From pioneer home to the White House : life of Abraham Lincoln: boyhood, youth, manhood, assassination, death . able on this account. It was necessary, therefore,that Abraham should learn the art. The summer of 1817 passed away, and early in theautumn the loneliness of their wilderness-life wassomewhat relieved by the coming of old and Betsy Sparrow, who reared Nancy Hanks(Mrs. Lincoln), came to settle by their side. Mr. Lin-coln had just removed into his new cabin, so theSparrows at once began housekeeping in the half-facecamp. Dennis Hanks, also, had a home with theSparrows, a
From pioneer home to the White House : life of Abraham Lincoln: boyhood, youth, manhood, assassination, death . able on this account. It was necessary, therefore,that Abraham should learn the art. The summer of 1817 passed away, and early in theautumn the loneliness of their wilderness-life wassomewhat relieved by the coming of old and Betsy Sparrow, who reared Nancy Hanks(Mrs. Lincoln), came to settle by their side. Mr. Lin-coln had just removed into his new cabin, so theSparrows at once began housekeeping in the half-facecamp. Dennis Hanks, also, had a home with theSparrows, and Betsy was his aunt; so Dennis re-moved to Indiana with them. It was a happy day for the Lincolns when theSparrows became their neighbors. Sparrows onthe house-top, had often regaled them with song, butthe human Sparrows from Kentucky were to themmore than song — they were society. To Abrahamespecially was their coming a real godsend ; for nowhe had an intimate and constant companion in his jollycousin, Dennis Hanks. Such an acquisition to a boyin the woods was more of a boon than language CHAPTER VI DARKER DAYS. BRAHAM continued to peruse the threebooks of the family library,—the Bible,Catechism, and Spelling-Book. There wasno prospect that another book of any sortwould be added to the number. The thirst for knowl-edge begotten in his soul already was forced to findits aliment in this narrow compass. The result was,that he knew the Spelling-Book and Catechism byheart; and he could repeat much of the Bible. Hismind was hungry for knowledge; but could not findenough to eat. It was daily put upon short allow-ance. In these circumstances he longed for other began to tire of the Bible. I dont want to readthe Bible all the time, he often remarked; I wish Icould have some other book to read. He did notknow what other books were in existence. His parentswere not wiser than he in that respect. But his mindwas ravenous, and would have accepted almost anysort
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