ABRAHAM LINCOLN BORN FEBRUARY 12, 1809 birthday birthplace plough threshed President thoroughly respect To-day was Abraham Lincoln's birthday. It was a poor cabin, with only one room. And there was only one door. His bed was a pile of dry leaves. His trousers were of deer skin. But he could do a great deal of work. He could drive a team of horses. He could handle a plough. He threshed wheat and chopped wood. He carried water, made the fire, and tended the baby. When he grew up he split rails for fences. He earned his living in many other ways too. At last he became President of the United States. He did this work just as thoroughly as he had done everything else. This is why we all love and respect him. Would you little boy? GEORGE WASHINGTON 135 like to hear what he was like as a He was not poor like Lincoln. He lived on a large plantation in Virginia. He could ride a horse when he was nine years old. He could swim and row. He was the fastest runner of all the boys. At school they used to play soldier. They had cornstalks for swords. He never did an underhand thing. He kept his promises. He was obedient. But he was fond of fun. He was as boisterous and boyish as you. |