The Davis City Advance, Davis City, Iowa
Thursday, February l3, l896

'ABRAHAM LINCOLN'

The following compositions were handed us by Miss Mable Horner, teacher of the second primary. We followed copy and the parents can see how well their children are progressing under their efficient teacher.

by CARRIE ELSTON

Abraham Lincoln, one of our best and beloved presidents, was born in Kentucky on Feb. l2, l809. He was a very poor boy. He worked his way through by the farm and by splitting wood to a good honest president. When Abraham was a small boy his father built a house of logs in the woods. They didn't have any floor, no windows or doors.

They were too poor to buy them.

When it would rain or snow they would hang a bear skin or a wolf up to keep out the cold. His mother had few books but read to Abraham out of them. Abraham only had two books they were Asop's Fables and Arithmetic. He was very fond of reading. He would read a book through two or three times. A man loaned him a book by the name of Life of Washington. He would take it to bed with him. Beds them days were made of hemlock branches and the leaves. He would stick it in the branches. One night it snowed and the leaves and back were spoiled. He felt very sorry. He carried the book back to its owner and asked him what he could do to pay for it. The man said 75c or three days work in the corn field. Abraham said I haven't the money but will work three days for you. After he worked for the three days he gave him the book. Abraham never was so proud in all his life. In those boyhood days Abraham was called little Abe. His mother made him a suit of clothes of bear skin and a cap with a tassel of rabbit tail.

Sometimes Abe's father would shoot a turkey which would last them two or three days.

The first time Abe shot a turkey he said he never would kill another turkey unless it was needed for food. Abe's father was married twice. His first wifes name was Nancy Hanks and the second Sally Bush.

by ROY CUMMINGS

Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. l2 l809. His parents were very poor. He read few books but mastered all he read. When he was a young boy he lived in a log house. They went to a log church which was a short distance away. When Abraham came home he would preach to his little sister. They moved not long after. Abraham was about big enough to kill bear and wild turkeys. The first turkey he killed he sat down and cried for he had always thought it wrong to kill a bird.

His mother made him a funny suit of bear skin, and a little cap with a rabbits tail for a tassel.

He walked l2 miles after a book which a man loaned him. It was the life of Washington. He thought a great deal of the book. He took it to bed with him. One night there came a storm which spoiled the book. He took it back to the man and asked him how much money he would have to pay. The man said 75 cents or 3 days work in the corn field. He said he had no 75 cents so he worked 3 days in the corn field, on the 3rd day the man said he could have the book. And he said he was never so happy in all his life.

by GLADYS BULLOCK

Abraham Lincoln was born Feb. l2, l809. His mother and father were very poor. They lived in a little log house. All the furniture that they had was some old stools and a table.

They went to a log church not far away. When Abraham and his little sister came home from church he got on a log and preached to her and then they would sing a little song. It was always a treat to them when their father would kill a bear or a wild turkey. Once his mother made him a suit of clothes out of a bear skin and she made him a funny cap. He never forgot that little cap.

He lived to read books. Once a man loaned him a book to read it was the Life of Washington. He would take it to bed with him and read it over and over. He would put it between the logs. And one night it rained and ruined it. When he took it he told the man he was sorry.

He asked the man how much, he would have to pay for it and he said that he would have to pay me seventy-five cents or work in the corn field three days.

He said I have not got the money so he would work in the field.

When the end of three days came the man gave a book to keep, he was very proud of it.

He grew up to be a smart man.

Then he was elected president in the year of l860.

He died April l5, l865.

A man by the name of Booth shot him at a theater.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
September 11, 2003