The Elbert County tribune., 1915-02-05

- looking and his nature ten
der and sympathetic as to often
make him appear melancholy. No man ever felt
the responsibilities our nation had intrusted to
his care 80 much as he did. and no president
succeeded in acting according to popular opinion
without being swayed by popular whims and
caprices better than did he. Though often
p'etely weighted down by the cares and trials of
the nation during the most critical period of its
history, he succeeded in cheering himself those
about him and the people
There are many charming and humorous stories
intertwined with his early boyhood several told
by the coored nanny who worked for theia
She says that he often sprawled himself out on
the floor and worked to write his name He was
no more easily satisfied with these early efforts
than with his later undertakings. But after he
had worked and struggled aud knew he had done
his best. he got up and began to criticize his work
Den he sez to me many time, Look at that
will you. Abraham Lincoln, Don't look a blamed
bit like me- And he'd stand an study 1t SPELL"
Though he did not mind hard work and while
still young boy could swing with the ease
OF .asgTQwn man. he was happest when he had a
book near him. AS his nanny says: Seems to
sne now never seen Abe after he twelve that
Ae didn't have book someer round. He'd put
book inside his shirt and fill his pockets with
corn dodgers an go off to plow hoe. When
came he'd set down under tree an read
an eat An when he to the house at night
eie'd take a cheer back by the chmbly, put his
feet on the rung. set on his backbone and read
aunt 5a1ry q never let the children poster him
She always safd that Abe was gon to be great
enan some day and she wasn't gon to have him
hindered"
When Lincoln started out to make living
and a name for himself. he soon learned that life
IL not all sunshine for the boy girl who must
accomplish everything by their own hard con-
ecientlnus effort and work. Though the situation
often looked exceedingly dark and his work often
SesuIted in failure. he had more friends to help
him on than he at first knew. He was wonder
T. .a-o Y,otc ,tn,o ~tI,a 1aI
to act on him tonic. Once he working
In a small town where there was by the
name of Armstrong When new man came to
the place his strength and courage were sure to
be tested with Armstrong. The newcomers were
elways put through this same ordeal, and Abe with
the rest. Much to the surprise of both camps
Armstrong defeated. Everybody was of the
one opinion that Abe Lincoln the best and
strongest man that ever broke into the camp. To
show that there was pride and boast in this
victory. he became friend of the Armstrong
family, Mrs Armstrong soon grew SO fond of him
chat She treated him as relative, and the chill
dren loved to climb onto his knees and brush away
the sadness from his face by hugs and kisses
Abe Lincoln did not have to work long to dis
cover that he exceedingly poor business
One failure came after another. These
showed the real strength and character of the
snan. He never complained NOR fretted because
success not coming his way.
He was determined. however much luck turned
against him. to be honest and keep his ledger
clean He often told his friends that he preferred
10 go without square meal than to lose nights
rest disturbed by annoyed conscience. The
following story is one of the many Illustrations
that he lived up to this statement. 1t while
he WAS doing business merchant that farm
ors wife bought something of him which needed
weighing and computation. She had come some
,siiies from home 1t only after she left he
discovered that he had overcharged her thirty
cents and he walked four miles to correct the mis-
take. friend hearing of the incident ioked
with him about it, when the humorous Abe an
swered, This is not joke. but serious matter
1 know that this customer needs the thirty cents
more than do L..
Though this sense of humor natural to him,
he realized when still young boy that pleasant
way and a good joke do wonders for making life
easier and eweeter He loved to listen to good
loke and loved to tell He had wonderful
nsmory. and this helped him in making other