for each other
soon ripened into love. Our school
teacher was strict with us. and some
times he wouldn't let us sit together.
then We wrote notes. Since Abe was
made president wish had saved
some Of them. but we were afraid the
teacher would catch on. SO we tore
them up after reading them.
rne nearest church In those days
wns miles from us. and my father and
mother used TO 70 for Abe's parents
every sunday and take them to church.
Inen Abe would come over and stay
wlsn me and we would have . time.
We would 90 that stream Of water
49, ehsre under the hill and wads
ell around II.
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