Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-12-30
CHAPTER XIV.

Being q Brief Memoir by the Honor
able and Venerable Man Known in
These Pages az Josiah Trayior, Who
Saw The Great Procession Of Events
Between Andrew jackson and Wood
row Wilson and Especially the Max
Ing and the End Of Lincoln.
Now, as 1 have done often sitting
in the chimney corner at the days
end, look back at my youth and
manhood and tell, with one eye upon
the clock, of those years of fulflllment
In the progress of our beloved pilgrim.
There are four and twenty of them
that I shall try to review I'm as many
minutes. At this distance see only
the high places-one looming above
another like steps in stairwa$.
The years OF building and sentiment
ended on the fourth of November,
1912, when he and Mary Todd were
joined in marriage. Now,'like one hav-
ing taken note of the storm clouds, he
strengthens the structure.
Mary tried to teach him fine man
ners. 1t was a difficult undertaking.
Often, as might have been expected,
she lost her patience. Mary was an
excellent girl, hut rather kindlesome
and pragmatic Like most of the prai-
rie folk, for instance, Abe Lincoln had
been accustomed to reach for the but
ter with his own knife, and to find
rest in attitudes extremely indolent
and unbecoming. He enjoyed sprawl
ing on the floor In his shirt-sleeves
and slippers with pillow under his
head and a book in his hand. He had
liking for ample accommodate not
fully satisfied by Q bed or lounge
Mary undertook to turn him into new
ways and naturally there was irrita-
ton in the house, but think they got
along very well together for all that.
Mary grew fond of him and proud
Of his great talents and was devoted
wife. For years she did the work of
the house and bore him children. He
MIXED the COW and took care of the
horse when he, was at home
Annabel and i, having just been
married, went with him to Washing
ton on our wedding tour in 1847 He
was taking his seat In congress that
year. We were with him there when
he met Webster. Lincoln was deeply
impressed by the quiet dignity of the
great man. We went together to hear
Emerson lecture. 1t was a motley au-
dience-business men, fashionable
ladies' and gentlemen, statesmen, politi
clans, women with their knitting and
lion-hunters. The tall, awkward ora
tor assembled the platform took OF
his top-coat and drew a manuscript
from his pocket. He had a narrow
slOping forehead, q prominent nose
gray eyes and skin of singular trans
parency. His voice was rich and mel
low. but not strong. Lincoln listened
with rapt attention to his talk abou
Democracy It was a memorable
night. He spoke Of 1t often. Sucl
contact with the great spirits Of tina
time, OF which he studiously availet
himself In Washington, was Of grea
value to the statesman from Illinois
His experiences on the floor were Ii
no way important to him, but sine
1914 I have thought often Of what h,
said there, regarding Folks invasion
of Mexico, unauthorized by congress
as 1t was:
"The provision of the Constitution
giving the war-making power to con
gress was dictated, as understand Il
by the following reasons: Kings ha,
always been involving and impoverlsh
ing their people in wars, pretendin
generally that the good OF the peopl
was the object. This our convention
understood to be the most oppressiy
of all kingly expressions and they Pre-
posed to SO frame the constitution
that no man should hold the power Q
bringing this oppression upon u.s."
The next year he stumped Massa
chusetts for ZACH Taylor and hear
Gov. Seward deliver his remarkabl
speech on slavery, which eontaine
this striking utterance:
Congress has no power to inhibi
any duty commanded by God on Noun
Sinai or by His Son on the Mount o
olives"
on his return home Lincoln con
fessed that we had soon to deal wit
that question.