Sorry for not blogging lately!! I've been plagued by the little thing called "writer's block", which some may call a myth, but I believe is very real.
I've been reading this book, "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage". I'm only halfway through, and already I've discovered a TON about my favorite president that I never knew. It's a biography of Lincoln focusing on his faith, written by an older gentleman who was homeschooled names Joe Wheeler. I guess I'm a little biased with the "homeschooled" part, but either way, I'm really enjoying his book.
Here are a few facts I never would've learned in a textbook that I've read so far:
#1: Abe almost died as a child
Abe and his friend Austin were playing one Sunday, and while crossing a creek swollen by recent rain, Abe fell in. He couldn't swim, and neither could his companion. Austin held out a pole to him, and pulled him ashore. There, Austin tried his best to get the water from the near-drowned boy, and after shaking and beating, was successful. Abraham Lincoln survived that day, and the only trouble those boys had that day was how to hide their wet clothes from their mother.
#2: Abe's Stepmother wasn't typical
After Abe's mother died from milk sickness (a disease spread through cow's milk), his father, Thomas, began seeking a new wife. His children were young, and he knew they'd need taking care of. So he brought back a woman he'd known for years as his wife. She also had lost her spouse recently, and had 3 other children. Upon meeting young Abraham and his older sister, Sarah, she could have turned away in disgust: Wheeler writes that they had tangled hair, bodies covered in grime and slept on leaves in a filthy loft (Wheeler, 49) But instead, she turned to her new husband, took in her surroundings, and began to care for her 2 new children. Lincoln grew to love this woman as dear as his deceased mother, possibly because of her immediate love and acceptance.
#3: He was ALWAYS honest
One day, his new sister followed him to chop wood. She was secretive; since her mother never allowed her to follow Abe, and surprised him by jumping on his back. However, she was cut by the axe he dropped, and her ankle was bleeding very heavily. Being the good brother that he was, he quickly got the bleeding under control. She worried that her mother would punish her for acting foolish (and thus getting cut). She pleaded for Abe to only say that she did it with the axe. Abe told her to tell the truth, the whole truth, and "trust your good mother with the rest". (Wheeler, 51)
#4: His learning troubles were to his advantage
Lincoln as a child didn't learn things very well. It took a while for him to understand something. However, when he understood something, he never forgot it. For instance, he was a great speller. He also copied down things that he read (from his few books) on paper or just boards, so he could repeat it and remember it.
#5: He was more than just tall
He did a lot of hard work growing up, therefore he had thick, calloused hands, muscled arms and intense strength.
#6: He had a bad side
He liked to write anonymous letters to people he didn't like. He even made up a rhyme to make fun of his brother-in-law who he saw as bald and ugly! He did so until it got him (and the other ladies involved...) in a heap of trouble.
#7: He had issues with his love life
The first woman he ever grew to love was his first real problem. Ann Ruthledge was a beautiful woman, and Lincoln felt he could be himself around her. However, she was engaged to a man who had gone North. Lincoln worked hard to free her from that engagement, but before he could, she died. Lincoln couldn't bear the grief. First his mother when he was a young boy, now his beloved Ann. He didn't think he would ever love again. (But we all know he married Mary Todd, whom he loved dearly. She was a bit of a thorn herself, but we'll talk about her more later.)
As you can see, there's so much more to Abraham Lincoln than most read about. He was raised in a log cabin, he was basically self-taught, and he was the 16th president of the United States. However, just like anyone, he had a personality, he had weaknesses, and he experienced both love and loss. All in all, Lincoln's life was a mess, but he always found a way to come back to God. Did I mention Lincoln was a sort of a prodigal? He had a dry time in his life, but his mother (both of them) raised him to love the Lord, and he died believing in Jesus.
THIS is the history I want to learn about. Are you with me?
