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Show Lincoln's Early Life As time goes by the name of Abraham Ab-raham Lincoln shines ever brighter on history"s scroll. That name is perpetuated in the great Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the most mnsslve and beautiful structure yet erected to any American. But it is in the hearts of his countrymen that his greatness is most imper-ishably imper-ishably recorded. Born in a Kentucxy log cabin 121 years ago on February 12, Lincoln's boyhood was most unpromising His father could barely write his name. Abraham's own schooling did not amount to a full year. He wielded an axe in clearing the forest for-est from the age of eight; his mother mo-ther died when he was nine. In his tenth year he was kicked by a horse and for a time was thought to have been killed. At the age of 22 Lincoln was employed em-ployed at $12 a month; at 23 he served a short time as captain of a volunteer company In the Black Hawk Indian war, and upon returning re-turning ran for the legislature but was defeated. Then he and a partner bought a second hand stock of goods on credit and failed.. He was then without money or occupation occu-pation until he got work assisting the couny surveyor, which, as he said, "procured bread and kept soul and body together." About this time he studied English Eng-lish grammar unaided, and In 1834, when he was 25, he again ran for the legislature and was elected. Then he studied law entirely without with-out assistance and was licensed to practice twoy ears later. Lincoln recognized his need of education and diligently devoted his spare time to acquiring It. He studied and mastered six books of Euclid after he had been elected to Congress. He lost no opportunity for self-improvement. Thus, In spite of early handicaps, he prepared himself for his great destiny. |