Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-12
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| LITERATURE AND LIFE
1 a. j. n.


y a. j. n.
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"A blend of mirth and sadness. smiles
and tears:
A quaint knight Grant of the pioneers;
\ homely hero born IF star and sod;
y peasant prince; masterpiece of
God
The birthday of Abraham Lincoln
brings to every American citizen feel-
ings of reverence such as perhaps arise
on the natal day of 10 other man save
one who has served our country. If
the west could boast Of no other great
achievements, the fact that she gave to
our republic this heroic tigure-the
great statesman whose patriotic serv-
ices Americans will evsr remember
with gratitude-wouldb be to her a last
ing glory and renowu.
Particularly appropriate then is 1T
that the T.-R. should devote a brief
space to "reminiscences of this most dis
tinguished son of western breeze and
soil. The stories are collected from
various sources.
One of the many stories OF Lincoln $
great heart relates how one cold win
ter day he saw d poor fellow, AID
Trent" chopping up house which
neighbor had employed him to convert
into firewood. Barefooted and SILVER
ing he worked away while Lincoln
watched him. Presently the latter
asked the other WHIT he was to get
for the job. "One dollar answered
Alb, and pointing to his naked, suffer-
ing feet, he said he wanted to buy
pair of shoes. Lincoln seized the axe
and ordering the boy to comfort him
self at the nearest fire chopped up the
house so fast that Alb was amazed.
Alb never forgot the kindness, and
according to Mr.. Rutledge some years
later he determined to vote against his
party and for Mr.. Lincoln. but his
friends-he afterwards said with tears
In his eyes-made Elm drunk and nc
voted against Abe. Thus he could not
even return Lincoln's kindness by this
small deed of thanks.
OF Lincoln's trip down the MISSISSIPPI
nj on tlatboat, innumerable tales nave
been told. The best, perhaps. describes
the voyage he made in the employ OF
Merchant Offutt. Loaded with barre.
pork, hogs and corn, the boat started
from Sangamontown with Lincoln, ana
Mr.. Offutt on board to act as his own
supercargo. Just below New Salem the
boat stuck for night and the better
part of a day on Rutledge's mill dam,
one end hanging over the dam and the
other end sunk deep in the water be-
hind Quantities of water were going
in at the stern, the lading was sliding
backwards and the rude craft was in
momentary danger of breaking in two
or sinking outright. But Abe was equal
to the emergency. Inventing an origl-
nal expedient for keeping it in place
while the cargo was shifted to q bor-
rowed boat, he bored a hole in the bot
tom over the dam, then rugged up" an
other strange piece of machinery for
fitting it while the water ran out. All
New Salem was on the shore watch
ing his experiment. The adventure
turned Abes mind to that sort of diff
ficulties, and the result was IAN inn
proved method for lifting vessels over
got back from New Orleans he would
build steamboat for the navigation of
the Sangamon, and make Abe captain.
He would build it with runners for ice
and rollers for shoals and dams. for
with ABE in command, by thunder,
she'd have to CO."
The following incident Of the Black
Hawk war illustrates Lincolns charac-
ter, courage and chivalry: One day an
old Indian wandered into camp, weary,
hungry and helpless, and processing
to be friendly to the white man threw
himself upon the mercy of the. soldiers.
The men first murlGured, then broke
into fierce cries for his blood. 1--WE
have come out to fight the Indians, and
by God we intend to do it," said they.
The poor Indian, in the extremity of
distress and peril, threw down before
his assailants a soiled and crumpled
paper which he impiored them to read
before they took his life. 1t was let
ter of safe-conduct from General Cass,
pronouncing him a loyal Indian, who
had done good service in the cause. The
men declined to notice the paper and
fenseless old man when Captain Lin
coin bounded between them. men,"
said he in a calm, firm voice. this
must not be done; he shall not be shot
or killed by us" But" said the men,
"the Indian Is damned spy" Lincoln
now knew that his own life was in only
less danger than that of the poor crea-
iture crouching behind him. During the
whole scene he seemed to rise to an
unusual height" The towering form,
the passion and resolution in his face,
the physical power and terrible will
expressed In every motion OF his body,
every gesture of his arm, produced
upon the furious mob an effect as I'M
expected to him as to any one else.
They paused, listened. fell back, and
then sullenly obeyed the voice of rea-
son and authority. But there were still
murmurs of disappointed rage and
half-suppressed EXPLANATIONS for ven
geance. AT length one man, holder than
the rest, cried out: This is cowardly
of YOU, Lincoln!" Whereupon the tall
form of the captain stretched few
inches taller He looked down with
lofty contempt upon ihe miserable var
lets who now quailed before his single,
hand. eff any man thinks I am a cow
ard let him test it"
"Rut. Lincoln" responded new
voice. you are larger and heavier than
we are.
"This you may guard against; choose
your weapons" returned the rigid cap