The Meeker herald., 1922-05-27
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
Being 4 Brief Memoir BY the Honor.
able and Venerable Man Known In
These Pages as Josiah Trayior, Whs
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 ] have done often sitting
in the chimney corner ut the dnys
end. look back Mt my youth and
| manhood and tell. with one eye upon
the clock. OF those years OF fullilment
in the progress OF our beloved pilgrim.
There are four and twenty Of Mem
that ! shall try to review in as many
minutes. At this distance l see only
the high piaccs-one looming above
another like steps In stnirwHt.
The years OF building and sentiment
ended on the fourth of November.
1872, when he md Mary Todd were
Aied In marriage. Now. like one hnv-
ing taken note OF the storm clouds, he
strengthens the structure.
ners. II was difficult undertaking.
Often, as might have been expected.
she lost her patience. Mary was an
excellent girl, but rather Wholesome
and prasmatic. Like most OF the prai.
ric 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 INDECENT
and unbecomlng. He enjoyed sprawl
ing on the floor In his shirt-slceves
and slippers with n pillow under his
head and book in his hand. He had
liking for ample accommodation, not
fully satisfied by 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 nll 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 ], having just been
married, went with him to Washing
ton on our wedding tour In 1877. 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. II was motley au-
dience-buslness men, fashionable
ladies and gentlemen, statesmen. politl-
clans, women with their knitting nnd
lIon-hunters. The tall. awkward ora
tor assembled the platform, took OFF
his top cont and drew manuscript
from his pocket. lie had narrow.
sloping forehead. prominent nose,
gr,y eyes md skin OF singular trans
pnrency. His voice was rich and mel
low, but not strong. Lincoln listened
with rapt attention to his tnlk about
Democracy. II was memorable
night. He spoke Of II often. Such
contact with the great spirits of that
time, Of which he studiously avaIled
himself In Washington, was Of great
vnlue to the statesman from Illinois
His experiences on the floor were In
no way important to him, but since
1919 ! nHNe THOUGHT oIIeI vi Nhhl hc
said there. regarding Folks invasion
Of Mexico, unauthorized by congress-
as II was:
"The provision Of the Constitution
giving the war-making power to con-
gross was dictated. ms ! understand II,
by the following reasons: Kings had
always been Involving and impOverish-
ing their people In wars, pretending
generally that the good OF the people
was the object This our convention
understood to be tha most oppressive
of all kingly expressions and they pro-
posed to SO frame the constitution
that no man should hold the power OF
bringing this oppression upon us
The next year he s:nmped Mnssa-
chusetts for zach" Taylor md heard
Gov. Seward deliver his remarkable
speech on slavery. which contained
this striking utterance:
Congress has no power to inhibit
my duty commanded by God on Mount
Sinni or by His Son on the Mount OF
Olives"