assassination in the White House. Apart from this likeness, however, the life of Lincoln as an example of industry, tact, perseverance, application, energy, economy, honesty, purity, devotion to principle, and triumph over obstacles in a successful career, presents a profitable study to the youth and young men of this and other lands. The only parallel to it is that of President Garfield, with which we aim to connect this later volume. The names of these two illustrious statesmen are for ever associated in the history of the American Republic. It is well-nigh impossible to separate them in the thoughts of men. Statesmen of such power and influence, beginning their lives in want and obscurity and ending them in the White House, cut off at last by the shot of the assassin, must find their niche together in the temple of fame. One other name only of the great and good men of the past naturally affiliates with these two—that of George Washington, the life of whom will follow this as soon as it can be prepared. These three-Washington, Lincoln, and Garfield—remarkably alike in their early precocity and the wisdom and influence of manhood-furnish stimulating examples to American and English readers. Incidents are brought to the front in this life of Lincoln, as they were in that of Garfield, and they are made to portray the life of the man. Facts are better than logic to exhibit the elements of personal character; therefore we let incidents tell the story of his life. When Abraham Lincoln was consulted respecting his biography, after his nomination for the Presidency in 1860, he replied: “You can find the whole of my early life in a single line of Gray's Elegy : .“ The short and simple annals of the poor.'”. While this apt reply revealed the simplicity of the man, it introduced the biographer at once to the opening of a marvellous life. For, surely, that is a marvellous life, when a boy, reared in a floorless log-cabin, works his way, by dint of perseverance, upward and onward into the highest office of the land. The chief object of the book is to show how its hero won his position ; yet it incidentally exhibits the manners and customs of the times, and section of country, in which he was reared. Provincialisms are intentionally avoided, as well as that singular perversion of the English language that characterized the unlettered people of Kentucky and Indiana sixty years ago. When Mr. Lincoln was alive, and the honoured President of the United States, one of his old friends and neighbours wrote to us: “I have known him long and well, and I can say in truth, I think (take him altogether) he is the best man I ever saw. Although he has never made a public profession of religion, I nevertheless believe that he has the fear of God before his eyes, and that he goes daily to a throne of grace, and asks wisdom, light, and knowledge, to enable him faithfully to discharge his duties.” The reader will find abundant confirmation of the friend's eulogy in this volume. W. M. T. CONTENTS. PAGE ginia-Indians, and Grandfather killed by them-A Dark Day -Tales of Abraham's Childhood - Battle with Indians-Capture -Could not Read or Write-Learning of his Wife—Members of Riney's School - Reading only Taught—Hazel's School-How to get the Money—Indiana a Free State-Few and Poor Schools-Four Miles Away-The Lincoln Library-Religious Advantages—Elder Elkins—Reading the Bible-Familiar with Bible through Life- Incidents of His Parents' desire to Educate him—Decision to Colby's Arrival –His Proposition—It Awakens Surprise—The Farm Sold for Whiskey-Not Singular then-Preparations to Move- PAGE Moved by Posey to Interior-Gave Boat for Moving-Spot The Axe a Symbol of Pioneer Life-Strength Developed—Incident Forty Years Later-Erecting a Half-faced Camp-How Abe began Pioneer Life-Built Log-house next Year—Described Putting up a Bed—Making Table and Stools-Abe's Parlour Chamber—The Home-made Grist-mill-Process of making it, How Pioneer Families got Meal - Reading in his New Home- Improving in Penmanship-Surroundings described—No Water near-How got this Farm-Spencer County-State of Society Two Years later, and Physical Condition described by Turnham- V. His First Shot—Talking over Loss on Ohio—The Flock of Turkeys- A Large One killed — Abe Lincoln surprised—Dependent on Hunt- ing for Food-Skill of Pioneer Hunters – Their Standard-Snuffing Hungry for Knowledge—Wants other Books than Bible—The “Milk- Disease ”—Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow sick_Nursing them—Their Death and Burial-Mrs. Lincoln's Brief Sickness-Neighbour's Sympathy and Skill-Her Speedy Death—Buried on the Knoll- Abe's Letter to Parson Elkins-His first Letter-Neighbours sur- prised—Writing Letters for them—Parson Elkins comes-His Welcome-His Funeral Sermon-Impression upon Abraham- Copy of “Pilgrim's Progress '—His Surprise—Æsop's Fables—A Trea- sure and its Influence-Books Interfere with Work—His Father's Reproof-Writing Name on the Earth-Charged with Laziness- The Charge repelled-Common to call Students Lazy–None Lazy who Improve every Moment-At Baldwin's Shop-Seeking Enter- Mr. Lincoln's Home Untidy–Need of a Wife and Mother—Remembers a Friend of his Early Manhood—Married—Brings his Bride Home -Her "Household Stuff”—The Second Mrs. Lincoln Better Educated than the First—Has Floor made and Windows supplied -Abraham's Welcome to his Stepmother and her Children- What Dennis Hanks says—Dennis Married one of her Daughters -Dorsey opens School-School-house described-Arithmetic- Trapping up”—Crawford's School—Crawford's Influence-His Prophecy about Abe-Example of Abe's Honesty –What Nat Grigsby says-Abe's Compositions—Opposes Cruelty to Animals -Defends a Terrapin–His Plea-Crawford's Praise—The Rule of Three—Peacemaker-An Example—Best Spelling-Spelling BORROWING, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. Talk about Washington-Weems' Life of Washington-Borrowing the Book-Consequences of Borrowing Books—Pleasant Hours—A Rain ruins the Book-Sorrowing over it-Proposition to Crawford, the Owner-His Extortion-A Hard Man-Cuts Three Acres of Fodder to Pay for Book-Afterwards worked for Crawford, with his Sister—"The Kentucky Preceptor ”—Appearance of Josiah Crawford–His Nose in Abe's Verse and “ Chronicles” -What Mrs. Crawford says about his being President, Abraham kicked |