i have made a discovery—i have found out america's princely man! it is abraham lincoln, and this is his birthday!
magazines have been coming down from the north telling us all about this princely man, and i have asked grandmother and uncle theodore hundreds of questions, it seems to me, about him. and i can see that they never get tired answering those questions, but seem as if they could talk about him forever.
scarcely a political debate occurs, either in congress or in the press of the country, but the possible views or actual example of abraham lincoln are quoted as the strongest argument, uncle theodore says.
the magazines find it impossible to publish too much about him. mention of his name in an incidental fashion from a stage or forum draws a burst of cheering; or if the reference is of a humorous nature the laughter is close to tears.
"with love and reverence his memory is cherished by the american people as is the memory of no other man," said dear grandmother. "quoting a 'decoration day' orator," she added, "'he was called to go by the sorrowful way, bearing the awful burden of his people's woe, the cry of the uncomforted in his ears, the bitterness of their passion on his heart. misunderstood, misjudged, he was the most solitary of men. he had to tread the wine-press alone, and of the people none went with him.[pg 180] but he turned not back. he never faltered. as one upheld, sustained by the unseen hand, he set his face steadfastly, undaunted, unafraid, until in death's black minute he paid glad life's arrears: the slaves free! himself immortal!'"
yes, it is quite certain that abraham lincoln is america's princely man!
i would like to make something happen in the world that would be talked about after i am dead. grandmother says that it is only something that one does for the good of the world that is remembered after he is dead. "if a man has money, people will lionize him as long as he is living for the sake of it," she says, "but money counts for nothing when a man is dead."
"money!" said uncle theodore, who had been listening to our talk. "i doubt whether abe ever owned enough to buy a farm."
