Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-11

NJ '''' 49, 49,
but Thoroughly American. His
00 humble origin had taught him Il
sympathize with those who struggled
agaInst difficulties, and the privations
IF his early days caused him to know
and understand the feelings Of those
who hattled against an adverse world.
From his infancy ne had mingled with
that class Of our people who were en-
gagged in the double task of building
uE eolid foundations the great indus
rial structure Of the central part of
our country and of carving out for
themselves careers worthy of fame and
fortune. His opportunities for getting
close TO the people were exceptionally
good, their daily life was under his
constant observation, their trials and
trIbulations were part of his for he
had more thar his share of them, their
hopes received his encouragement and
their sorrows were shared and relieved
With 2 warm generosity.
Born Amid Poverty.
Born in a Kentucky cabin amid The
most abject poverty. Lincoln's early
childhood was made up of the contin-
ual privations of a cherries home.
for il seems that his father could
scarcely keep the wolf from tho door.
His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln.
was superior to her husband In edu-
cation, for she could, read and write.
It is said she taught her husband 10
write his name.
Lincoln's father was n rolling
stone" moving from place to place IN
search of a better place for makins
q. ;vio T. 1910 xuhan Inc llllCot
family we're living In a shack IN In
diana. an endemic known as milk
'eyer' spread over that section ana
Mrs. Lincoln was one OF the nrst 10
die Of the disease. The fact that she
va. buried without religious
&, nreved upon the mind OF young
Abraham then a boy Of ten years that
be wrote IN Parson Elktns, a Free VIII
pant,.t minister who lived over In
kentucky. begging him to come and
nreach a funeral sermon Tor MS
mother Several months later the
,rIn,.ter came to Indiana and deliv-
ored an address, culogy on the noble
character of Mrs. Lincoln.
About a year later Lincoln's father
uarried Mrs. Sally Bush Johnson, a
widow with three children. 1t seems
that the second Mrs. Lincoln brought
order out Of chaos in the Lincoln
home by her thrift and industry. She
was fond of young Abraham and
proud Of the boys ambition. This bond
OF affection between the boy and his
step-mother continued until his death.
-1fter ne had been elected President In
1850 he visited his ~step-nother Just
before starting for Washington. AS
no was leaving the old lady suddenly
flung her arms about his neck and
bursting into tears declared hat she
felt that it was the last time she would
ever see him alive. Her predictions
came true, for the next time she saw
him It was In his coffin at Springfield,
when she had to be carried from the
room. She died in 1859. four years
after the assassination of the mar
who attributed his rise In the world
TO her teachings.
Lncoln's boyhood vas spent at hard
labor. He hired out upon the neigh
boring farms when there was nothing
to do at home. His wages, twenty Ave
cents per day, were paid to his father
who declared that q boy six fee ta1l
| had no business wasting his til - IL
FeQha0l, especially when he had to walh