Graham guardian., 1910-02-11

he sez to me many a time, look at
that, will you, Abraham Lincoln?
Don't look blamed bit like me-
And he'd stand an study it a spell -
Though he did not mind har
work; and while still a young hoy
could swing an AK with the ease of
a grown man, he was happ as- Va "A
he had book near him As h $
nanny says: Seems to M ma
never seen Abe after he was II
that he didn't have a book some 'er
round. He'd put a book inside his
shirt and fill his pockets with corn
dodgers an go off to plow or hoe
When noon come he'd set down un-
der tree an read an eat. An
when he come to the house at night
he'd take a cheer back by the Chin
bly,, put his feet on the rung, set on
his backbone and read,
Aunt Sairy'd never let the chill
dren poster him, She always said
that Abe was goin to be a great
man some day and she WASH t go.
ing to have him hindered. .
When Lincoln started out to make
a living and "a name for himself he
soon learned that life is not all
sunshine for the boy or girl who
must accomplish everything by their
own hard conscientious effort and
work. Though the situation often
looked exceedingly dark and his
work often resulted in failure, he
had more friends to help him on
than he at first knew. He was
wonderfully strong. What exhaust
ed other men seemed to act on him
as tonic. Once he was working
in a small town where there was a
man by the name of Armstrong
When a new man came to the p ace
his strength and courage were sure
to be tested with Armstrong. The
newcomers were always put through
this same ordeal, and Abe with the
rest. Much to the surprise of both
camps Armstrong was defeated.
Everybody was of one opinion that
Abe Lincoln was the best and
strongest man that ever broke into
the camp. To show that there was
40 pride and boast in his victory he
became a friend of the Armstrong
family. Mrs. Armstrong soon grew
o fond of him that she treated h m
as re ative, and the children loved
% climb onto his knees and brush
away the sadness from his face by
hugs and kisses.
Though this sense of humor was
natural to him, he realized when
still young boy that a pleasant
way and a good joke do wonders
for making life easier and sweeter
He loved to listen to a good joke
and loved to tell one. He had 6
wonderful memory, and this helped
him to make other folks stories his
own. Good stories were so highly
priced by him that he stored then
away in his memory with jealous
care, and used them as the occasion
presented itself. AS he himse
said: Il believe that genuine humol
is a plaster that heals many {
wound. | remember a good story
when | hear it, but / never invent
anything original, | am only a re
tail dealer. A pinch of menta
snuff"
When his friends complimentec
him on the way he looked or some
thing he had done, he loved to laugh
it away with a joke, to show that ht
appreciated their friendship and still
that he refused to be spoiled by
flattery. The following is story
in point. One day friend shool
hands with him and said: Mr.
President, it is some time since
saw you in Illinois," Yes" camt
the jovial answer, Il am about tn,
same as the old horse who was pu
in the pasture to Craze. A neigh
Dor seeing the horse after she hat
been there some time said: Wei
you put this horse in here to recup
crate, but she looks now about tn
same as when you first put her in
She neither recupes nor decupes!
That's just about the way it is wit
me-"
1t was his faith in God and in al
his children that made Lincoln work
struggle and die to free the slaves
AS he once told a friend, when h
was making a trip from Louisvill
to st. Louis by boat; there were
dozen slaves on board, shackled to
gether with irons, so they could no
get away. He explained: i kneN
that this was all wrong. God ha
never intended that any of his chi
| dren should be shackled, and | kneN
the time would come when | shoul