davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

perfect, but the sentiment redeems
mere external iInperfections:
o captain, ny captain. our fearful trip is
done!
The ship has weathered every rack; the
prize we sought is won;
The port 80 near. the bells 1 hear, the
people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the
vessel grim and daring.
But, o heart, heart. heart!
o the bleeding drops of red
Where on the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cad and dead!
o captain. sny captain, rise up and hear
the bells
Rise up! For YOU the flag is flung, for
you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths,
for you the shores a-crowding-
For you they call, the swayinE mass, their
eager faces turning.
Here, captain, dear father.
This arm beneath your head,
1t is some dream that on the deck
You've fallen cold and dead.
Lowell. Whitman
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
By A. W. FERRIN
CepyIshi. 1906. BY a. W. Ferln
10

n BRAHAM LINCOLN was ter
IN years old when his father
IN made that profitable journey
from Indiana TO his old home
in Kentucky, from which he returned
with a new wife and accompanying
worldly possessions which would have
seemed to Abe and his little sister
Nancy like the treasures OF the Indies
had they ever heard of that golden
empire The advent of Sally Bush in
her new role as Mrs. Thomas Lincoln
marked an epoch in Abe's life. Hith-
erto he had been growing very much
like Topsy. Now he was to know a
mothers loving care.
AS soon as she had attended to the
bodily wants of her stepchildren,
made them look little more human
as she expressed il, Mrs. Lincoln turned
her attention to- the minds of her new
charges. 1t was u welcome surprise
to her, no doubt, to find that in his few
weeks OF rough schooling in Kentucky
under the tutelage of Caleb Hazel
young Abe had picked up some knowl-
edge of reading and writing, and his
foster mother decided that it was high
time that he should add to his attain
ments.
On Little Pigeon creek, n mile and
q half from the Lincoln farm, the set
tiers had built a log schOolhouse, and
Hazel Dorsey had been hired to pre-
side therein. Dorsey, it was said, could
teach reading, writing and arithmetic,
and what more could be asked? The
news of these new educational adyan-
tages meant much to all the children OF
the backwoods, but ii meant more to
Abe 1t was the opening Of wide
gate to him. He was growing faster
than ever now Good Mrs. Lincoln de-
SPARED Of keeping him in clothes that
would fit him. Cloth of any kind was
scarce, and much of boys wardrobe
had to be of buckskin, and, however
loose Abe's trousers might be made, a
few hours In the wet fields or a fall into
q woodland brook sufficed to render
them a tighter fit than any tailor could
fashion. Stockings Were out of the
question, and when on special occasions
or in extreme cold weather shoes were
worn they were slow CUT to save
leather There was apt to be a gener-
Gus expanse of blue ankles and shin
bones between Abe's trousers and his
clumsy feet. This tendency to "high
water pants" was one which stayed
with him for many years.
The first term OF Dorsey's school was
short The winter melted rapidly away,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

ing, fact and fiction. which travels by
word of mouth. One of the first re-
wards of his borrowing expeditions was
a story teller by which. he found that
he was outdone. 1t was. AIsop's fables
Before he had read this volume through
a score of times he could makeover into
a fable with some kind of moral TO
it every one of the anecdotes with
which his mind was stored. Then he
was Initiated into the beauties. of 'Pil-
grim's Progress a book which had un-
questioned influence upon his later life.
The family Bible, too, was a favWite.
For some reason Hazel Dorsey was
unable again to collect his scattered
pupils, and it was a full year before
school reopened, with u new teacher,
Andrew Crawford. Mr.. Crawford
brought new ways and soon saw that
the young persons trooping about him
needed other things than book learn
Ing. From the beginning he taught
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

