The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-02-13
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I FAREWELL TO ~ ~ :
{ X X HIS FRIENDS. T
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81 Lncoln's Impressive Speech at Springfield on ~
y His Departure for Washington.
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IN N the 18th of February,
o. !: :: e; 8:
Z0IN 1861, the arrangements
~ for Mr.. Lincoln's depart
|I ure from Springfield We're
completed. 1t was intend
W. ed to occupy the time re-
naming between that date
and the 4th of March with
d grand tour from state to state and
city to city. One Mr.. Wood, recon
mended by Senator Seward" was the
chief manager. He provided special
trains to be preceded by pilot engines
all the way through.
1t was a gloomy day; heavy clouds
foated overhead, and a cold rain was
falling. Long before eight o'clock, a
great mass of people had collected at
the station of the Great Western rail-
way to witness the event of the day.
At precisely five minutes before eight,
Mr.. Lincoln. preceded by Mr.. Wood,
emerged from a private room in the
depot building, and passed slowly to
the car, the people falling back respect
fully on either side, and as many as
possible shaking his hands, Having
finally reached the train, he assembled
the rear platform, and, facing about to
the throng which had closed around
him, drew himself up to his full
height, removed his hat, and stood for
several seconds in profound silence.
His eye roved sadly over that sea of
upturned faces, and he thought he read
in them again the sympathy and
friendship which he had often tried.
and which he never needed more than
he did then. There was an unusual
culver in his lip, and a still more I'M
usual tear on his shriveled cheek. His
solemn manner, his long silence, were
as full of melancholy eloquence as any
words he could have uttered. What
did he think Of? Of the mighty changes
| winch had lifted him from the lowest
| TO The highest estate on earth? OF the
weary road which had brought him to
This lofty summit? OF his poor mother
lying beneath the tangled underbrush
IN distant forest? OF that other
grave in the quiet Concord cemetery?
Whatever the particular character of
" NNA'SAeo, ~ 10 SVlueuC IlldL lu0y
! were retrospective and painful. To
those who were anxiously waiting to
catch words upon which the fate of
the nation might hang, it seemed long
unit! he had mastered his feelings SUI
hclently to speak. At length he began
in husky tone of voice, and slowly
and impressively delivered his farewell
to his neighbors. Initiating his exam
pie, every man in the crowd stood with
his head uncovered in the fast-falling
| rain.
'Friends-No one who has never
been placed in like position can I'M
derstand my feelings at this hour, nor
| the oppressive sadness l feel at this
| parting. For more than quarter of
| century l have lived among you,
and during all that time have re-
ceived nothing but kindness at your
hands. Here | have lived from my
youth, until now l am an old man.
Here the most sacred ties of earth
were assumed. Here all my children
were born; and here one of them lies
buried. To you, dear friends, owe
all that have, all that am. All the
strange, checkered past seems to crowd
now upon my mind. To-day l leave
you. I go to assume task more diff
| ficult than that which devolved upon