For more information, please see Joe Wheeler's book "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage"
I've been reading this book, "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage". I'm only halfway through, and already I've discovered a TON about my favorite president that I never knew. It's a biography of Lincoln focusing on his faith, written by an older gentleman who was homeschooled names Joe Wheeler. I guess I'm a little biased with the "homeschooled" part, but either way, I'm really enjoying his book.
Here are a few facts I never would've learned in a textbook that I've read so far:
#1: Abe almost died as a child
Abe and his friend Austin were playing one Sunday, and while crossing a creek swollen by recent rain, Abe fell in. He couldn't swim, and neither could his companion. Austin held out a pole to him, and pulled him ashore. There, Austin tried his best to get the water from the near-drowned boy, and after shaking and beating, was successful. Abraham Lincoln survived that day, and the only trouble those boys had that day was how to hide their wet clothes from their mother.
#2: Abe's Stepmother wasn't typical
After Abe's mother died from milk sickness (a disease spread through cow's milk), his father, Thomas, began seeking a new wife. His children were young, and he knew they'd need taking care of. So he brought back a woman he'd known for years as his wife. She also had lost her spouse recently, and had 3 other children. Upon meeting young Abraham and his older sister, Sarah, she could have turned away in disgust: Wheeler writes that they had tangled hair, bodies covered in grime and slept on leaves in a filthy loft (Wheeler, 49) But instead, she turned to her new husband, took in her surroundings, and began to care for her 2 new children. Lincoln grew to love this woman as dear as his deceased mother, possibly because of her immediate love and acceptance.
#3: He was ALWAYS honest
One day, his new sister followed him to chop wood. She was secretive; since her mother never allowed her to follow Abe, and surprised him by jumping on his back. However, she was cut by the axe he dropped, and her ankle was bleeding very heavily. Being the good brother that he was, he quickly got the bleeding under control. She worried that her mother would punish her for acting foolish (and thus getting cut). She pleaded for Abe to only say that she did it with the axe. Abe told her to tell the truth, the whole truth, and "trust your good mother with the rest". (Wheeler, 51)
#4: His learning troubles were to his advantage
Lincoln as a child didn't learn things very well. It took a while for him to understand something. However, when he understood something, he never forgot it. For instance, he was a great speller. He also copied down things that he read (from his few books) on paper or just boards, so he could repeat it and remember it.
#5: He was more than just tall
He did a lot of hard work growing up, therefore he had thick, calloused hands, muscled arms and intense strength.
#6: He had a bad side
He liked to write anonymous letters to people he didn't like. He even made up a rhyme to make fun of his brother-in-law who he saw as bald and ugly! He did so until it got him (and the other ladies involved...) in a heap of trouble.
#7: He had issues with his love life
The first woman he ever grew to love was his first real problem. Ann Ruthledge was a beautiful woman, and Lincoln felt he could be himself around her. However, she was engaged to a man who had gone North. Lincoln worked hard to free her from that engagement, but before he could, she died. Lincoln couldn't bear the grief. First his mother when he was a young boy, now his beloved Ann. He didn't think he would ever love again. (But we all know he married Mary Todd, whom he loved dearly. She was a bit of a thorn herself, but we'll talk about her more later.)
As you can see, there's so much more to Abraham Lincoln than most read about. He was raised in a log cabin, he was basically self-taught, and he was the 16th president of the United States. However, just like anyone, he had a personality, he had weaknesses, and he experienced both love and loss. All in all, Lincoln's life was a mess, but he always found a way to come back to God. Did I mention Lincoln was a sort of a prodigal? He had a dry time in his life, but his mother (both of them) raised him to love the Lord, and he died believing in Jesus.
THIS is the history I want to learn about. Are you with me?
For more information, please see Joe Wheeler's book "Abraham Lincoln: A Man of Faith and Courage"
Abraham Lincoln lived a very interesting life. I read a book about him that I think you would like - "Lincoln:a photobiography" by Russel Freedman. Cool article!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I've never heard of that one. I'll definitely have to look it up!
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