The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-02-10

they studied-so hard to memorixe the AZ bs
and C's-and with what doting fondness sne
must have trained little Abes uny hahd W
trace tho letters on a slate!
Dearly Nancy Lincoln loved the bipie. ana
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 eoQuence.
his mastery OF pure and perfect English ana
his tempestuous oratory. he retold tho same
stories-the stories he heard mt 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 was called upon to move her home.
With their furniture packed In wagon and
their behind. the family started on their
long pilgrimage In 1916. During the winter OF
1916 and 1917 the family lived In a camp. Tho
winter was rigorous
Uncomplanngly 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.
serious-faced boy. BE good to one another"
she said brokenly. with infnite tenderness.
Then she closed her eyes. Tho wonderful
smile deepened The sunlight faded into even.
ing. and little Abe. leaving Sarah kneeling by
the bed. crept away and 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 sti8sd
sound OF sobbing sobbing repressed, checked.
restrained. yet 80 poignant. keen. 20 heart
forlorn that the father. returning home paused
hearing IL. his heart sinking. He knew the sun.
light Of the boys life had departed. !
Many years afterward people wondered q
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. Q widow who,
II Is said. had rejected him many years before.
In later years. when Lincoln again shrouded
I'm 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 u
It? Why is it?" A nurse who had lost her hus-
band and children told him Of her loss. adding
But trust In God. I rely upon his will" Lin
coin shook his head sadly.
On the day Of the funeral he asked the nurse
and some friends 10 pray for him. Il viii tn
to go TO God with my sorrows." he said. Il Wish
had that childiks faith you SPEAK Of trust
God will give II to me-"
Then his memory Travelled back over the
years and his nrst loss BY death came to hia
mind He told of his mothers confident bsllei
In the wisdom OF God Il remember her pray
ers." he said In . low voice, .anl thay haxg
always followed M TAV have tollDUiA n all
my hfe a.A- - sa4 A4a3 -sss-e s So s .