Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-02-13

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 knowledge and moth
ing The following story is told about him
and well 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
Ct 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
the of the hall. music and advertising and
your compensation there will not be much left for
the library Mr.. Lincoln replied: well, boys,
be hopeful; pay my railroad fare and the nifty
cents that my supper cost me and you can nave
the rest"
This joviality 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 friend:
when 1 dead 1 wish my friends to remember
that always pluck thorn and plant 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 loved him we'll as the col
ored people, his words were always on their lips
An old coiored man once said meeting in
South Carolina: "Brederfn', you don't know nosen
what youse ta1kin' 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 most troubled he would try
and ease himself by joke There was so much
sadness in his makeup that he found this the best
safety-valve.
This secse of humor gave him wonderful faith
and courage He of the last to advocate
drastic measures in deciding the slave question
But wien begun he never gave up hope
There were times when situations looked
trerrely dark. he could not clearly which way
the best, but when his reason failed him his
sublime faith guided him right He believed that
God would be the side of the just and the right
The Hon. George Curtis tells this story. which
shows the mans sublime faith:
Zone day called the president with repre-
sentative from congress Mr. Lincoln received
in his office, the large room 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 both
sides.
when leave he shook my hand with
paternal kindness and said goodby with paterna1
kindness and evident proud conviction We shall
beat them, my son. shall beat them. But the
air and tone with which he said the words
free from unworthy feeling that the most
resolute and confident of his opponents would have
been deeply impressed" He believed in prayer he
believed 1t eased the troubled mind and soul, and
changed failure to success much does
healthy sense of humor One day General Sickles
called him and asked the president IF he had
not been anxious during the battle of Gettysburg
The president thought minutes and then
answered: YES but did not give up my faith.
1 went into my room day and locked the door
and got down on my knees and prayed to him
nightly for victory at Gettysburg I told him
it his and cause his cause, but that
Fredericksburg Charlottesville could not hold
another day And then made a solemn
to Almighty God that if he would stand by our
boys at Gettysburg'I would stand by him. and he
did. and will"
1t was this faith in God and in all his children
that made Lincoln work, struggle and die to free
the slaves As he told a friend, when he
making trip from Louisville to St Louis by
boat, there dozen slaves board, shackled
together with irons, so they could get away.
He explained q knew that this was all wrong
God had never intended that any of his children
should be shackled. and knew the time would
them"
These stories and humorous incidents help to
analyze 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. that
with humor and love the trials and hardships he-
come easier and far bearable