Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-24
Lincoln's Birthplace to Be Made National Park

learned also TO be somewhat charv a,
his opinions In the presence Of his wife.
who had come to depend on her own
judgment in matters which concerned
the welfare Of her family.
But this young Kentucky lad was M,
all plodder and bookworm. Robust ana
active and curlously alert. he was no
stranger 10 the endless delights afford.
ed by the pioneer life about him. Ua
was the most successful young huntar
In the vicinity and a leader In ali 10
the youthful FRANKS and practice iokes
He was general favorite and had in.
herted his fathers talent for story
telling to such n degree that he was
welcome everywhere 1t may be said.
indeed, that this one inheritance was
absolutely all that the elder Lincoln
ever bequeathed to his son. In every
other respect Abraham was as unlike
his father as one of the same blood
could be. There was not the slightest
physical likeness between them. Thorn.
as was comparatively short and stout
his face round and full. his eyes gray
and his nose large and protuberant
His son was his physical antithesis. but
he was the possessor OF even a mora
keenly attuned sense Of the humorous.
Illustrative OF the rugged and some
times nerlous boyhood passed nv
young Lincoln in these Kentucky wilds
is the following story related by ono Of
his early associates:
ABE and were great friends and
spent n good deal of time together In
the woods and down at the creek. One
day we concluded to cross the creek in
search Of some partrldges which Abe
had seen the day before. The creek
was swollen by a recent rain and in
crossing IL by means OF a narrow log
Abe made misstep and fell into the
water with n splash. Neither OF us
could swim a stroke. don't know why.
but we had never learned. | was al
most paralyzed with terror, for I saw
that Abe could not climb on to the log.
but finally managed to get pole and
held 1t out 10 Abe, who grabbed Il and
held on until had pulled him to the
shore. Abe was full OF water and Just
about done for. pounded him and
shook him and turned him on his face.
The water poured out of his mouth, but
he finally came round. Then new
and almost equally terrible necessity
faced us. our clothing was drenched
and would furnish our mothers with
the evidence that would Justify n sound
drubbing We were wise from much
previous experience and made up our
minds to escape the impending danger.
1t was a warm day in June, and we
sste 81 rss..ik nd Il h..
soaked garments in the hot sun. While
they were drying we entered into a
solemn compact never to speak Of the
affair to anybody"
And most pathetic of all were the
final words OF the aged relater:
II never did speak Of it until after
Lincon's death"
Lincoln seldom referred to the period
Of his life passed in Kentucky. The
lives OF his father and mother and the
history and status OF the family pre-
vious to its settlement In Indiana were
topics never introduced by him and
when suggested by others in his pres
ence always were met by significant
reserve. TO all solicitations for par
tculars concerning his early life he
was accustomed to reply that 1t was not
OF sufficient interest to warrant mem
ton; that the short and simple annals
of the poor" would tell the tale. He
seemed to be impressed morbldly with
the dire poverty of his boyhood. It's lack
OF romantic and heroic environment
and was far more ready to discuss the
events which dated from the family
fitting from Kentucky, which occurred
when he was eight years OF age.
Still, Abraham Lincoln was heard to
say, after he became president: when
the war is over should like very much
to visit my old Kentucky home. | re-
member the old home very we'll"
EDGAR X. WEBB.