OCRed data provided
for searching only. september 1865
quently Üalmost Every week ÜSarah Lincoln Abe's Sister worked for me: She was a good, kind, amiable girl, resembling Abe. The Lincoln family were good people Ügood neighbors Ü: they were honest & hospitable and very Üvery sociable. We moved to Indiana in 1824 ÜCame from Ky. I Knew as a matter of Course Sarah & Sally Lincoln very well. and I say to you that she was a gentle, Kind, smart Üshrewd Üsocial, intelligent woman ÜShe was quick & strong minded: She had no Education, Except what She gathered up herself. I Speak more of what she was by nature than by culture. I never was a politician in all my life, but when such men ran as Abe Lincoln Üas in 1860 I as it were took the Stump: he was the noblest specimen of man I Ever saw. Gentryville lies 4 m from here NW. Abe worked for us at various times at 25c per day Üworked hard & faithful and when he missed time would not charge for it. I took some of the rails which Abe cut and Split for us and had Canes made from them. They were white oak Ücut from this Stump here Ü some one got into my house and Stole my cane.
Can't say what books Abe read, but I have a book called ¿The Kentucky Pre-ceptorî4, which we brought from Ky and in which & from which Abe learned his school orations, Speeches & pieces to recite. School Exhibitions used to be the order of the day Ünot as now however. Abe attended them ÜSpoke & acted his part
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always well free from rant & swell: he was a modest and Sensitive lad Ünever coming where he was not wanted: he was gentle, tender and Kind. Abe was a moral & a model boy, and while other boys were out hooking water melons & tri‚ing away their time, he was studying his books Üthinking and re‚ecting. Abe used to visit the sick boys & girls of his acquaintance. When he worked for us he read all our books Üwould sit up late in the night Ükindle up the ‚re Üread by it
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cipher by it. We had a broad wooden shovel on which Abe would work out his sums Üwipe off and repeat till it got too black for more: then he would scrape and wash off. and repeat again and again Ürose Early. went to work ÜCome to Dinner ÜSit down and read Üjoke Ütell Stories &c. &c ÜHere is my husbands likeness Üyou need not look at mine. My husband was a substantial Man (and I say a cruel hard husband, Judging from his looks Ü). Sarah Lincoln was a strong healthy woman5 Ü was Cool Ü not Excitable Ü truthful Ü do to tie to
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Shy Shrinking. Thomas Lincoln was blind in one Eye and the other was weak
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so he felt his way in the work much of the time: his sense of touch was Keen
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Abe did wear buck Skin pants ÜCoon Skin Üopossum skin Caps. Abe ciphered with a coal or with red Keel6 got from the branches: he smoothed and planed boards Üwrote on them Üciphered on them. I have seen this over and over again. Abe was Sometimes Sad Ünot often Ühe was re‚ective Üwas witty & humorous.
Abe Lincoln was one day bothering the girls Ühis sister & others playing yonder and his Sister Scolded him ÜSaying Abe you ought to be ashamed of
4. The Kentucky Preceptor, Containing a Number of Useful Lessons for Reading and Speaking (1812).
5.
Probably AL's stepmother rather than his sister.
6.
Red ochre, used for marking purposes.
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