Page:Abraham Lincoln -- his life.djvu/19

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THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN


His Youth

In the spring of 1816, the family moved to Pigeon Creek, Spencer County, Indiana, where the father built a log cabin.

Two years later Abraham's mother died. A year later his father married again. Abe's new mother soon grew very fond of him and at her insistence his father allowed him to attend school during the winter of 1819. The next winter, too, he spent a few weeks at school.

Most of his early education was obtained at home at night. Here, stretched upon the floor with a book before him, Abraham lay before the fireplace night after night. His favorite books were the Bible, Aesop's Fables and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

During the day he helped his father about the farm, tilling the soil, splitting rails, trapping and hunting.

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