The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-12
Lincoln's Early Life

motherly interest In them. She was
especially fond OF the boy, and SEEM /
ed 10 discern in him qualities above /
the average. Probably she pitied the
forlornness Of the silent, awkward LAD.
Al ali events she was kind to him and
won the heart unused TO kindness.
She encouraged him in his studies ana
gave him the warmth OF sympathy
which expanded his nature and for the
arst time made him feel that he was
! human being and that somebody shar-
cd his hopes and aspirations. Lincoln
always retained a loving remembrance
OF this woman. and In after life be re-
ferred 10 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 sim
ewy. with enormous hands and feet.
f4.- s..- a-.-~tts-1 harfiev "dtanrn'
nortionate length Of legs and arms
ana over an rather small head; ms
skin was yellow and shriveled, and ms
complexion swarthy. He wore eoaIse'
home made clothes. and eoonshih
can. his trousers. owing 70 his rapla
growth we're nearly foot too short
ue attended school irregularly until ne
J was n years old. At that age he quit
echool for good and ALL but his studl-
Gus habits remained with him ano
! 10 them ne owed an education seA-
. acquired.
After leaving school Lincoln earned
b money by working at odd jobs ana q
d the same time acquired a more or les
deserved name for laziness. But wha
bov that had spindled up 10 SIX rec
fonr inches in seventeen years wouil
not be lazy al times2 Even at ina
Time he was noted for his propensltie
Tor story telling. He did not love "o'
nerhaps. but he loved reading an
n study "He would lie under tree 2
u In the loft Of the house and al mgr
II sit IN the hremght to read, cipher an
scribble on the wooden FIRE shovel
'N He read everything he could get MOI
III Of He had a retentive memory an
II taste for speaking In public. He I
III miliarlzed himself with grammar
tbo studv OF borrowed book. and b
nrst dip into the law was throui
8 reading the statutes Of Indiana po
I rowed from a constable. The year
was 1e years old he worked on Ter
boat on the Ohio river for Sc a mon'
He couple Of years later he went oo'
ola the Ohio and Mississippi as first ms
ID of a fat boat. This trip gave n
ife some knowledge OF the outside VOL
md and awakened In him q desire 70
old something for himself.
at- But the Lincolns had remained
md Indiana as long as the restless Thon
til could stand Il. so in 1890 the fam
not migrated to Illinois. settling at 20
pa near Decatur. shortly after arriy
I'M al the destination. young Line
or came Of ace and launched out for b.
ties self In 1882 he went into the oi'
life. Hawk war In a company enlisted
in saneamon. He served With credit,
the without particular distinction.
aim ever afferward was disposed 70 50
icu- iestlneiy OF his military experience
ing Young Lincoln 11taaAt7ttN"
oral able popularity soon after reaching
,all- majority. His physical stren
ness Quaint humor and inimitable SO
was appealed TO the Westerners, and
feet 1882 ne was a candidate for the
rob assembly. But ne was not elected.
mind platform was straight Whig doeu
NIT TO quote his own words IN deeia
and himself a candidate: Il presume
fell an know who I am; / am hui
Abraham Lincoln. have been
gelye tied by many friends to become
into didate for the legislature. My poi
cond are short and sweet. like the old
Ia be mans dance I am In favor OF 2
ancy tionai bdnk. / ara in favor Of int
and Improvement anda high protective
{ do fH. These are my sentiments an'
she htical principles II elected / sna
and thankful. Il not Il win be an
real same