te successful. At that time it was customary for the lawyers to go around with the judge from one county-seat to another where court was held in the district. Judge Da

as killed. Mr. Lincoln got the almanac and proved by it that there was no moon shining at that time. Then when he told the jury with tears in his eyes how the poor old mother was down in the pasture waiting with a sad heart for the verdict and that he believed the young man was innocent, they all believed him, for they knew him as "Honest Abe Lincoln," so they cleared young Armstrong and sent him to support his poor old mother. Mr. Lincoln used to win very many cases, for the juries all believed him. You remember he was so honest in the little New Salem store that he got

temperance organization at that time. At one of its meetings, February 22, 1842, Mr. Lincoln spoke and said what has often been quoted since: "When the victory shall be complete, when there

oln gave them water and remarked that he would continue his habit of using and giving his guests "Adam's Ale," or pure water. Mr. Lincoln ran for congress against the famous Illinois pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright. Mr. Cartwright was a very

is. Miss Todd was one of the popular belles in Springfield and was courted by many of the leading young men. Mr. Lincoln was the successful suitor, however, and they were married November 4, 184

other Abraham Lincoln. It would be hard to say which of these young men was the smarter; they were both brilliant and hard workers. That is, they studied har

from Vermont where they hated slavery. They both came to Illinois at ab

opposed to slavery; others came from the south, who were in favor of slavery, and these two classes, in the absence

nk, under the circumstances, that Mr. Lincoln coming from the South, would have been a Democrat, and Mr. Douglas coming from the North would have been a Whig. But they each did the opposite. The Democratic party was in the majority in Illinois at this time and I presume Mr. Douglas, coming to

n in the audience tried to ridicule him, and shouted out: "Say, Lincoln, whe

d to be what he was, by the free state of Illinois. Mr.

our country guarantees free speech, until everywhere on this wide land, the sun shall s

he was nevertheless so strictly honest that he would not join the popular party because it endorsed slavery, and he was so determined to be strictly honest in his politics as well as e

ular and unsuccessful party and failed with it, yet did not fail, because he kept his principles. Mr. Douglas went on higher and higher

unknown out of Central Illinois. Twenty ye

ure-a flat failure. With him it has been one of splendid success. His name fills the nation and is not unknown even in foreign lands. I affect no contempt for the high eminence he has reached.

s' honors, but would not accept them hims

later, he would be the Democratic nominee for president, and as the Democrats were in the majority he would certainly be t

to a joint debate. Mr. Douglas finally agreed, and they held seven wonderful debates in different parts of the state. Great crowds came from far and near to hear them. They were drawn by the fame of Mr. Douglas, who rode on special trains and had bands of music, and cannons fired off when he entered the town. Mr. Lincoln often rode in the caboose of a freight train or was hauled over-land in the wagon of some farmer friend. The

ave and half free." Mr. Seward, of New York, a great statesman, who was the author of the famous "irrepressible conflict" expression was thought to be the man who would be nominated for president by the Republican party which had taken the place of the Whig party and was standing stronger against slavery. There were several others, like Mr. Chase, of Ohio, and Mr. Stanton, who it was thought might also receive the nomination. Some were advocating Mr. Lincoln for vice president; but he said

it held several thousand. Mr. Seward, of New York, the author of "the irrepressible conflict" was the most popular and most noted of the candidates and it was thought he would receive the nomination. The Illinois men and Mr. Lincoln's friends started to work for Mr. Lincoln's nomination. They worked day and night, scarcely eating or sleeping. The first ballot showed Mr. Seward to be considerably ahead but not enough to win. Then breaking began on the following ball

rect conflict between the extension and non-extension of slavery. Mr. Lincoln became very much worked up on the slavery question, and

am right because I know that liberty is right, for Christ teaches it and Christ is God. I have told them that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and Christ and reason say the same and they will find it so. Douglas don't care whether

n found the people had read their Bibles' right o

l address as president of the United States. He did not see a place to put his h

ore he died, however, Mr. Douglas became an outspoken defender of the Union and opposed to the war of the rebellion. On the other hand, Mr. Lincoln, true to this principle suffered defeat for many years, but in the end won the greatest honor and became the greatest presiden

ts and large quantities of arms and ammunition were stored in the Southern forts. The election of Mr. Lincoln seemed to anger the Southern men beyond endurance and there were loud threats of s

