The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-02-10
IE LlycCGHH0IhE M COLkO COUyYTZ IL

they studied-so hard to memorize the AS d 8
and C's-and with what doting fondness she
must have trained little Abe's tiny hand to
trace the letters slate!
Dearly Nancy Lincoln loved the Bible, and
there were readings from the sacred book;
there was told the old, old story. And these
stories Lincoln never forgot. When, in after
life he electrified the world by his eloquence
his mastery of pure and perfect English and
his tempestuous oratory, he retold the same
stories-the stories he heard at his mothers
knee.
Life was not prosperous with the father. He
left Kentucky and went prospecting in Illinois
where he took up land on Little Pigeon creek
in Spencer county. And again the hard-worked
wife called upon to move her home.
With their furniture packed in wagon and
their cow behind, the family started their
long pilgrimage in 1916. During the winter OF
1916 and 1917 the family lived in camp. The
winter was rigorous.
Uncomplainingly the tender, gentle woman
bore her lot, but her health slowly gave way
her face became more wan. rough cabin was
begun in the spring and life opened anew. Land
was cleared. Thomas Lincoln piled his trade
among the scattered Inhabitants of the solitary
region. They began to prosper But the life
had been too hard for the tender, loving wife
and she sank under the burden.
One day in October, 1918, as she lay in her
bed in the little cabin, she called her two chill
dren to her.
"She took the hands of Sarah and the thin
seriousfaced boy. BE good to one another, y
she said, brokenly, with infinite tenderness
Then she closed her eyes. The wonderful
smile deepened. The sunlight faded into even
ing, and little Abe leaving Sarah kneeling by
the bed, crept away AID climbed the pegs in the
wall to the garnet, where he flung himself on
the mattress of leaves
Night fell, and from the loft came a stsfed
sound of sobbing -sobbing repressed, checked
restrained, yet SO poignant, so keen, so heart
forlorn that the father, returning home, paused
hearing it, his heart sinking He knew the sun
light of the boys life had departed
Many years afterward people wondered at
the sorrow moulded indelibly on the face OF
Lincoln-like agony craven on figure Of stone
Before the next December Thomas Lincoln
married Sarah Bush Johnston, widow, who
1t is said, had rejected him many years before
In later years. when Lincoln, again shrouded
in sorrow, sat by the bedside of his little son.
Willie, who was dying, he cried in despair:
This is the hardest trial of my life. Why is
It? Why is it," A nurse who had lost her hus-
band and children told him Of her loss, adding,
But trust in God. rely upon his will" Lin.
coin shook his head sadly.
On the day of the funeral he asked the nurse
and some friends to pray for him. Il will try
to go to God with my SORROWS" he said 81 wish
had that childlike faith you speak Of trust
God will give it to me-"
Then his memory travelled back over the
years and his first loss by death came to his
mind. He told of his mothers confident belief
in the wisdom Of God. II remember her pray
ers," ne said in low voice, "and they have
always followed me. They have followed me all
my Hfe."