The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-02-16
Made His Way Notwithstanding.

Abraham Lincoln wrote this brief
story of his early life:
"My father, at the death of his faith
grew up literally without education. He
removed from Kentucky to what is now
Spencer county, Indiana, in my eighth
year. We reached our new home about
the time the state came into the Union
1t was, az wild, sregion, with many bears
and other wild animals still in the
woods. There | grew up. There were
some schools, so-called, but no quail
fcation was ever required of a teacher
beyond 'readin', writin' and eipherin' to
the rule of three. If a straggler sup
posed to understand, Latin happened to
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was
looked upon as wizard. There was abb
solutely nothing to excite ambition fol-
education. Of course, when | came OF
age l did not know much. Still, some
how, l could read, write and cipher to
the rule of three, but that was all.
have not been to school since, The lit
tie advance 1 now have upon this store
of education have picked up from time
to time under the pressure Of necessity
tr And vet under these almost unparal
led disadvantages Abraham Lincoln be
came great lawyer, literary genius
and a polished orator. What he lack
ed in exterior grace and dignified bear
ing was amply made up in beauty OF
character and spotless reputation. 4
writer in The Chicago American tell:
us that ''when he was keeping store
Lincoln bought barrel for fifty cents
1t was supposed to be empty. But {
book fell out of it-a copy of Black
stone.
"Lincoln's store was a failure-tha
did not discourage him. An old man af
ter the failure saw long, lanky young
Lincoln sitting on pile of cord wood
buried in his Blackstone, trying to edu
cate himself. His clothing were as gro
tesaue as his figure. When asked what
he was reading he answered, Studying
law, SIR The surprised old man. accord
ing to the historian, exclaimed, Great
God Almighty!' and could think OF
nothing else to say.
"But that ridiculous looking mar
Studying law on a wood pile made him
self into a really great lawyer; he laio
down rules for a lawyers conscience thai
would improve certain lawyers and hurt
their profits today. He could have beer
great, or greatest among the lawyers Of
the country, had not Destiny reserved
for him greater work than fighting thu
petty duarrels of individuals.
"Lincoln had little respect for the
whining of the dollars. No man coult
bother him or divert him with foolish
talk of money danger or trade worries,
such as recently set all our statesmen t.
asking for cooie labor. He was inter
ested in the prosperity of the people
more truly interested than any modern
trust puppet in office. But he could no
be bullied by the big pockets trying t.
govern. He said:
"I am not insensible to any CONNER
cial OF financial depression that may ex
list, but nothing is to be gained by fawn
ing around the respectable scoundrels
who got it up. Let them go to worl
and repair the mischief of their owl
making, and then, perhaps, they will b.
less greedy to do the like again.
Hasn't that a good American sound
1t would strike with jar OH the ca
of a modern Wall street gambler go
ing to Washington for government
gambling funds. or bonds at half-price.
This article comes in the nature of al
aftermath of Lincoln's birthday. w
feel that not too much can be said o
this great man, for the more we stud,