THE GREAT PRESIDENT

To a certain extent we may judge the character of a man by his words, written or spoken. Indeed, many of the world's great men may be known in no other way. On the other hand, "actions speak louder than words"; and if we may judge a man both by word and deed, we shall have a much truer measure of his character and real worth. In the following anecdotes, point out what seem to you worthy characteristics of Abraham Lincoln.

I

Many rural communities are now provided with some form of weekly entertainment. Such a thing was utterly unknown a hundred years ago. People had to provide their own amusements, if they had any; hence, whenever a fox chase, a wrestling match, or a coon hunt was planned, everybody was supposed to be interested-or nearly everybody-and it took considerable will power to refuse to join in the sport.

"Come on, Abe," called the leader to a young man bending over his books, "we're goin' coon huntin'; we got the dogs and everything. All we need is another good hand to help chop out the coons after the dogs tree 'em.'

"I'm sorry, boys, but I really can't go with you to-night. I'm studying."

"Studying! Why, Abe, I reckon you don't expect to be President, or anything like that, do ye?"

"Well, no. I can't say that I do. But I'm going to prepare myself, and if the chance does come, I'll be ready."

Seeing that further argument was useless, the hunting party departed for the woods and Abe Lincoln returned to his law books.

II

Lincoln's chance came in 1860. Of course, the new President and everything pertaining to him were matters of great interest to the public. Pictures of Mr. Lincoln and his family, and stories about them, filled the newspapers and magazines. And the pictures and stories interested the children of that day just as they do now.

One little girl, whom we shall call Alice, because that wasn't her name, became a very warm admirer of the new President. She liked his rugged face-all except the whiskers. So she wrote him a letter and said, "Please, Mr. Lincoln, won't you shave off your whiskers? I should like you so much better if you would."

And what do you suppose the great President did? He wrote Alice a nice little note thanking her for her letter and promising to do as she suggested. His later pictures show that he kept his word.

III

The house in which the President lives in Washington is called the White House. Back of the White

House grounds, in President Lincoln's time, stood a public school building. Mr. Lincoln often watched the children at play and enjoyed their happy shouts and laughter.

But one morning he overheard something that made him sad at heart; he overheard some rude boys jeering and teasing little one-armed Johnny because his clothes were patched and his shoes blackened with stove polish instead of shoe blacking.

The President took the trouble to learn the facts about Johnny. He learned that the boy's father had been killed in the war and that his mother had been obliged to take in washing in order to support herself and four small children.

The next morning Johnny appeared at school dressed in a new suit of clothes and new shoes. He explained that the President had called at his home and had taken him to the store, and bought two suits of clothes for him and clothes for his sisters, and had sent coal and groceries to the house for his mother.

IV

Abraham Lincoln was southern born. He loved the South, and had many dear friends in the Southland. One of these was George Pickett, the famous Confederate General, whose home was in Richmond, Va., and whose wife and baby were there at the close of the war.

"The day after the surrender of Richmond," says Mrs. Pickett, "there came a sharp rap at the door.

With my baby on my arm, I opened the door and looked up at a tall figure standing on the steps."

" "Is this George Pickett's place?' he asked.
"'Yes, sir,' I answered, 'but he is not here.'

"I know that, madam, but I just wanted to see the place. I am Abraham Lincoln.'

""The President!' I gasped. The stranger shook his head.

"No, madam, just Abraham Lincoln, George's old friend.'

"I am George Pickett's wife and this is his baby' was all I could say. I had never seen Mr. Lincoln, but I remembered the love and respect with which my soldier always spoke of him.

"My baby pushed away from me and reached out his hands to Mr. Lincoln who took him in his arms. He put his arms around Mr. Lincoln's neck and gave him a dewy, loving kiss. As Mr. Lincoln gave the little one back to me, he shook his finger playfully at him and said:

""Tell that rascal, your father, that I forgive him for the sake of that kiss and those bright eyes.'

"Then he turned and went down the steps and passed out of my sight forever; but in memory those loving, human eyes, that strong, sad face, have an everlasting abiding place."

-Stories of Lincoln.

Other Selections: Anecdotes of Lincoln, HAY; Lincoln, The Man of the People, MACE; Four Great Americans, BALDWIN; American Leaders and Heroes, GORDY; Boy's Life of Lincoln, TARBELL. The Perfect Tribute, ANDREWS.