Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-15
Aileen EctOn Interesting
Story of Abraham
Lincoln.

Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Ken
lucky, February II, 1909. In Lincoln's
early life he lived in a log house in
Kentucky.
Kentucky was then just growing
to be state and its forests were full
of Indians who we're unfriendly some
times and kind other times.
Lincoln, when only a small bow,
helped his father work out of doors
sometimes, splitting rails. When he
was older that was his chief occupa-
ton. In the summer Lincoln helped
till the land and split wood for win
ter. In the fall he helped harvest and
In the winter he lived very busy life,
especially the first winter, because
they had moved to Indiana that fall.
Besides the building of the cabin, a
clearing had to be made for the corn
planting of the coming spring.
A whole year passed before the Lin
coin family moved into the newly built
log cabin, giving up the other one to
some friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Sparrow,
who had followed them from Ken
lucky. The new cabin had no win
dows and no floor except the bare
earth. There was an opening on one
side which was used as a doorway
There was no door except deer skin
that hung down to keep the rain and
snow out.
Abe's bed was pile of dried leaves
in corner Of the loft.
Abe's older life was a very interest
ing one.
When he was little over twenty-one
he went to the farm in Illinois to help
his father get settled as he had just
moved there.
When Lincoln visited the south al
most all Of the negroes greeted him
very kindly because he had delivered
them from slavery and some fell at
his feet and kissed them.
You know that Abraham Lincoln
was president at that time and there
is little story told that when the
soldiers heard of his death there was
more weeping on the battlefield than
ever before.
During the war defeat followed de-
feat and one disaster crowded upon
another. In one of the darkest hours,
when the Merrimac threatened to de-
stroy the union fleet and the country
was in panic, we hear the clear,
calm voice Of Lincoln declaring: II
have not the slightest fear of any re-
suit which shall fatally impair our
military and naval strength. This is
Gods fight and he will win in his own
good time. He will take care our enc
mics do not press us too far" At an
other time he said: 81 have been driv-
en- to my knees many times by the
overwhelming conviction that l have
nowhere else to CO."
The week after the battle of Gettys.
burg, General Sickles, who had been
in the battle, asked Mr.. Lincoln if he
had not been anxious during the Get
tysburg campaign. Mr.. Lincoln re-
piled: 81 had no fear"
How could that be-? asked the gen.
"In the pinch Of your campaign up
there" replied Lincoln, when every
body seemed panic stricken and no.
body could tell what was going to
happen. went into my room one day,
locked the door and got down on my
knees before Almighty God and prayed
to him nightly for a victory at Get
tysburg. I told God that If we were
to win the battle he must do it. for
had done all / could"
The death of Lincoln was very sud
den. 1t took place in theater.. Lin
coin and his men or the presidents
party reached the theater after the
play, "The American Cousin" had be-
gun. During the third act, had the
audience been watching, they might
have observed dark, handsome,
young man going along the corridors
and entering the passage which led to
the presidents box. 1t was the actor,
John Wilkes Booth, an extreme seces-
sionist, melted by hate at the down
fall of his cause. Having entered the
box he closed the door and fastened
it so that it could not be opened from
the outside. Then stealthily entering
the box, he took deliberate aim and
shot the president in the back of the
head. The murderer leaped from the
box to the stage. In SO doing he
caught the spur of his left foot in the
silken flag draping the box and fell
so heavily that he broke his leg, but
managed to get out to his horse which
awaited him.
After that the people carried Lin
coin out and took him to the nearest
house, when at 1880 the next morning
he died.
Aileen Ecton,
Ottumwa, Iowa.