low countrymen, and not in mine, ar

stroy the government. While I have the most

ough passion may have strained, it m

y living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of th

ed the "Confederate States of America," with Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi as president and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia as vice-president. Arsenals, custom-houses

red. President Lincoln at once called for volunteer troops. The attack on Fort Sumter so aroused the North that men rapidly left their

r Abraham, Three hun

esident "Father Abraham" and

note was that of Bull Run, near Washington. In this the Northern soldiers were dr

uld defeat him and capture Richmond, which was now the capital of the Confederate States. General McClellan seemed to be afraid to move forward and wanted more time to drill the men he had and m

ghold of the Southern army in the West surrendered to him July 4, 1863. President Lincoln had been trying in every way to get General McClellan to move on the enemy but could not, and at last the genera

ation proclamation, freeing the slaves; the Middle states, that had not seceded, threatened to do so if he did. Some of his own Cabinet were not true to him. The people cried out because General McClellan would not move forward, and Mr. Lincoln tried in vain to get him to do so. Therefore these great

, O ship

Union, stro

with all

s hopes of

breathless

rock and t

false lights

fear to bre

pes, our prayers a

iddle of the enemy, dividing it into two parts. He captured Atlanta and then went on to the sea. The song, "Marching through Georgia," was written over this wonderful marc

e best time to issue so momentous a document, that would set free four million of colored men in the degradation and bondage of human slavery. M

o wait no longer. The news came, I think on Wednesday, that the advantage was on our side. I was then staying at the Soldiers' Home. Here I finished writing the second draft of the proclamation; came up on Saturday; called th

is certainly the greatest th

and April 9, 1865, Gen. Lee surrendered unconditionally to Gen. Grant at Appomatox Court House, Va. At the instance of President Lincoln, Gen. Lee's soldiers were allowed to ride home their horses, and, no longer rebel soldiers, but

rity over Gen. McClellan, the Democratic nominee. At his second inau

world because of offenses, for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.' If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of these offenses, which in the providence of God must needs come * * * and he gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern there any departure from those divine attributes, which the believers in a living God always ascribe to h

s. Many shouted and threw their hats in the air. Great bonfires were kindled and bands came out and played happy airs. Flags floated

mourning were seen everywhere, and the bands played sad tunes. Word came on the telegrap

John Wilkes Booth, a wild fanatic, who had been a southern rebel, stole upon him from the rear and shot him in the back of the head, then jumped to the stage, and shouted, "Sic semper tyrannis." Booth then leaped out of the window. Although his leg had been broken by the first jump, he got on a horse and rode day and night until he got into Virginia,

ountry did men everywhere cease their work as people do when a relative dies; but even in the countries of Europe they did so.

the enemy, and made him a friend again, and beautiful peace had come everywhere, to think his life should be taken by a

and covered with flowers. It lay in state until Friday, April 21. Thousands of people came to look at the calm, sad face that s

r a week on the journey, as at many of the cities and towns it had to be stopped, so memorial exercises might be held and the people get a chance

ood cemetery. Bishop Simpson preached the funeral sermon. In the beautiful tomb and under the magnificent m

tributes in his honor that they were bou

r, the last Sunday of his life, he read aloud to some fr

is in hi

fitful fever

his worst; nor

tic, foreign

ch him

ge might have b

s Du

faculties so

great office,

angels, trumpet-

nation of hi

mitate the virtues

reat men al

ke our li

ting leav

on the sand

tories o

tirely true, and it is not always possible to prove or disprove them. Nevertheless, they often show true traits of the c

HE L

nclined to pardon those who did wrong, particularly those who from fatigue fell asleep when on guard. He was kind to the poor and thoughtful of their needs. He was an example of that saying-"There is noth

IN THE

relates some i

ind ever occurred in Mr. Lincoln's Cabinet. Seward would come in and lie down on a settee. Stanton hardly ever stayed more than five or ten minutes. Sometimes Seward would tell the president the outline of some paper he was writing on a State matter. Lincoln gen

EAT

en, and the whole of it is rather dreamy. But Lincoln's extraordinary personality is still one of the most distinct things in my memory. He was as wise as a serpe

GIVIN

en Jefferson Davis, who caused so much of the trouble. Some at the close of the war said: "Do not let Davis escape. He must be hanged." To which Mr. Lincoln

OF LA

would say: "I do not think my client is entitled to the whole of what he claims. In this or that point he may be in error." He was not abusive, as so many l

GLY

you will see he was a homely man. He only wore a beard while president. Previous to that time he shaved all his b

inois, practicing law, I was accosted on

t I have an article

t?' I asked,

nstruction that I was to keep it until I found an uglier man than myself. I have carried it ever since.

