Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1922-03-03
CHAPTER XVI.
Wherein Young Mr.. Lincoln Safely
Passes Two Great Danger Points
and Turns Into the Highway of His
Manhood.

Passes TWO Great Danger Points
and Turns Into the Highway of His
Manhood.
For days thereafter the people OF
New Salem were sorely troubled. Abe
Lincoln, the ready helper in time of
need, the wise counselor, the friend Of
all-"old and young, dogs and horses
as Samson was wont to say-the pride
and hope of the little cabin village,
was breaking down under his grief.
He seemed to care no more for work
or study or friendship. He wandered
out In the woods and upon the prairies
alone. Many feared that he would
lose his reason.
There was a wise and merry-hearted
man who lived a mile or SO from the
village. His name was BoWlin Green.
Those days when one of middle age
had established himself in the affec-
tions of community, its members had
way Of adopting him. So Mr.. Green
had been adopted into many families
from Beardstown to Springfield. He
was eyerybody's Uncle BOwlin" He
had most unusual circumference and
the strength to carry it. His rudy
cheeks and curling locks and kindly
dark eyes and large head were details
Of Importance. Under all were heart
with the love of men, mind OF UNI
usual understanding and hand
skilled in all the arts of the Kentucky
pioneer He could grill a venison
| steak and roast grouse and br0il a
chicken In a way which had filled the
countryside with fond recollections OF
his hospitality; he could kindle fire
with bow and string, pine stick
and some shayings; he could make
anything from splint broom to
rocking horse with his jack-knife. Abe
| Lincoln was one Of the many men who
knew and loved him.
On a warm. bright afternoon early
| in September, Bowlin Green was going
| around the pasture to put his fence In
| repair. when he came upon young Mr..
| Lincoln. The latter sat in the shade
Of tree Oh the hillside. He looked
terribly peaked" as Uncle Rowlin
has said in letter.
"Why, Abe, where have you been?'
he asked. 'The whole village is
scared. Samson Traylor was here last
night lookin' for ye.'
SIN like deer that's been hurt,
said the young man. II took to the
woods. Wanted to be alone. You see,
I had lot of thinking to do-the kind
OF thinking that every man must do
for himself. I've got the brush cleared
away, at last, so / can see through.
had made up my mind to go down to
your house for the night and was try
ing to decide whether / have energy
enough to do 1t"
"Come on it's only short step"
urged the big-hearted Bowlin.
"What / feel the need Of, just now,
is a week or two of Sleep" said Mr..
Lincoln, as he rose and started down
the long hill with his friend.
Some time later Bowlin Green gave
Samson this brief account Of Whist
happened in and about the cabin:
He wouldn't eat anything. He
dip, and | went with him. When we
got back, induced him to take off his
clothes and get into bed He was fast
asleep i'll ten minutes. When night
came | went up the ladder TO bed He
was still asleep when | came down in
the morning. | went out and did my
chores. Then / cut two venison
steaks. each about the size o. my hand,
and half moon of bacon. | pounded
the venison to pulp with little salt
and bacon mixed in. / put it on the
broiler and over bed o hickory Goals.
| got the coffee into the pot and up
next to the fire and some potatoes in
the ashes. / basted bird with bacon
strips and put it into the rooster and
set it back o the broiling bed Then
/ made some biscuits and put 'em
into the oven. / tell you, in little
while the smell o. that fireplace would
have woke the dead--honest! Abe
began to stir. In minute | heard
him call:
Say, Uncle Bowlin, I'm goin' to
get up an eat you out O. house and
home. I'm hungry and feel like a
new man. What time Is it.?
It'll be nine o'clock by the time
you're washed and dressed, | says.
Well, | declare says he, I've had |
about sixteen hours o. solid sleep. The |
world looks better to me this morn
ing
AT the table ] told him story and