g
somehow. That was about what I said. And when I got through, Mr. Pease
said it was just the thing they needed. And when the school was
dismissed, all the teachers came up and shook hands with me, and thanked
me; although I did not know that I had been saying anything of any
account. But the next morning I saw my remarks noticed in the papers.'
Just here Mr. Lincoln put his hand in his pocket, and remarked that he
had never heard anything that touched him as had the songs which those
children sang. With that he drew forth a little book, saying that they
had given him one of the books from which they sang. He began to read a
piece with all the earnestness of his great, earnest soul. In the middle
of the second verse his friend 'Jim' felt a choking in his throat and a
tickling in his nose. At the beginning of the third verse he saw that
the stranger was weeping, and his own tears fell fast. Turning toward
Lincoln, who was reading straight on, he saw the great blinding tears in
his eyes, so that he could not possibly see the pages. He was repeating
that little song from memory. How often he had read it, or how long its
sweet and simple accents continued to reverberate through his soul, no
one can know."

CHAPTER XIII

Looking Towards the Presidency--The Illinois Republican Convention
of 1860--A "Send-Off" for Lincoln--The National Republican
Convention at Chicago--Contract of the Leading Candidates--Lincoln
Nominated--Scenes at the Convention--Sketches by
Eye-Witnesses--Lincoln Hearing the News--The Scene at
Springfield--A Visit to Lincoln at His Home--Recollections of a
Distinguished Sculptor--Receiving the Committee of the
Convention--Nomination of Douglas--Campaign of 1860--Various
Campaign Reminiscences--Lincoln and the Tall Southerner--The Vote
of the Springfield Clergy--A Graceful Letter to the Poet
Bryant--"Looking up Hard Spots."

In the latter part of the year 1859, after Lincoln had gained
considerable national prominence through events already briefly
narrated, some of his friends began to consider the expediency of
bringing him forward as a candidate for the Presidency in 1860. The
young Republican party had thus far been in the minority, and the
necessity was generally felt of nominating a man who would not render
himself objectionable by advocating extreme or unpopular measures. The
subject was mentioned to Lincoln, but he seems not to have t