ULL S

nd it. The bull could not make the sharp curves around the hay-stack as well as Mr. Lincoln, so he began to gain on the bull, until instead of the bull overtaking him, he began to overtake the bull and at last catching up, he seized the tail of the

ITTLE

to shake his hand in congratulation as he stood reading the momentous little yellow sheet. In a sort of absent-minded way he shook hands with them and then said: "Gentlemen, excuse me, there is a little woman down the street that is more interested in t

AF

ed to fear this, however. He would walk over from the White House to the War department at night and alone. It would be midnight and two o'clock in the morning sometimes. At the War department Secretary Stanton would receive dispatches from the officers in the army on the situatio

OF RE

f their husbands, who were prisoners of war at Johnson's Island. One of the ladies urged upon the presid

nion, the religion that sets men to rebel and fight against their government, because, as they think, that government does not sufficien

LN'S FIRS

it was all right before I started out. Two men came along and wanted to get out to a steamer in the river and asked me if I would take them and their trunks out. I said, 'Certainly.' So they got on the flat boat and I pulled them out to the steamer and they got aboard and I lifted on the trunks. The steamer was about to go and the men had forgotten to pay me, so I shouted to them and each of them threw a silver half dollar on the floor of my boat. I c

LN AT SUN

m if he would say something to the children. He said he would gladly; and going forward he talked in a plain, simple, earnest way and fascinated the children so that they all became very quiet and listened to all he had to say very eagerly. The faces of the children would brighten as he told some beautiful lesson or break into laughter as he quain

TO THE

o the soldiers in the fields and hospitals. The ladies generally managed these fairs in the di

erit, then, is due the soldier. In this war extraordinary developments have manifested themselves, such as have not been seen in former wars, and among these manifestations, nothing has been more remarkable than these fairs for the relief of suffering soldiers and their families. The chief agents of these fairs are the women of Americ

IGHT W

Lincoln's sto

ed out. He could see only when the flashes of lightning came. The peals of thunder, however, were proportionately strong and fright

to you, give us a little more

OOTING

ting, but the squirrel did not come down. His son came up and asked what he was firing at. The father said: "Don't you see that squirrel up there in the tree?" The son looked and looked in every possible way but

GHTFUL D

certain Judge to a government position. Mr. Lincoln sa

with ten miles of bad road before

the court house? Get in a

e road and then something else on the other side. I looked out and saw the driver jerking from one side to th

right, for he has nearly upset me half a dozen times since starting.' Put

avity, the driver said, 'Golly, but that's the first rightfu

CHURCH FO

ssed lady. She came forward without apparent embarassment in her air or manner, a

m, what can

andria; that the church where she wo

Mr. Lincoln asked in

three wounded soldiers in it, I came to see if you would no

see the Post Surgeon at Al

we could do not

nows better what should be done under the circumstances than I do. See here; you say you live in Al

uch embarassed by the war;-so, really, I could

for poor wounded Union soldiers as much as he does for secesh people to worship in.' Turning to h

TFUL A

War," the following story is told

aving in charge the erection of a bridge over a dangerous and rapid river. Several architects failed, and at last Brown said

his bridge?' inqu

her. I could build a bridge to th

he is so honest a man and so good an architect, that if he states soberly and positively that he can build a brid

thern wings of the Democracy could be harmonized, why, I believed them, of

NCIPATION P

ed before him, Mr. Lincoln took a pen, dipped it in ink, moved his hand to the place for the signature, held it for a moment, and then removed his hand and dro

f my name ever goes into history it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand tre

firmly wrote 'Abraham Lincoln,' with which the whole world is no

OLN'S EN

ands with every soldier. The surgeon asked him if he knew what he was undertaking, there being five or six thousand soldiers at that place, and it would be quite a tax upon his strength to visit all the wards and shake hands with every soldier. Mr. Li

t, who walked from bed to bed, extending his hand to all, saying a few words of sympathy t

ll figure of the kindly visitor appeared in sight, he was recognized by the rebel soldier who, raising himself on his

e you, to ask your forgiveness for ever

urgeon to his office. They had scarcely entered, however, when a messenger boy came, saying that one ward had been omitted, and 'the boys' wanted to see the President. The surgeon who was thoroughly tired and knew Mr. Lincoln must be, tried to dissuade him from

chopped vigorously for a few moments, sending the chips flying in all directions; and then pausing, he extended his right arm to its full length, holding the axe out horizontally, without its even quivering as he held it. Strong men who looked on-men accustomed to manual labor-could not hold that same

