The Arvada enterprise., 1915-02-04

1t his of humor that enabled him TO
bear poverty lightly. Elegant surroundings din
not appeal to him. he was content In the log
cabin where he was born as in the White House
The plainest suite pleased his tastes. Greediness
of wealth was wholly unknown to him; If he was
greedy about anything it was knowledge and moth
ing more. The following story is told about him
and well proves this point. He was asked to give
lecture in the Illinois college for the library
fund. When the lecture was over and the people
passed out he went up to the librarian and saln
81 notice that there not many listeners here
tonight; don't think we made much on this lee
ture." In reply the official said: when we pay
for the rent of the hall. music and advertising ana
your compensation there will not be much lett io'
the library" Mr. Lincoln replied: well. boys,
be hopeful pay me my railroad fare and the hity
cents that my supper cost me and you can nave
the rest
This jovialty was largely because he felt the
sorrows and hardships that come to most men
and women and he did everything in his power
to tighten their burden As he said to a friend
when am dead wish my friends to remember
that always pluck thorn and plant a rose when
possible
He was beloved by thousands and thousands OF
people. Many who believed In slavery appreciated
the grand character of the man. And 1t was his
strong and courageous personality that converted
thousands OF men to believe that slavery was
wrong But no one loved him so well as the col
ored people. his words were always on their lips.
An old coored man once said at meeting In
South Carolina: "Brederin', you don't know nosen
what you'sc talkin about. Now you Just listen to
me- Massa Linkin he's everywhere. He know
cberyting He walk de earf like de Lord"
When his soul most troubled he would try
and ease himself by a joke. There was much
sadness in his makeup that he found this the best
safetyvalve.
This Of humor gave him wonderful faith
and courage. He was one OF the last to advocate
drastic measures in deciding the slave question
But when once begun he never gave up hope,
There were times when situations looked ex.
trcmely dark he could not see clearly which wav
was the best but when his reason failed him his
sublime faith guided him right He believed that
God would be on the side Of the Just and the right
The Hon George Curtis tells this story. which
shows the mans sublime faith:
"One day called on the president with repre-
sentative from congress Mr. Lincoln received
us in his Office the large room the second floor
He dressed in black and wore slippers On
table at his side were maps and plans of the
seat OF war. and pins with blue and gray heads
representing the positions OF the soldiers on both
sides.
when arose to leave he shook my hand with
patcrnal kindness and said goodby with a patcrnai
kindness and evident proud conviction. We shall
beat them. my son; shali beat them But the
air and tone with which he said the words were 80
free from any unworthy feeling that the most
rcsoute and confident OF his opponents would have
been deeply impressed" He believed In prayer ne
believed I, oasod the troubled mind and soul md
changed failure to success aH much as does a
healthy sense of humor. One day General SIcklcs
called on him and asked the president If he had
not been anxious during tn" battle OF Gettysburg? :?
The president thought some minutes and then
answered; Yes, but did not give up my faith.
] wen, into my room one day and locked the door
IN Knees Ul nygl In i'm
nightly for victory at Gottysbnrp | told him
II his war and cause his cause. but that
frcdcrckHburg or Charlottesville could not hold
out another day. hnd then ! made q solemn vow
to Almighty God that n he would stand by our
boys at GettvHhnrg would stand by him. and hn
did. and VIII"
II wns this faith IN God md IN all his children
that made Lincoln work, struggle and die 10 free
the slaves. As he ono" told n friend when h"
WAS making n trip from Louisville 10 - Louis bv
boat thof" was dozen slaves on bonrd shncklod
together with ifrnP, 10 they could not rot hwny.
He explained 81 know that this was all wrong
God had never intended that any Of his childron
should he shhcklol and | know tho time would
como when should be given n part in freeing
them"
These stories and humorous Incidents help 10
hnaly2e character that might Otherwise seem
rirnnr" and Inconsistent, Lincoln loved his Croa.
tor and humanity. He believed that with patience
all things turned out right In the end. and that
with hnfnor and love the trials and hardships be.
come casicr and far more bcarhble