Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-21
LINC0LN'S FIVE BOOKS
TNHE boy Abraham Lincoln had very
few books. His earliest possess
- SiOnS consisted of less than half

HE boy Abraham Lincoln had very
few books. His earliest possess
sions consisted of less than half
a dozen volumes-a pioneers library.
First, of course, was the Bible a
whole library in itself if properly un-
derstood and containing every sort of
iterature-stories, poems, drains, ad-
dresses, orations, histories, some sim
pie enough for the youngest child, 9TH
ers taxing the wisdom of the learned.
Second was Pilgrims Progress"
with its quaint characters and vivid
scenes related IN simple, vigorous Eng
liSh. "AeSop's Fables was a third and
introduced the log cabin boy to a Won
derful range of characteristic gods of
mythology, the different ranks and
classes of mankind and every animal.
Fourth was a history of the United
States, in which there was the charm
of truth and a more modern tone, and
from which were learned the lessons
of patriotism that LincOln's manhood
put into action. Last came Weems'
Life of Washington" a queer, stilted
book, but one full of detail that made
Washington seem a living example.
These five books were the beginning
of Lincoln'S education, says St. Mich
olas. From the Bible, Pilgrims Prog
ress" and AesOp the boy Lincoln
learned the power and beauty of plain
English words and saw that the grand
est thoughts and most poetic imagin-
ings needed only the strong little words
of every day. When, therefore, in later
life he wished to be sure he understood
any matter, it became his custom to
translate it into words such as child
can understand. Read again the Get
tysburg address and the second in
augural address and learn how Lincoln
the president could make the home
spun words of common use move the
hearts of his fellow men.
In Nicolay and Hays Life of Lin
coin" it is recorded that he read these
five books over and over till he knew
them almost by heart. He would sit in
the twilight and read a dictionary as
Ions as he could see. He even devoured
the Revised Statutes of Indiana as
boys in our day do THE Three Guards
men"
He could not afford to waste paper
upon his original compositions. He
would sit by the fire at night and cover
the wooden shovel with essays and
arithmetical exercises, which he would
shave off, and then begin again. 1t is
touching to think of this great, spirited
child, battling year after year against
his evil star, wasting his ingenuity
upon devices and makeshifts. his high
intelligence starving for want of the
simple appliances of education that are
now offered gratis to the poorest and
most Indifferent.
The few books he was able to get
made the keen -witted country boy anx-
ious to find people who could answer
his questions for him. In those days
many MEN, clergymen, judges and
lawyers, rode on circuit, stopping
overnight at any farmhouse they might
happen upon. When such a man would
ride up to the Lincoln clearing he was
usually met by a small boy who would
fire questions at him before he could
diSmount from his horse.
The visitor would be amused but
Tom Lincoln thought that a poor sort
of hospitality. He would come running
out of the house and say, stop that,
Abe. What's happened to your man
ners?" Then he would turn to the trav-
eler. ''You must excuse him. Light,
stranger and come in to supper"
Then Abe would go away whistling
to show that he didn't care When he
found his cousin Dennis Hanks he
said, PA says it's not polite to ask
questions, but I guess wasn't meant
to be polite. There's such lot of
things to know, and how am 1 going
to know them if don't ask questions? ?"