SK'S SWEAR

ssee. Sitting down beside him, he inquired his errand, and learned that he had been waiting three or four days to get an audience,

that the President would see the man. In a moment the order came; and past senators, gov

taking them, said he would look into the cas

nce of death! The decision ought to be made now!'

l you a story;' and then he told the old man General

he violation of this promise. The Colonel had a teamster named John Todd, who, as roads were not always the best, had some difficulty in commanding his temper and his tongue. John happened to be driving a mule-team thro

u promise to let me do all t

fact was the swearing had to be done then or

laugh together at its conclusion. Then he wrote a few words which the old man read, and in which he fo

RID OF

, holding out his hands: "Doctor, what are those blotches?" "That's variloid, or mild small-pox," said the doctor. "They're all over me. It is contagious, I believe?" said Mr. Lincoln. "I just called to see how you were," said the visitor. "Oh, don't be in a hurry sir," placidly remarke

ENCE WITH AD

miliar acquaintance in California a few years before, solicited a pass outside of our lines to see a brother in

ten,' said General Halleck, 'a

ly disposed of, with the same result. Finally, he obtai

General Halleck?' in

h a flat refusal,'

e Stanton,' contin

h the same result

I can do nothing; for you must know that I have

OLN'S HO

nother about trading horses; and it was agreed that the next morning at 9 o'clock they should make

pproaching with a wooden saw-horse upon his shoulders. Great were the shouts and the laughter of the crowd, and both were greatly increased when Mr. Lincoln

IRST

a public sale, at which time and in those early days speaking was in order. Mr. Lincoln was then but twe

me a candidate for the legislature. My politics can be briefly stated. I am in favor of the internal improvement system, and a high p

DIVIDED

posed of cases that were never entered at the office. In these cases, after receiving his fees, he divided the money in his pocket-book, labeling each sum (wrapped in a piece of paper), that belonged to his partner, stating his name, and the case on which it was received. He cou

HIS STE

chance of success. Throwing all his powers into it, he came off victorious, and promptly received for his services five hundred dollars. A leg

oney in my life before, put it all together.' Then crossing his arms upon the table, his manner sobering down, he added, 'I have got just five hundre

he needed he would loan him the amount, taking h

tep-mother is getting old, and will not probably live many years. I would settle the

e good woman's devotion and fidelity to me, and there is not going to be any half-way business about it" and so

LL AU

loyed a band to drum up the crowd, and bells were rung, but only three pe

on (Lincoln's partner) and myself would be here, but I did not know any on

but the age is not yet dead; it liveth as our Maker liveth. Under all

let us adjourn and a

DON'

ion, somewhat bombastic in tone, freeing the slaves. To the surprise of many people, on both sides, the President took no official notic

was seen switching him out of the house. A day or two afterward a friend met him on the street, and said: 'Jones, I have always stood up for you, as you know; but I am not going to do it any longer. Any man who will stand quietly and

ON TEM

perance in Washington, on the 29th of Septembe

would not need to be told that, in the advocacy of the cause of temperance, you have a friend and sympathiser in me. When a young man-long ago-before the Sons of Temperance,

one about which there may be differences of opinions. You have suggested that in an army-our army, drunkenness is a great evil, and one which while it exists to a very great extent, we cannot expect to overcome so entirely as to leave such success in our arms as we might have without it. This, undoubted

NCOLN'

in which he was raised was moved to write the following li

od's home I

en with

s memory cro

leasure i

! thou mi

arth and

decayed and l

my shad

rom all that'

wed, pure

in some en

d in liqu

Memo

people and by the people," is more quoted than any other on the question of government. I add a few that are well w

ht and in that faith let us to the end

ith firmness in the right as God gives us to s

but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all the one thing or the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind sha

. The mystic chords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot's grave to every loving heart and hearthstone all over

or meanly lose, the la

the slave, we assure

ters' again goes u

e no successful appeal from

y eye and well-poised bayonet they have helped mankind on to this great consummation; while I fear there will

GETTYSBU

n this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and d

se we cannot dedicate-we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that they have thus

arles