Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24


"The better part of mans life consists of his friend
ships the strong on and the eyes softened
as if looking back long road travelled "There
good friends to be found in these parts That Young fell
low in blue jeans had few 1t is about family who
befriended him that | am going to tell you. The boy
Abraham Lincoln left his father-who was as all know
man in the humbest walk of fe-and at twenty-one
he undertook to shift for himself There were pretty
pinchng times along then, and Abraham could not al
ways get work. One fall afternoon, when he had been
walking miles to look for chance it grew late, and he
realized suddenly that unless he should run across
house he would have to sleep With that he heard
ring, and came upon cabin 1t poor cabin
settlers cabins go. There cloth the
windows instead of glass. There only room, and
little window above which told of a loft. Abraham
strobe to the cabin hopefully The owner, strong
fellow with yellow hair, came up AK IN hand, and OF
him the young man asked shelter Again the voice
paused; smile came that told of pleasant memory.
Gentlemen of the jury, no King met fellow
monarch with inner welcome. Everything he had the
woodchopper told Abraham was his. The man brought
the tired boy inside The door was only five feet high
and the young fellow had to stOOp to get Two
children of five six playing, and little
singing the baby to sleep by the fire. The visitor
climbed up ladder to the loft after supper.
ale crawled down next morning, and when he had
done few chores to show his gratitude, he bethought
himself to take advice from the woodchopper He asked
if there jobs be got. The man said yes if he
could chop and split rails there enough to do Now
Abraham Lincoln had had an put into his hands at
eight years and had dropped it since only long enough
to eat meals. L can do that, he said.
Do you like work.? the woodsman asked.
abraham had to tell him that he wasn't hard to
pitch into work like killing snakes but yet-we the
outcome of it was that he stayed and proved that he
could do mans job"
A whispered word ran from another in the jury
benches They began to remember the youngster who
could outwOrk, and Outwrestle any in the
The big lawyer and CLEAN of qualification flashed
he was proud of his physical strength. He on:
"For five weeks Abraham lived in the cabin. The
family character became familiar to him as his own.
He chopped with the father did housework with the
mother, and tended Sonny, the baby many a time To
this day the man has clear memory of that golden
haired baby laughing the big lad rolled him about the
uneven floor He came to know the stock, root and
branch and can vouch for it.
when he went away they refused to take money.
Does anyone here think that sacrifice that Abraham
Lincoln could make in after life would be great to
show his gratitude to those people?'
HE shot the question at the jury, at the Judge and
- turning, brought the crowded courtroom into its
range dramatic silence answered. The tiny wonan's
dim eyes stared at him, dilated. The boys bright
sunken head had lifted little and his thin fingers had
caught at chair at arm length, and cutched it. The
lawyer picked up his coat from where he had laid and
while every eye IN the courtroom watched him, he FUN
bed into pocket, unhurred and brought out bit of
letter paper. Holding it, he spoke again
"As much might be have kept in touch with those
old friends yet in the of busy life have not of
late years heard from them On last Monday morning
this, he held up the letter, "ths 1t is
letter from that mother who by the fire in that cabin
and gave greeting to the wandering youth which
Abraham Lincoln, please God, will not forget-not in
this world not when the hand of death has his soul
free for another. The woodSman died years ago; the
two older children followed him. Themoher who sang
her baby that afternoon he swept about and his long
knotted finger pointed he lowered the small
shrinking the front seat, 4the mother is there!'
The arm dropped; his luminous eyes shone on the
boy criminal dropping, golden head In the
there who did not hear each SYLLABLE of the
sentence that followed:
"The baby is the prisoner at the bari"
In the hot crowded place caught gasp from back
by the door, heard womans dress rustic and
clear his throat-and that was all
There silence, and the counsel for the defense let
1t alone to do his work. From the immense figure,
he r1,de virt,,