~ and he and
Honest Abe" often crossed swords. 1t
was in This session likewise that the
future president made his first record
ed protest against slavery. There was
| only one man in the entire body that
, had the courage to sign it with him. al
| though it was comparatively mild
document.
After the state capitol had been
moved Lincoln left New Salem, where
he had formerly lived, and moved to
Springfield. All his possessions he car
ried in a pair of saddlebags In fact.
he had always been poor and so re-
manned to the end. When first elected to
the legislature ne was compelled to Dor
row $500 for clothes and conveyance.
At Springfield Lincoln began his law
practice in earnest and continued it
nearly q quarter of century. Despite
his change of residence he was reflect
ed to the legislature in 1888, as he was
also in 1910. In the last named year he
stumped the entire state in the famous
log cabin campaign. 1t was in one
of these last sessions in which he serv-
ed that Mr.. Lincoln and another Wing
jumped out of window during a call
of the house. The attempt was TO
break a deadlock Often he convulsed
the house with his apt and droll stories
and on one occasion effectually sQuelch-
ed a former attorney general of the
state who was trying to make merry
at his expense. He said the gentleman
talked so much it reminded him of Il
man who shot for hours at what he
thought was a squirrel. but which
turned out to be only a louise in his eye
brow. The story silenced Lincoln's op-
ponent for the rest of the session.
At one time during his legislative ca
reer Mr.. Lincoln was urged to consent
to log rolling proposition. He said:
You may burn my body to ashes and
scatter them to the winds of heaven. you
may drag my soul down to the regions of
darkness and despair to be tormented
by fends of the damned forever. but you
will never get me to support a measure
which I believe to be wrong, although by
doing so may accomplish that which 1
believe to be right.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
Lowell.
Whitman.

FOUR GREAT POETS WHOM LINCoLNS CA
| BEER INSPIHED.
My captain does not answer; his lips are
palo and still.
Ny father does not feel my arm; he has
| pulse nor will.
| The ship is anchored safe and sound, its
| voyage closed and done;
| From fearful trip the victor ship comes in
with object won.
Exult, o shores, and ring. o bells!
| But /, with mournful tread,
| Walk the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
Edmund Clarence Stedman's poem
on The Hand of Lincoln" is not so
well known as either Of the foregoing.
yet it contains many fine lines:
Look on this cast and know the hand
| That bore a nation In it's hold:
From this mute witness understand
What Lincoln was-how large of mold.
The hand of Anak, sinewed strong;
The fingers that on greatness clutch
Yet. 10. the marks their lines along
| OF one who strove and suffered much.
For here in knotted cord and vein
i trace the varying chart of years;
/ know the troubled heart. the strain,
The weight of Atlas-and the tears.
1-O, as L gaze the Statured man,
Built up from yon large hand, appears,
A type that nature wills to plan
But once in all peoples years.
What better than this voiceless cast
To tell of such a one as he,
Since through it's living semblance passed
The thought that bade a race be free.
Almost every American poet since
Lincoln's day has rendered some need
of praise to the memory of the great
liberator Notable among these are
Alice Cary, Richard Henry Stoddard
and James Whitcomb Riley.
OF foreign tributes the most celebrat-
ed was that of the London Punch, be-
ginning. You lay wreath on murder
ed Lincolns bier" and referring to
itself as ''scurrile jester" for the gibes
it had thrown at Americas true born
king of men,
One of the most notable of the Lin
coin poems is by Edwin Markham. the
author of THE Man With the Hoe" II
refers to the elemental character of the
man, made up of "the red earth" ami
the patien. greatness of the rock"
Again he is likenetl to the pine tree that
falls with great shout upon the
hills
There are other verses innumerable
concerning the saint of liberty" all
breathing forth the love and reverence
in which he is held by the whole peo-
pie As the years pass this chorus of
song will swell until it grows into
mighty anthem of praise and thanks
giving that this latter day Moses was
lent to our nation to liberate another.
race and to lead us ell through the
into the promised land of
liberty ald union.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

