The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-02-11

II was his sense of humor that enabled him I"
bear poverty lightly Elegant surroundings ulo
not appeal to him; he was as content IN tne 'oe
cabin where he was born as In the Whlte HOUSE
The plainest suite pleased his tastes dreeuiIeSS
of wealth was wholly unknown to hlmi II ne was
greedy about anything it was knowledge ana noun
ing more. The following story is told about MN
and we'll proves this point. He was asked 10 elve
a lecture in the Illinois college Tor the library
fund When the lecture was over and the people
passed out he went up to the librarian and salu
81 notice that there are not many listeners Ael
tonight; | don't think we made mucn on thlS '0C
ture." In reply the official said: When we pa,
for the rent of the hall, music and adVeruslhe anu
YOUR compensation there will not be much leiC lo'
the library" Mr.. Lincoln replied: well Ooss
be hopeful; pay me my railroad fare and the MY
cents that my supper cost me and you can na'e
the rest"
This ioviaty was largely because he felt the
sorrows and hardships that come to most men
and women. and he did everything in his power
IN tighten their burden. AS he said to frleno'
when am dead wish my friends to remember
that I always pluck thorn and plant rose "ne"
possible"
He was beloved by thousands and thousands OF
people Many who believed in slavery appreclate'
the grand character of the man. And 1t was nls
strong and courageous personality that converter
thousands
wrong. But no one loved him so well as the COZ
ored neople his words were always on their lips
An old colored man said at meeting III
South Carolina "Brederin, you don't know noseh
what youse talkin' about Now you just lsten tc
me- Massa L.inkn he's everywhere. He kno"
eberyting He walk de earf like de Lord
When his soul was most troubled he would try
and ease himself by joke. There was so muct
sadness in his makeup that he found this the best
safety-valve.
This sense of humor gave him wonderful falt1
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 nope
There we're times when situations looked ex
tremelv dark he could not see clearly which way
was the hest but when his reason failed him MS
sublime faith guided him right. He believed tna
God would be the side of the just and the rlgh'
The Hon George Curtis tells this story, whic'
shows the mans sublime faith:
Zone day called on the president with repre-
sentative from congress. Mr.. Lincoln received
US in his Office the large room on the second moor
He was dressed in black and wore slippers. Or
a table at his side were maps and plans or the
seat of war, and pins with blue and gray headS
representing the positions of the soldiers on botf
sides.
when we arose to leave be shook my hand witt
paternal kindness and said good-by with patcrna
kindness and evident proud conviction. We sha'
beat them. my son; shall beat them. But the
air and tone with which he said the words were 81
free from any unworthy feeling that the mos
resolute and confident of his opponents would haV
been deeply impressed" He believed in prayer NJ
believed it eased the troubled mind and soul. ant
changed failure to success as much as does
healthy sense of humor. One day General Sickle
called on him and asked the president If he hat
not been anxious during the battle of Gettysburg?
The president thought some minutes and thel
answered: "Yes, but did not give up my faith
| went into my room one day and locked the doc
and got down on my knees and prayed to hin
nightly for victory at Gettysburg. told hin
it was his war and our cause his cause, but tha
Fredericksburg or Charlottesville could not holt
out another day And then made solemn vov
to Almighty God that if he would stand by ou
boys at Gettysburg would stand by him, and h
did, and will"
It was this faith in God and in all his children
that made Lincoln work, struggle and die to fire.
the slaves. AS he told a friend, when h
was making trip from Louisville to st. Louis b
boat there was dozen slaves on board, shackle
together with irons, so they could not get away
He explained: II knew that this all wrong
God had never intended that any of his childrc
should be shackled, and | knew the time wonl
come when should be given a part in freein
them"
These stories and humorous incidents help t
analyze character that might otherwise seer
strange and inconsistent Lincoln loved his Cree
tor and humanity. He believed that with patienc
all things turned out right in the end, and tha
with hnmor and love the trials and hardshps b'
come easier and far more bearable.