A little snippet of conversation I had with Rich’s Grandma a few months ago:

Grandma:  “When Rich comes to visit me I will give him a few things that I want to send to you.  I have a few old books about Abraham Lincoln I thought you would like to have.”

Me:  “Oh, I’m so glad!  He is my favorite president!”

Grandma:  “Mine, too.  My sister Bessie liked George Washington, but I always thought Abraham Lincoln was the best.”

And so, to this lover of books, treasures came from Grandma, beautiful old books about our favorite President.  I thought that since it is President’s day, I would share a little something of them, with you.

Abe Lincoln’s Stories is a 248 page book (copyright 1879) full of little anecdotes about his life:  Early Life Stories, Professional Life Stories, White House stories, War Stories, and Miscellaneous Stories, like this one about his love for “the little ones.”

The story went on to say that Lincoln couldn’t bring himself to give his name (his autograph) to the little girl without giving it, as well, to the seven other little girls who were also present.  He sat down with eight sheets of paper and wrote a sentence and his name to each of them.

There was another story about a woman whose husband was about to be executed for some obscure reason, having to do with the war.  She had a baby in her arms and had been waiting for three days for the chance to speak to the President, and ask her husband’s pardon.  Lincoln overheard the baby crying and had her sent in to see him before her turn, and after hearing her story and plea, he granted her husband life, rather than death.  As she left the room, crying with relief, she was told it was “because of the baby” that the President showed such care and concern.

He loved children, and of course was a devoted father to his own two boys.

“Lincoln was, in his fixed quality, a man of sadness.  If he were looking out of a window when alone, and you happened to be passing by and caught his eye, you would generally see in it an expression of distress.” pg.229

“The books which Abraham Lincoln had the early privilege of reading were the Bible, much of which he could repeat, AEsop’s Fables, all of which he could repeat, Pilgrim’s Progress, Weems’ Life of Washington, and a Life of Henry Clay….in these books, read and re-read, he found meat for his hungry mind.  The Holy Bible, AEsop and John Bunyan—could three better books have been chosen for him from the richest library?”  pg. 19

I had Grace write this sentence from dictation….it was from a story I read the children this morning about how Lincoln rode his horse past a slough, where he saw a pig struggling for his life to get out of the mud…he rode several miles past but had to turn around and go back to rescue the pig, even though he had new clothes on.  He decided it was for selfish reasons that he did it, because he rescued it to relieve his own mind from thinking of the poor animal!

He was a man concerned with the motives of people’s behavior, including his own.

He was humble…when asked to write a sketch of his life for publication, he wrote in reply, “Born February 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky.  Education Defective.  Profession a Lawyer, Have been a Captain of Volunteers in Black Hawk War.  Postmaster at a very small office.  Four times a member of the Illinois Legislature, and was a member of the Lower House of Congress.  Yours, etc.  A. Lincoln.” 

He believed in God, considered himself a Christian, and took great comfort in knowing his son, who died as a child, was in alive in Heaven.

He was a man of many feelings and emotions, and was not ashamed to cry in public.

He was sincere and genuine, and “what you saw was what he was”.

He had an amazing work ethic and walked miles upon miles in order to work for money as he was growing up.

He was willing to help others.

He went out of his way to give attention and visits to his family members, walking miles if necessary, to spend time with them.

He loved his mother and step-mother dearly.  He was quoted as saying that “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother”….his mother died when HE WAS ONLY TEN.  His step-mother was quoted as saying that she and her stepson, “had the same heart”.

Grandma also gave me a two book set by Carl Sandburg.  These are the first books of a series about his entire life, written in a descriptive, thoughtful way.  I just started reading the first volume.

(there are clippings that Grandma collected through the years about Lincoln, slipped in the book jacket, with these two volumes)

I must say that the first reason that I decided, as a child, that Lincoln was my favorite President, was simply because I was born on his birthday.  But, the more I study and read about him, the more I feel that rather than the shared birthday, Lincoln is my favorite because he has the qualities that I so admire….a love for God, family, and others, and personality traits such as honesty, love, kindness, empathy, truthfulness, and humility.

He is a man I am proud to hold up as a hero for my own five boys.

In fact, a poster of Abraham Lincoln hangs in our school room, so I had the boys stand in front of it for a picture today.

When I was in Kindergarten, I learned a little song about Lincoln that I have since taught my own children.

“Abraham Lincoln, kind and good

He’s honored and loved by many.

To help us remember this President,

We put his face on our penny.”

I wanted the kids to sing it for you here, but they were too shy and silly. 

Happy President’s day! 

~Shanda