the legislature, and in the ensuing cam
paign his great powers began to be-
come manifest. Before the fight was
over he had gained more than county
fame as a stump speaker, showing
something of the powers as debater
and orator which a few years later en-
abled him to overcome the foremost de-
batter in the country, Stephen A. Doug
las. One incident of this campaign is
worth repeating. There lived in Spring
field a rather grandiloquent parsonage
of the name of Forquer. He had been
a Wing, but had turned Democrat and
soon after was appointed to fat fed
eral office. He was the only man in
Springfield with Il lightning rod on his
house. After one of I4incoln'S speeches
Forquer rose and said, This young
man must be taken down, and / am
truly sorry that the task devolyes upon
me-" after which he proceeded in an
overbearinS way to attack Lincoln and
his speech. In response Lincoln an
swered Forquer's arguments in man
ner that seemed to the crowd as over
whelming. He then ended his rejoinder
in these words:
The gentleman commenced his speech
by saying that this young man-alluding
to me-must be taken down. L am not so
young in years as / am in the tricks and
trades of politician; but, live long or die
young, / would rather die now than, like
the gentleman, change my politics for a
$1,000 Office and then feel obliged to erect
a lightning rod over my house to protect
a guilty conscience from the vengeance
of an offended God.
Lincoln was elected in this campaign
by an increased majority. There were
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
Narrow Escape of Lincoln,. Father

There are times when a moment lost
might change the destinies of nations
For example, there was time when
Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abra-
ham. was in danger of his life by In
dlans. His father had just been killed,
and one of the savages was in the act
of killing the son when an older brother
of Thomas shot the redskin. 1t is in
teresting to speculate on what the delay
of a moment at that critical time would
have meant to this country.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
Bonds
I'm Haste

We furnish all bonds used in the
collection of debts, such as Cost
Bonds, and Bonds in Attachment
and Replevin Proceedings.
Our promptness in supplying these
often proves of valuable assistance
TO manufacturers and others in col.
lecting from distant creditors.
With an agency system that covers
every business point in the coun.
try, we are in a position TO wire
our agents to give security for
responsible concerns without delay.
Parties whose wide business trans
actions involve great risk often
save themselves from loss by ccn-
sulting US.
Fidelity, Official, License, Contract
and Probate Bonds also promptly
furnished.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

thus early in his career he showed his
remarkable perception of principles
rather than men.
Shortly after the close of this session
occurred the sad death of Anne Rut-
ledge that threw Lincoln into despair
and, according to his best friends,
brought him near even to the verge OF
madness.
1t was at this time that Mr.. Lincoln
began the practice of law, first in the
Justice courts, afterward as circuit
rider. In 1886 he was nominated for
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

and with the coming of spring the boys
were needed in the fields, but before
the term was over Abe could spell
down" any one in the school and could
read anything he could lay his hands
on. The long vacation was not wasted
by him. New families Were arriving in
the woods, and many brought books,
some even whole libraries of seven and
eight volumes. 1t was worth while for
Abe to walk miles and to bear hand
at chopping or other work to get a
chance to borrow them and later read
them by the light of the open fireplace.
He was already Il story teller OF parts
aud well yersed in the backwoods learn
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

Disturb our judgment for the hour.
But at last silence comes;
These all are gone. and, standing like a
tower.
Our children shall behold his fame,
The kindly earnest, brave. foreseeing
man,
Sagacious. patient. dreading praise. not
blame,
New birth of our new soil. the first
American.
Even better known than Lowell's i'm
mortal ode Is Walt Whitman's poem.
published shortly after Lincoln's as
sassination. 1t is one of the very few
rhymed pieces written by Whitman.
Even in this the rhymes are far from
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

nine IN EN- berS
from Sangamon
county in the
succeeding leg
islature, and as
they were all
over six feet in
height they We're
known as 1.-The
long nine" Lin
coin, being the
tallest, was call
ed 1.-The longest
of the nine" al
so 1.-The Sanga-
mon chief" 1t
was this delega-
ton that sue
ceeded in hav-
ing the state
capitol removed
from Vandalia
TO Springfield.
and much of the
burden of the
fight fell on Lin
coin. stephen
A. Douglas was
a member of
AIs Ann
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

lower house, in
which body all
his legisla tive
life was passed.
In the first SEES
sion he took lit
tie part. He
watched every
move keenly,
voted regularly,
b u t S e d o III
spoke. He was
getting on to
the ropes" He
was free from
political trick
cry, never de-
nounced men,
bers of the op-
position, wa s
honest, courte-
Gus and warm
hearted. He had
n keen faculty
of always pick
ing out the salt
ent point of Il
measure under
discussion and
never losing
sight of it. Even
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
\ Lincoln I'm
\ the Illinois |
I legislature !
4 By WALTON WILLIAMS
By WALTON WILLIAMS
90

