Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-01-20
LIncoLN,s FIVE BOOKS.
The First He Owned and Which He
Knew Almost by Heart.


few books. His earliest possessions
consisted Of less than half dozen
Volumes pioneers library.
First, Of course, was the Bible, a
whole library In itself if properly I'M
derstood and containing every sort of
literature-stofies, poems, dramas, ad-
dresses. orations, histories, some SIM
pie enough for the youngest child,
others taxing The wisdom of the learn
ed.
Second was Pilgrims Progress"
with its quaint characters and vivid
scenes related in simple, vigorous
English. 'Aesop's Fables" was third
and introduced the log cabin boy to
a wonderful range of characteristic
gods of mythology, the different ranks
and classes of mankind and every an
ima..
Fourth was a history OF the United
States, in which there was the charm
of truth and more modern tone, and
from which he learned the lessons of
patriotism that Lincoln's manhood
put into action. Last came Weems's
Life of Washington" queer, stilted
book, but one full of detail that made
Washington seem a living example.
These five books were the beginning
Of Lincoln's education says st. Mich
ha 1ori MIC
gress' and Aesop the boy Lincoln
learned the power and beauty of plain
English words and saw that the grand
est thoughts and most poetic mag
inings needed only the strong little
words of every day. When therefore
In later life he wished to be sure he
understood any matter it became his
custom to translate it into words such
rs a child can understand. Read again
the Gettysburg address and learn how
Lincoln, the President could make the
homespun words Of common use move
the hearts of his fellow men.
In Nicolay and Hays Life of Lin
coin" it is recorded that "he read
these five books over and over till he
knew them almost by heart. He would
sit in the twilight as long as he could
see. He even devoured the Revised
Statutes of Indiana as boys in our
day do The Three Guardsmen.'
"He could not afford to waste paper
upon his original compositions. He
would sit by the fire at night and
cover the wooden shovel with essays
and arithmetical exercises, which he
would shave off, and then begin again.
It is touching to think of this great,
spirited child, battling year after year
against his evil star, wasting his in
genuity upon devices and makeshifts,
bis high intelligence starving for want
Of the simple appliances of education
that are now offered gratis to the
poorest and most Indifferent
The few books he was able to get
made the keen witted country boy
anxious to find people who could ans
wer his questions for him. In those
days many men, clergymen, Judges
and lawyers rode on circuit, stopping
overnight at any farmhouse they
might happen upon. When such
man would ride up to the Lincoln
clearing he was usually met by a
small boy who would fire questions
at him before he could dismount from
his horse.
Tha ifr h0 IH,,f
Tom Lincoln thought that poor sort
Of hospitality He would come running
out of the house and say stop that.
Abe. What's happened to your man
ners?" Then he would turn to the
traveller. You must excuse him.
Light, stranger, and come in to sup
per-
Then Abe would go away whistling
to show that he didn't care. When he
found his cousin Dennis Hanks he
said, "Pa says it's not polite to ask
questions, but guess l wasn't meant
to be polite. There's such a lot of
to know them if l don't ask ques-
tions?" He simply stored them away
until a later time, and when supper
was over he usually found his chance
to make use of the visitor.
He said to his cousin Dennis one
day: Denny, the things / want to
know are in books. My best friend is
the man who will get me one"
Dennis was very fond of his young
er cousin and as soon as he could save
up the money he went to town and
bought a copy of the Arabian
Nights" He gave this to Abe, and the
latter at once started to read it aloud
by the wood fire in the evenings. His
mother. his sister Sally and Dennis
were his audience.
His father thought the reading only
! waste of time and said: ABE, your
mother can't work with you Fostering
her like that" But Mrs. Lincoln said |
The stories helped her, and SO the
reading went on. When he came to
the story of how Sindbad the Sailor
went too close to the magic rock and |
lost nil the nails out Of the bottom |
u hts boat Abe laughed until he cried. |
Dennis however. couldn't see the hui