Proctor High School - Proctorian Yearbook (Proctor, VT)

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8: THE S U TH ERLA N1; his grandfather and the Indians and his adventures with them. The story Little Abe liked best, perhaps, was the story about his grandfatherls perilous journey to Kentucky. Mr. Lincoln had become uneasy in Kentucky because it was a slave state, and it was considered a disgrace for anyone to work for his living. Therefore. he decided to try to sell his little farm. It wasnlt very easy to get a purchaser for such a small and poor estate. However, after a time a man came along- who said he would buy it. The purchaser had a little money. but he said he would give Mr. Lincoln ten barrels of whiskey, which was worth twenty-eight dollars a barrel, and twenty dollars in cash. Tom Lincoln was not entirely satis- iied with the proposition but decided that the sooner he got into another state the better it would be for him. But ten barrels of whiskey could not be carried in a pocket. Mr. Lincoln was not a drinking man arid he could not sell the liquor where he waei so, if he decided to accept the proposi- tion. he would have to provide a way of carrying the barrels with him. It was a difficult question to decide how he would carry his property over the roadless country. After talking the matter over with his wife, he decided to accept the man's offer of the barrels of whiskey and tWenty dollars cash. As I have already said the cabin of Mr. Lincoln was on the bank of the river. he, therefore. decided to build a flat-hoat and carry his goods down the river on it. Although Abe was but eight years old he was a great help to his father in mking the boat and perparing to leave Kentucky. The boateloaded with ten barrels of whiskey, a few household goods and some carpenterle tools-Thomas Lin- coln pushed into the water. alone. He thought it best to leave his family at home until he found a suitable place for them to we. It was very fortunate that the family was left at home. because when Mr. Lincoln reached the Ohio River his boat was up-set and his cargo and he were thrown into the water. Very luckily some men were near by and rescued him and some of his freight, but most of it was swept away. Thomas Lincoln was not yet discouraged; he started on his way down to Thontson's Ferry, and landed safely in In- diana. There he succeeded in getting a man to guide him into the inner part of the unsettled country. Mr. Lincolnls place of destination was Spencer County. It was very hard to reach this place as a road had to be cut the entire distance. After enduring eighteen miles of difficult walking, the place where the Lincoln Homestead was to be was finally

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THE SUTHERLAND 5 THE EARLY LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN tAn-mvterf Hommbie Mention in the Lincoln Essay Contest; In a miserable. forlorn, cmdely-huilt log- cabin. on a cold day in the early part of the last century, a little boy was born. This hovel stood on the banks of Nolin Creek in Kentucky, then called Hardin County. and now known as La Rue. N 0 one would have thought that such a little, tender, new- born babe could live, grow, and thrive in such a horrible place as this miserable hut. Great cracks between the rustic logs. where sleet, snow, rain. and Wind carhe in at pleasure, could be plainly seen. The roof was so poorly-built that at night the stars peeped down at the little household. Even though a great fire roared in the crudelyemade fire-place, I- wonder whether or not we could stand the cold that surrounded the Lincoln family on the. night of the twelfth of February, 1809. This baby. a fine, healthy child, was named Abraham. The father of this little man was Thomas Lincoln, born in 1778. His ancestors came from England to Kentucky. Later they removed to Berks County, Penn. The mother's maiden name was Nancy Hanks. Abraham had a brother who died in childhood; he also had a sister, older than himself. called Nancy. Nancy loved her little brother very much, and was very happy when her mother let her rock the little child in the crude cradle. As he grew older his sister stayed patiently by his side and taught him to walk and talk. Little she realized that in helping rear this little brother, she was not only helping her mother but all the people of the United States. At the age of seven, Abehs sehooling commencedr-not in a school such as we attend. with fine hooks and all the com- forts of life , but in a miserable cabin. His books were old. tattered and torn. and his teacher knew little about reading and writing. Very few children went to school at this time. The par- ents, not being educated, did not think it necessary for their children to know any more than they did. Mr. and Mrs. Lin- coln were better educated than most of her neighbors and thought it best for their children to go to school. Abe was very eager to ieam to read. On Sundays Abra- ham's mother read the stories he loved best from the Bible. He once resolved to learn to read them as his mother did. Likewise. he loved the stories told by his father, to the family gathered around the fire-place on a cold night, about

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THE SUTHERLAND 7 reached. Having left his goods with neighbors, he started back on foot for his family. His family was waiting and ready to start. It was quite a sight to see the Lincoln family start out for their new home. Mrs. Lincoln and Nancy rode on one horse. while Abe and his father had a horse each. The horses were so loaded down with bundles that only their heads and tails could be seen. Little space was left for the rider. For seven days they proceeded in this manner. stopping only when too tired to go on. At night they all lay on one blanket and covered up. with another. When the end of the seven days came, Mr. Lincoln told them they had reached their new home. There was no house on the spot. just a,clump of trees and brush. The family slept on the ground that night but early next morning Mr. Lincoln told Abe that he must help. He set to work chopping away merrily. Later in the day a neighbor who lived two miles away came to help, and brought good things for dinner. All hands worked hard. Mrs. Lincoln lend- ing her aid when possible. When night fell a rough: shack had been erected. Although there were only three sides to the house. the family lived in it for a year. At the end of this time they had another better made hut built. There was but one mom and no floor to this building. When whiter came again, Abe went back to his studying, with his mother for a teacher. Before spring came. they had mastered their whole library. which consisted of three booksa the Bible, the Cathechism, and the 01d spelling book. Abe could not study all the time. He had to help his father chop wood. and he practised shooting. As at that time - there were no butchers' carts, if a piece of meat was wanted, someone had to go out and shoot an animal from which they could get meat to eat. They lived happily in this manner until the day Abe's mother was taken iii. Evelyone did all that was possible for her. One day she called her son to her bedside and told him to remember all the things she had taught him. and to be a good boy. It nearly broke Abeis heart to hear his mother say this and he did all he could to bring her back to good health. After a few weeks of suffering. however. his mother died. Poor little Abe cried a long time. Prayers were said over the body and then it was buried