| 0ITTLE has been said of Abraham
| III Lincoln'S service in the Illinois
| ~ legislature. Yet his eight years
| in that body formed the foun-
dation for his political career. He was
| defeated once, the first time he ran, at
| the age of twenty-three. But he receiv-
! ed all except seven votes in his own
| precinct and formed an acquaintance
with the people that carried him
| through two years later.
His first race was in 1882. Lincoln
was just through his soldier experience
in the Black Hawk war, in which he
| had been captain of a company. His
| first appearance on the stump was
| at u public sale at Pappsville, near
| Springfield. Lincoln stopped a fist fight
| by hurting one of the trouble makers a
| dozen feet through the air and then
| spoke as follows:
Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens-I pre-
| sumo you all know who I am. L am hum
| BILE Abraham Lincoln. 1 have been So
| licited by my friends to become candi-
| date for the legislature. My politics are
| short and sweet. like the old woman 8
| dance. 1 am in favor of a national bank.
am in favor of the internal Improvement
system and high protective tariff. These
arc my sentiments and political principles.
If elected 1 shall be thankful; if not it
will be all the same.
After his defeat he became a mer-
chant in a small way and was also
postmaster for a short time. 1t was
some time in 1882 that he began the
study of law. He also spent Il portion
of the next two years as surveyor.
In 1884 came the second race for the
legislature. In relation to this canvass
Mr. Herndon, afterward law partner
and biographer of the martyr presi-
| dent, tells the following story:
He G4incoln) came to my house near
Island Grove during harvest. He got his
dinner and went out in the field where the
men We're at work. / gave him an intro
duction, and the boys said they could not
vote for man unless he could make q
hand" ''Well, boys" said he, eff that
is all, am sure of your votes" He took
hold of the cradle and led all the way
round with perfect ease. The boys were
in the crowd. The next day there was
speaking at Berlin. He went from my
house with DR.. Barnett. the man that had
asked me who this man Lincoln was.
told him that he was candidate for the
legislature. He laughed and said, Cant
the party raise better material than
that?' said, Go tomorrow and hear all
before you pronounce judgment" When
he came back I said, Doctor, what say
you now? "Why. sir said he. 'he is a
perfect take-in. He knows more than
all of them put together
iuaoI1 vraS oIoo4oJ fbiS fip,a
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

gists or by mail Trial Size 10 cts. by mail
Ely Brothers, sc Warren Street. New York,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10
A Positive
CURE
EIy's Cream Balm
Is quickly absorbed.
Gives Reliof M Once.

1t cleanses, soothes
heals and protects
the diseased men,
brane. 1t cures Ca
tarrh and drives
away a Cold in the
Head quickly. Re
stores The Senses of
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

Mr.. Lincoln was elected this time
and in due course took his seat in the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-02-10

Lincoln was elected in this campaign
by an increased majority. There were
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-07
Habit-fOrming Medicines.

