Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-02-04

1t was his sense of humor that enabled him to
bear poverty lightly. Elegant surroundings did
not appeal to him.; he was as 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 we'll proves this point. He was asked to give
a 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 said:
81 notice that there are not many listeners here
tonight; l 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 and
your compensation there will not be much left for
the library Mr.. Lincoln replied: We'll, boys,
be hopeful; pay me my railroad fare and the nifty
cents that my supper cost me and you can have
the rest"
This joviality was largely because he felt the
sorrows and h~ardships 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 I always pluck a 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 it 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 colored man once said at a meeting in
South Carolina: "Brederin', you don't know nosen
what youse talkin' about. Now you just listen to
me. Massa Linkin he's everywhere. He know
eberyting, He walk de earf like de Lord"
When his soul was most troubled he would try
and ease himself by a joke, There was so much
sadness in his makeup that he found this the best
safety-valve.
This sense 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-
tremely dark, he could not see clearly which way
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:
zone day l called on the president with a repre-
sentative from congress. Mr.. Lincoln received
us in his office, the large room on the second floor.
He was dressed in black and wore slippers. On
a 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 we arose to leave he shook my hand with
HNON iCA ih0A1Sbc uAu bdAd SOOubJ Will q udl
kindness and evident proud conviction. We shall
beat them, my son; we shall beat them But the
air and tone with which he said the words were so
free from any unworthy feeling that the most
resolute and confident of his opponents would have
been deeply impressed" He believed in prayer, he
believed it eased the troubled mind and soul, and
changed failure to success as much as does a
healthy sense of humor. One day General Sickles
called on him and asked the president If he had
not been anxious during the battle of Gettysburg?
The president thought some minutes and then
answered: Eyes, but I did not give up my faith.
l went into my room one day and locked the door
and got down on my knees and prayed to him
nightly for victory at Gettysburg. I told him
it was his war and our cause his cause, but that
Fredericksburg or charlottesville could not hold
out another day. And then I made a solemn vow
to Almighty God that If he would stand by our
boys at Gettysburg l would stand by him, and he
did, and | will"
It was this faith in God and in all his children
that made Lincoln work, struggle and die to free
the slaves. AS he once told a friend, when he
was making a trip from Louisville to st. Louis by
boat, there was a dozen slaves on board, shackled
together with irons, so they could not get away.
He explained: Il knew that this was all wrong.
God had never Intended that any of his children
should be s~hackled, and / knew the time would
come when | should be given a part in freeing
them"
These stories and humorous incidents help to
analyze a character that might otherwise seem
strange and Inconsistent. Lincoln loved his Crea-
tor and humanity. He believed that with patience
all things turned out right in the end, and that
with humor and love the trials and hardships, be-
come easier and far more bearable. IsI