New-York tribune., 1903-02-15

Outside the window the snow came steadily down
sn great soft fakes. while inside the hickory nre
bIszed in the wide chimney, now and then throwing
out sparks across the hearth rug where Teddy
Truesdale Law with Keep. the curly-haired collie
HOLIDAYS is awful stupid said the little ooy
r,resently IF people won't let you go out or make
.,ovhslls or ANYTHING An the big boys is out
ia rather learn lessons than stay in the house
DO YOU know what holiday this is? asked
Grandpa HaIsey, who reading near the MN
dow.
Just Lincoln's Birthday" answered the httie
boy carelessly. and he wasn't anything but Presi-
dent. Presidents happen most any day Wish
was at school
t;ranana TIalsev smiled as he lai6 his book.
Presidents may happen every day. ne said, but
Isincolns don't. Let tell you something about
him. and then / think you'll be glad TO have him
remembered by a holiday. even if it does keep you
in the house
Teddy was interested at once. Tell me bout
when ne was little boy he said
VERY ncu" answered grandpa, though L didn't
know him then. The first time ] ever saw him l
went with q number OF friends 10 Washington to
consult the President about certain man for an
of7c, in our State But we all had TO wait until
nc great man had finished picture he was draw
ing for the little daughter of one of the iaDorhs
people about nc White House He had started to
nut her down from his knee when our party was
.nnounoed but she begged hard 10 have him
finish 'iust that doggie." that be smlhnGlv
said BE hoped wouldn't care, and sent the little
maiden away happy in the possession OF the ruoe
sketch lie was never too busy. this great hearted
mai 10 do a kind thing however small II seemed
Even when he was a boy he was always on the
SIDE of the under Cog. s say, and sympa-
thized with all suffering, for he had known SO
much of il in his OWE life. He was very poor.
i1ou know. and had 10 work carly and late ana
i17srd for the barest livelihood. What would YOU
think of living IN a cabin where the wind whistled
Through the chinks rough leather-hinged boards
l1ook the place Of window sashes. ano. when Wis
&itors came. which happened only a few tunes IN
i7he year. raw potatoes were pared and washed
snd handed around for refreshments? The family
were too poor to afford anything else.
Lincoln himself never had any stockings until
me was nearly grown Rough coWhide
yboots, deerskin leggings ana coonsl1in cap were
CHE best his boyhood ever knew. For pins he used
she long thorns of the haw and bean locust and
3nis coffee was made Of rye bread crusts-
But Young Abe he was called in those
xdsvs was as ambitious he was poor he would
walk miles and miles after his hand days work
was over to borrow some book-a grammar or an
- arithmetic or a history-which he had heard OF
some nefrhbor possessing. Then he would read
and re-read and study it, until he had mastered
every word sitting Up far into the night to work
out examples by the light OF the pinewood nre-
Paper was expensive in those days for boy
:ss poor as Lincoln TO think of owning any. and
.eates were unheard OF where re lived But he
used smooth boards instead. and BITS OF cnarcoaI
for pencils S yaa playing Eth me @a goegos OH "feh 'e
DO YOU think you would ever want 10 Iearh
enough 10 take much troube?'
TEDDY shook his curly head soberly- He was
very much Interested by this time. and one two
OF The other children who had run in out Of the
snow get warm, had also stopped to listen to
srandpa's story
-,C,ffeu too" the old went on, they could
not get their meal ground at a mill. and Young
A be- would have to grind all the corn. ear after
ear on big iron crater. something like those we
use tor nufTnegs now. The only bed he had In
those days made OF big slabs hewn from
trees and covered Sith hay straw. and he PAID
his first suit Of blue jeans at the rate OF four
hundred rails q yard
But thought Presidents had lots Of money;
spoke I'D one OF grandpa's listeners How coulo