The Poets' Lincoln Part 7

[Ill.u.s.tration: LINCOLN AT THE TIME OF DEBATE WITH DOUGLAS

From an Ambrotype taken at Beardstown, Ill., 1858]

His friends advised Lincoln to press his opponent on the Dred Scott decision (of the United States Supreme Court permitting slavery in the Territories), as Douglas would accept it, but argue for nullifying it by anti-slavery legislation in the territorial a.s.semblies, and this would satisfy the people of Illinois, and elect him Senator. "All right," said Lincoln, "then that kills him in 1860. I am gunning for larger game."

Elizabeth Stuart Phelps was born in Andover, Ma.s.sachusetts, on August 13, 1844. Educated at Andover. Her literary career began at the age of thirteen with contributions to the newspapers. The earlier years of her life were devoted to Christian labors among the poor families in Andover, but failing health finally prevented her from carrying on her labors along that line, and kept her within her study, but her sympathy was always enlisted in the reformatory questions of the day.

_The Gates Ajar_ proved very popular, as did also her many juvenile books. She wrote this poem for the Lincoln Memorial Alb.u.m in 1882. She died January 29, 1911.

THE THOUGHTS OF LINCOLN

The angels of your thoughts are climbing still The s.h.i.+ning ladder of his fame, And have not reached the top, nor ever will, While this low life p.r.o.nounces his high name.

But yonder, where they dream, or dare, or do, The "good" or "great" beyond our reach, To talk of him must make old language new In heavenly, as it did in human, speech.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LINCOLN LIFE-MASK

By Leonard W. Volk]

Mr. Lincoln was engaged in trying a case in the United States Court at Chicago, Illinois, in April, 1860, and Leonard W. Volk, the sculptor, called upon him and said: "I would like to have you sit to me for your bust." "I will, Mr. Volk," replied Lincoln. This was the first time that Lincoln sat to an artist for the reproduction of his physique in this manner. Previous to this he had posed only for daguerreotypes or for photographs.

Richard Watson Gilder was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, February 8, 1844, and was educated at his father's school. He enlisted in Landis'

Philadelphia Battery for the emergency call in the campaign of 1863, when the Confederate forces invaded Pennsylvania. Later he was editor of a number of magazines and upon the death of J. G. Holland he was made a.s.sociate editor of the _Century_. At the age of twenty-six he had attained high literary standing. His poems are published in five volumes. He rendered valuable service in tenement-house reform over the country. He died on the 18th day of November, 1909.

ON THE LIFE-MASK OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

This bronze doth keep the very form and mold Of our great martyr's face. Yes, this is he: That brow all wisdom, all benignity; That human, humorous mouth; those cheeks that hold Like some harsh landscape all the summer's gold; That spirit fit for sorrow, as the sea For storms to beat on; the lone agony Those silent, patient lips too well foretold.

Yes, this is he who ruled a world of men As might some prophet of the elder day-- Brooding above the tempest and the fray With deep-eyed thought and more than mortal ken.

A power was his beyond the touch of art Or armed strength--his pure and mighty heart.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE HAND OF LINCOLN]

The Sat.u.r.day after the nomination of Mr. Lincoln for President of the United States, the Committee appointed to inform him of the said nomination arrived in Springfield and performed this duty in the evening at his home.

The cast of his hand was made the next morning by Mr. Leonard W. Volk.

While the sculptor was making the cast of his left hand, Lincoln called his attention to a scar on his thumb. "You have heard me called the 'rail-splitter' haven't you?" he said, "Well, I used to split rails when I was a young man, and one day, while sharpening a wedge on a log, the axe glanced and nearly took off my thumb."

Edmund Clarence Stedman was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on the 8th of October, 1833. He entered Yale College at the age of sixteen and distinguished himself in Greek and English Composition. He was the editor of several papers in Connecticut and in 1856 removed to New York City--a larger field for his literary abilities. He was a contributor to _Vanity Fair_, _Putnam's Monthly_, _Harper's Magazine_ and other periodicals. His poems: _The Diamond Wedding_, _How Old John Brown Took Harper's Ferry_, _The Ballad of Lager-Bier_, gave him some reputation. He was war-correspondent for the _World_ during the early campaigns of the Army of the Potomac from the Headquarters of General Irwin McDowell and General B. McClellan. He died in 1908.

THE HAND OF LINCOLN

Look on this cast, and know the hand That bore a nation in its hold; From this mute witness understand What Lincoln was--how large of mold.

The man who sped the woodman's team, And deepest sunk the plowman's share, And pushed the laden raft astream, Of fate before him unaware.

This was the hand that knew to swing The axe--since thus would Freedom train Her son--and made the forest ring, And drove the wedge and toiled amain.

Firm hand that loftier office took, A conscious leader's will obeyed, And, when men sought his word and look, With steadfast might the gathering swayed.

No courtier's, toying with a sword, Nor minstrel's, laid across a lute; Chiefs, uplifted to the Lord When all the kings of earth are mute!

The hand of Anak, sinewed strong, The fingers that on greatness clutch, Yet lo! the marks their lines along Of one who strove and suffered much.

For here in mottled cord and vein I trace the varying chart of years, I know the troubled heart, the strain, The weight of Atlas--and the tears.

Again I see the patient brow That palm erewhile was wont to press; And now 'tis furrowed deep, and now Made smooth with hope and tenderness.

For something of a formless grace This molded outline plays about; A pitying flame, beyond our trace, Breathes like a spirit, in and out--

The love that casts an aureole Round one who, longer to endure, Called mirth to cease his ceaseless dole, Yet kept his n.o.bler purpose sure.

Lo, as I gaze, the statured man, Built up from yon large hand, appears; A type that nature wills to plan But once in all a people's years.

What better than this voiceless cast To tell of such a one as he, Since through its living semblance pa.s.sed The thought that bade a race be free?

[Ill.u.s.tration: HON. ABRAHAM LINCOLN, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, 1860

Painted by Hicks; lithograph by L. Grozelier; published by W. Schaus, New York, 1860; printed by J. H. Bufford, Boston]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE "WIGWAM"

Convention Hall, at Chicago, 1860, in which Lincoln was nominated]