Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-02-08

rands. Austin Gollaher told me. a short
time before he died. that Tom Lincoln
owned two flint lock rifles: one OF these
guns he carried with him and the
other he left at home. During Tom
Lincoln's abscnce upon n occasion"
said Mr.. Gollaher. the larder in the
Lincoln home became bare. There was
a deep snow upon the ground, and.
since the nearest neighbor OF the Lin
coins lived several miles away 1t was
apparent to Mrs. Lincoln h a she and
Little Abe must find some game close
to the Lincoln cabin or perish OF hum
ger. Mrs. Lincoln was a courageous
woman; she faced a conflict with as
much determination as any woman in
the world. EARLY one morning she told
Little Abe Of the true condition of the
cabin home, and said to him: We must
go today to find some game Abraham
insisted upon an early start, Inc he
begged that he be permitted to carry
the rifle. Mrs. Lincoln consented, and
the two started out in the forest in
quest Of food. They had proceeded but
a short distance when Abe heard the
brush breaking In front OF him: with
a wave of his hand he warned his
mother; in a moment a fawn attempted
to pass within q few feet Of Abe and his
lIlOtIlCl <AO llISa oAa SAlS AoWI 1cll
dead in Its tracks, a bullet through it's
heart. The Lincolns had enough meat
to last them the remainder OF the VIM
ter. Little Abe did not Eel a bit proud
OF having killed the young deer. He
said to me the e time l saw him:
Austin. l killed a little deer: it was a
pretty thing, n l hated to kill 1t. but
we needed the meat. Mother said 1t
was all right. and I guess she knows.
I didn't take aim. and I know 1t was
an accident
"a quarter OF q mile west OF Hodgen-
Vile there Is a cave. with an entrance
in a cliff overlooking Nolynn river.
There are few boys who ever lived in
Hodgenville any length Of time who
have not explored this cave. Abraham
Lincoln was no exception. A number
OF years ago an old man by the name
OF Brownfield told me that Lincoln,
when a small child. was lost in this
particular cavern. and that he spent
the entire night in the cave. He was
freed said Brownfield. by his faithful
dog the next morning. From notes
which I made at the time BIZ. Brown
field told the story to me I am enabled
to relate the narrative in Mr.. Brown
fields own language, or practically in
his own language:
while Lincoln did not possess as
adventurous a nature as some boys.'
said MI. Brownfield, 'he had just
enough of the boyish curiosity in him
to cause him to attempt the hazard
Gus ask of finding hidden gold in
caves. It was late in the evening Of
early spring u cannot recall the Year,,
little Abe Lincoln was lost: tina he
had left home In the afternoon to 60
to HOdgen's mill, but that late in the
vening he had not returned. Ton Lin
coin spread the news. telling all the
neighbors that Little Abe's mamma
was beside herself, she being afraid
that Intuns had carried her boy away
OF Tom Lincoln, bringing with them
torches OF pine knots. The woods were
secured and the hallooing kept up till
daylight. but no rae of Little Abe
was found. Again the searchers gath
cred at the Lincoln cabin to consult
with each other as to the best course
TO pursue, but before any plan OF
search was~agreed upon. Little Abe
and his rabbit dog came moseying in.
young Lincoln had left his sack OF
corn at them mill and while waiting for
his turn. decided to stroll down the
river. just to see how the land lay
beyond Hodgen mill. He found the
hidden treasures and in he went, Inn
plicitly believing that he would come
forth with an abundance Of gold. He
could neither find gold nor the exit
to the cave Early in the morning
of the next day his faithful dog. fol-
lowing the trail of Little Abe's' foot
steps freed him, and led the way out
OF h hole in the ground that Abe
had pulled in after him. Tom Lincoln
piled the hickory, but the good mother
took Little Abe to her bosom, Rugged
him tightly n then gave freely to
him of her corn bread and bacon"
Cleaned Up the Schools.
When a child in school in the Knob
Creek hills. Abe Lincoln upon oc-
casion Cleaned up everybody except
the school teacher and his friend. Aus
tin Gollaher. The fight was over a
game of marbles. one of the lads accus-
ing young Lincoln Of playing for
keeps" with soap stone" marbles.
Austin Gollaher said that Abe admitted
that he played with soap stone
marbles, but that he thought a soap
stone" marble was al good as any.
"One word brought on another" said
Mr.. Gollaher, until the bully Of the
school called Abe q liar. Then the
fight commenced, and II was astonish-
ing how Lincoln walloped the boys"
A mile east of Hodgenville there is q.
great ledge OF this stone. and It was
there that Abe procured the soap stone
from which he turned his marbles.
Father Voa T.ovv