The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-02-09
NJ LVYcWWH O1zE NJ COZEJ cCH2YTX III.

they studied-so hard to memorlze inc "A D. os
and Cs-and with what doting fondness sne
must have trained little Abe's Tiny nano ~
trace the letters slate!
Dearly Nancy Lincoln loved the Bible, ana
there were readings from the sacred DOCK;
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 Engnsn ana
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 was called upon to move her home.
With their furniture packed in wagon and
their COW behind, the family started on their
long pilgrimage in 1916 During the winter OF
1916 and 1917 the family lived in a camp. The
winter rigorous.
OVERWHELMINGLY 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
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, 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
faced boy. BE good to one another, >
she said, brokeny, 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 and climbed the pegs in the
wall to the garnet, where he flung himself or
the mattress Of leaves.
Night fell and from the loft came stifeG
sound of sobbng-sobbing repressed, checked
restrained, yet 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 al
the moulded indelibly the face O
Lincoln-like agony craven on figure Of stone
Before the next December Thomas Lincoln
married Sarah Bush Johnston, a widow who
1t is said, had rejected him many years before
In later years. when Lincoln, again shroudet
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 Il
it? Why is it?" 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 10 pray for him. Il will tr.
to go to God with my SORROWS" he said. Il wisl
had that chidke faith you speak Of l trus
God will give it to me-
Then his memory travelled back over tn
years and his first loss by death came to hi
mind He told of his mothers confident belle
In the wisdom of God. II remember her pray
ers," he said In a low voice, land they hav
always followed me. They have followed me a.
my nte."