The Pioneer Boy, and how He Became President

CONTENTS.

BIRTHPLACE.

Cabin-home on Nolin Creek-Father and Mother-Ancestors in Vir-
ginia-Indians, and Grandfather killed by them—A Dark Day
-Tales of Abraham's Childhood -Battle with Indians-Capture
of Three Girls-His Father's Youth-Learning Carpenter's Trade
-Could not Read or Write-Learning of his Wife-Members of
Baptist Church-His Mother-On Knob Creek-Abraham Fish-
ing and Hunting-Dennis Hanks-Furniture of his louse

II.

A SCIIOOLBOY.

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
Move to Indiana-Gallaher's Interest-A Conversation-Land
Titles-Real Cause of Removal to Indiana, a Free State

III.

THE OLD HOME SOLD.

Colby's Arrival-His Proposition-It Awakens Surprise-The Farm
Sold for Whiskey-Not Singular then-Preparations to Move-
Settlement-Starting on Flat-boat-On the Ohio-Upset in the
River-Saved-Recovery of Part of Goods-Thompson's Ferry-

PAGE

Moved by Posey to Interior-Gave Boat for Moving-Spot

Selected-Going Back for Family-Heroism of Western Females

then-Indians-Seven Days on the Journey.

PAGE

. 18

IV.

A NEW HOME MADE.

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 Parlou

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-

Mrs. Lincoln against Drinking Customs

.. 31

AFTER GAME.

Ilis 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

a Candle-Arrival of Thomas and Betsey Sparrow-A Happy Day

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-Ilis Funeral Sermon-Impression upon Abraham-
Character and Power of Pioneer Preachers-A Remarkable
Example-These Preachers and Abraham's Early Life.

VII.

BRIGHTER HOURS.

Copy of "Pilgrim's Progress '-His Surprise-Esop'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-
tainment—Ramsay's "Life of Washington" read—“ Robinson
Crusoe" his Delight

PAGE

VIII.

A NEW MOTHER AND SCHOOLS.

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
D-e-f-i-e-d-Teaching "Manners" — Abe's Appearance-
Swaney's School-John Hanks

IX.

BORROWING, and what came of it.

.. 74

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
seriously by a Horse-"Cluck"

WORKING AND WINNING.

Society about him-Mrs. Crawford's Description-Population in-
creased-People Superstitious-Examples of Superstition-In
fluence on Abraham-Becomes a Ferryman, Farmer, Iostler,
and House-servant-Reads History of the United States at Night—
Employer's Son his Bedfellow-Abe's late Reading vexes him-
What he said about Abe Twenty Years After-Hog-killing-
Became a Butcher-His Sister Married-Ie Writes a Poem for
the Occasion-His Presence demanded at Parties-Works for
Jones the Store-keeper-Variety of Work-Reads Life of Franklin
--Reads a Newspaper here-Discusses Politics-Life of Henry
Clay-Visits afterwards to Grocery-Acting the Good Samaritan,
himself the Horse-Saved a Man .

XL.

UPWARD AND ONWARD.

PAGE

How Abraham was regarded-What John Hanks says-Mr. Lamon's
Words-His Mother's Testimony-The Scrap-book-His Mother's
Tribute to Herndon-Reading and "Preaching about "—The
Eccentric Preacher and Abraham's Imitation-His Father stopping
it-Foundation of Greatness laid here-Working for Mr. Wood-
The Temperance Paper, and Writing for it-The Political Paper,
and Writing for it-Excitement over the Pioneer Writer-Sub-
stance of his Political Article-Just what he Wrote when President
-Abraham's Temperance Principles-His Original Copies in Verse
-Hunting a Necessity-Wild Animals there-Plays and Games—
Abraham's Great Strength

XII.

ON THE FLAT-boat.

Works for Mr. Gentry-A Flat-boat Trip to New Orleans proposed—
Account of Flatboating-Consent of Parents to go-His Mother s
Apprehensions-Preparations-Talk with Miss Roby on Astro-
nomy-What She thought Forty Years After-The Trip described
-A Rough Life-A Bloody Contest with Madame Bushane's
Slaves-The Sequel―The Trip successful-Return Home.. 124

XIII.

SUNDRY INCIDENTS.

Trading Trip-His First Dollar for Service-Looking higher-Call on

Mr. Woods-Disappointed Hope-Another Log-cabin-The

Statutes of Indiana-Studying and Reading at David Turnham's

-Going to Court-The Murder Trial-Meeting the Shelby Boy

and President-The Gentryville Lyceum-Questions Discussed-

Place for the Enslaved-Abe's Appearance--Centre of Attraction

-The Foolish Act and the Outcome-How he Learned-Dennis

Hanks' Eulogy-Talk of Removing to Illinois