Whatever may be the fact as to many
OF tho SO-called patent medicines con
tanning injurious ingredients as broadly
published in some journals of moro or
been Of great benefit in arOusing needed
attention to this subject, It has, In a
considerable measure, resulted in the
most intelligent people avoiding such
foods and medicines as may be fairly sus-
pected of containing the injurious fngrc-
dients complained Of. Recognizing this
N. Y, "took time by the forelock," as it
were, and published broadcast all the
cines. are composed: Thus he has com
p!etely forestaiied all harping critics and
al opposition that might otherwise be
urged against his medicines, because they
are now OF KNOWN COMPOSITION. Fur
thermore, from the formula printed on
every bottle wrapper, 1t will be seen that
these medicines contain no alcohol or
other hsbit-forming drugs. Neither do
they contain any narcotics or injurious
vegetable, extracted from the roots Of
depths of our American forests and Of
we'll recognized curative virtues.
Instead Of alcohol, which even in small
portions long continued, as In obstinate
eases Of diseases, becomes highly objec-
eAOu0oiO lIOn ltS tcuucllCy W pTOuuC0 d
craving for stimulants, DR.. Pierce en-
ploys chemically pure, triple refined
glycerine, which of itself is . valuable
remedy In many cases of chronic diseases,
being superior demulcent, antiseptic,
antiferment and supporting nutritive.
II enhances the curative action of the
Golden Seal root, Stone root, Black
Cherryb bark and Bloodroot, contained in
"Golden Medical Discovery" in all bron-
chial, throat and lung affections attended
with severe coughs. AS will be seen from
the writings Of the eminent Drs Grover
Coe, Of New York; Bartholow. of Jeffer-
son Medical College. Phila.; Scuddcr, of
Cincinnati; Ellingwood. Of Chicago;
Hale, OF Chicago, and others, who stand
as leaders In their several schools Of
practice, the foregoing agents are the
VeyV best ingredients that DR.. Pierce
could have chosen to make up his IA
nous Discovery" for the cure of not
only bronchial, throat and lung affec-
tions, but also of chronic catarrh in all
its YAriOuS forms Wherexar located
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-07
New Women In Mexico,

The climate of the Tehuantepec
Isthmus compares most favorsbly with
that Of Panama, being mild and health.
full, writes Rena Bache, in Technical
World Magazine for September. Cof-
fee, cocoa, tobacco, vanilla and sugar.
cane are grown in the region, which
has population OF about $4,000. The
inhabitants are hardy and industrious.
those OF the plains on the Pacific side
being descended from the ancient race
of the Zspatecos, and Boosting that
they were never conquered by the
Spaniards. It is said that the women
of this race have from time immemor-
ial been able 10 maintain supremacy
over the weaker male sex, leaving the
men at home to take care OF the
house and children, while they carry
heavy burdens to market on their
heads. They are very handsome, these
women, and their native costume is
most artistic, including a picturesque
headdress.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-07
10Th CENTURY PROVERBS.
With a Queer Idea, Quantity Expressed.
Intelligent Minds are RuickIy Impressed.
Bohemian for August

Bohemian for August.
Remember, young man, it is far easi'
er to find wife than to lose one.
The man at the top OF the ladder
takes but little interest OF the rounds.
A woman is seldom satisfied when
an old dress is forced to do her good
turn.
The reason why people always like
babies and kittens is that they always
act naturally.
A man gets ready for a wedding in
the frame of mind woman gets ready
for funeral.
The great trouble of praclicing what
you preach is that it is so easy to get
out of practice.
When be lends helping hand, the
average man makes so much noise
that it spoils the effect.
When an office boys relatives begin
to die it is a sign that the baseball
season is coming around.
Charity may begin at home, but did
you ever note in time OF great stress
how far and rapidly it travels?
The woman who never wonders what
her husband does with so much pocket
change is a pearl OF great price.
You have probably observed that
there is only few dollars difference
between ennui" and laziness."
The man who turns out in the rain
TO 60 to church feels that he is entitled
to double measure OF blessedness.
When there is plenty OF champagne
at the wedding reception all the guests
never saw such . pretty bride before.
1t is always difficult for a young
man to understand what there is about
his sister that attracts other young
men.
1t sometimes comes to pass that
after q man has eaten everything that
has been set before him he wonders
what ails him.
Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-09-07
A Gigantic Fig Tree.

One of the most curious freaks OF
nature is the gigantic fig tree near
Woodbridge, California. It is over
290 feet in circumference. It was
planted in the early SOS by some of
the first miners that came to Califor-
MIA after gold was discovered.
The tree was neglected and as the
branches became ladened with the
fruit they dropped to the ground, and
taking root again grew and intertwined
with the main trunk until it is now
almost solid tree with the exception
OF the base which is divided into seven
chambers or rooms.
The tree is used very frequently by
picknickers and small parties as . din.
ingroom, there being benches and ia.
bles made in it. There is room to &C.
commodate nearly 100 people. It is
estimated that the tree has borne over
$4,000 worth of fruit since it has begun
to bear.