when no one was there but the preacher, my Aunt Hannah
and the sexton.

My Uncle Elihu and Aunt Hannah knew Abe Lincoln well. So did Jesse Fell,
James C. Conklin, Judge Davis, General Orme, Leonard Swett, Dick Yates and
lots of others I knew. They never called him "Mister Lincoln," but it was
always Abe, or Old Abe, or just plain Abe Lincoln. In that newly settled
country you always called folks by their first names, especially when you
liked them. And when they spoke the name, "Abe Lincoln," there was
something in the voice that told of confidence, respect and affection.

Once when I was at my Aunt Hannah's, Judge Davis was there and I sat on
his lap. Years afterward I boasted to Robert Ingersoll that when I wore
trousers buttoned to a calico waist I used to sit on the lap of David
Davis, and Colonel Ingersoll laughed and said, "Now I know you are a liar,
for David Davis didn't have any lap." The only thing about the interview
I remember was that the Judge really didn't have any lap to speak of.

After Judge Davis had gone, Aunt Hannah said, "You must always remember
Judge Davis, for he is the man who made Abe Lincoln!"

And when I said, "Why, I thought God made Lincoln," they all laughed.

After a little pause my inquiring mind caused me to ask, "Who made Judge
Davis?" And Uncle Elihu answered, "Abe Lincoln."

Then they all laughed more than ever.

* * * * *

Many volunteers were being called for. Neighbors and neighbors' boys were
enlisting--going to the support of Abe Lincoln.

Then one day my father went away, too. Many of the neighbors went with us
to the station when he took the four-o'clock train, and we all cried,
except mother--she didn't cry until she got home. My father had gone to
Springfield to enlist as a surgeon. In three days he came back and told us
he had enlisted, and was to be assigned his regiment in a week, and go at
once to the front. He was always a kind man, but during that week when he
was waiting to be told where to go, he was very gentle and more kind than
ever. He told me I must be the man of the house while he was away, and
take care of my mother and sisters, and not forget to feed the chickens
every morning; and I promised.

At the end of the week a big envelope came from Springfield marked in the
corner, "Official."

My mother would not open it, and so it lay on the table until the doctor's
return. We all looked at it curiously, and my eldest sis