the writings-2-第27部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
really want is to sell the land； get the money and spend it。
Part with the land you have； and； my life upon it； you will never
after own a spot big enough to bury you in。 Half you will get
for the land you spend in moving to Missouri； and the other half
you will eat and drink and wear out； and no foot of land will be
bought。 Now I feel it is my duty to have no hand in such a piece
of foolery。 I feel that it is so even on your own account； and
particularly on Mother's account。 The eastern forty acres I
intend to keep for Mother while she lives； if you will not
cultivate it； it will rent for enough to support her； at least it
will rent for something。 Her dower in the other two forties she
can let you have； and no thanks to me。
Now do not misunderstand this letter。 I do not write it in any
unkindness。 I write it in order； if possible； to get you to face
the truth； which truth is； you are destitute because you have
idled away all your time。 Your thousand pretenses for not
getting along better are all nonsense； they deceive nobody but
yourself。 Go to work is the only cure for your case。
A word for Mother： Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live
with him。 If I were you I would try it awhile。 If you get tired
of it （as I think you will not） you can return to your own home。
Chapman feels very kindly to you； and I have no doubt he will
make your situation very pleasant。
Sincerely yours；
A。 LINCOLN。
Nov。 4； 1851
DEAR MOTHER：
Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him。 If I were
you I would try it awhile。 If you get tired of it （as I think
you will not） you can return to your own home。 Chapman feels
very kindly to you； and I have no doubt he will make your
situation very pleasant。
Sincerely your son；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN D。 JOHNSTON。
SHELBYVILLE； November 9； 1851
DEAR BROTHER ：…When I wrote you before； I had not received your
letter。 I still think as I did； but if the land can be sold so
that I get three hundred dollars to put to interest for Mother； I
will not object； if she does not。 But before I will make a deed；
the money must be had； or secured beyond all doubt； at ten per
cent。
As to Abram； I do not want him； on my own account； but I
understand he wants to live with me； so that he can go to school
and get a fair start in the world； which I very much wish him to
have。 When I reach home； if I can make it convenient to take； I
will take him； provided there is no mistake between us as to the
object and terms of my taking him。 In haste； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN D。 JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD； November 25； 1851。
DEAR BROTHER：Your letter of the 22d is just received。 Your
proposal about selling the east forty acres of land is all that I
want or could claim for myself； but I am not satisfied with it on
Mother's accountI want her to have her living； and I feel that
it is my duty； to some extent； to see that she is not wronged。
She had a right of dower （that is； the use of one…third for life）
in the other two forties； but； it seems； she has already let you
take that； hook and line。 She now has the use of the whole of
the east forty； as long as she lives； and if it be sold； of
course she is entitled to the interest on all the money it
brings； as long as she lives； but you propose to sell it for
three hundred dollars； take one hundred away with you； and leave
her two hundred at 8 per cent。； making her the enormous sum of 16
dollars a year。 Now； if you are satisfied with treating her in
that way； I am not。 It is true that you are to have that forty
for two hundred dollars； at Mother's death； but you are not to
have it before。 I am confident that land can be made to produce
for Mother at least 30 a year； and I can not； to oblige any
living person； consent that she shall be put on an allowance of
sixteen dollars a year。
Yours； etc。；
A。 LINCOLN。
1852
EULOGY ON HENRY CLAY； DELIVERED IN THE STATE
HOUSE AT SPRINGFIELD； ILLINOIS； JULY 16； 1852。
On the fourth day of July； 1776； the people of a few feeble and
oppressed colonies of Great Britain； inhabiting a portion of the
Atlantic coast of North America； publicly declared their national
independence； and made their appeal to the justice of their cause
and to the God of battles for the maintenance of that
declaration。 That people were few in number and without
resources； save only their wise heads and stout hearts。 Within
the first year of that declared independence； and while its
maintenance was yet problematical； while the bloody struggle
between those resolute rebels and their haughty would…be masters
was still waging；of undistinguished parents and in an obscure
district of one of those colonies Henry Clay was born。 The
infant nation and the infant child began the race of life
together。 For three quarters of a century they have travelled
hand in hand。 They have been companions ever。 The nation has
passed its perils； and it is free； prosperous； and powerful。 The
child has reached his manhood； his middle age； his old age； and
is dead。 In all that has concerned the nation the man ever
sympathized； and now the nation mourns the man。
The day after his death one of the public journals； opposed to
him politically； held the following pathetic and beautiful
language； which I adopt partly because such high and exclusive
eulogy； originating with a political friend； might offend good
taste； but chiefly because I could not in any language of my own
so well express my thoughts：
〃Alas； who can realize that Henry Clay is dead！ Who can realize
that never again that majestic form shall rise in the council…
chambers of his country to beat back the storms of anarchy which
may threaten； or pour the oil of peace upon the troubled billows
as they rage and menace around！ Who can realize that the
workings of that mighty mind have ceased； that the throbbings of
that gallant heart are stilled； that the mighty sweep of that
graceful arm will be felt no more； and the magic of that eloquent
tongue； which spake as spake no other tongue besides； is hushed
hushed for ever！ Who can realize that freedom's champion； the
champion of a civilized world and of all tongues and kindreds of
people； has indeed fallen！ Alas； in those dark hours of peril
and dread which our land has experienced； and which she may be
called to experience again； to whom now may her people look up
for that counsel and advice which only wisdom and experience and
patriotism can give； and which only the undoubting confidence of
a nation will receive？ Perchance in the whole circle of the
great and gifted of our land there remains but one on whose
shoulders the mighty mantle of the departed statesman may fall；
one who while we now write is doubtless pouring his tears over
the bier of his brother and friend brother； friend； ever； yet in
political sentiment as far apart as party could make them。 Ah；
it is at times like these that the petty distinctions of mere
party disappear。 We see only the great； the grand； the noble
features of the departed statesman； and we do not even beg
permission to bow at his feet and mingle our tears with those who
have ever been his political adherentswe do ＇not＇ beg this
permission； we claim it as a right； though we feel it as a
privilege。 Henry Clay belonged to his countryto the world；
mere party cannot claim men like him。 His career has been
national； his fame has filled the earth； his memory will endure
to the last syllable of recorded time。
〃Henry Clay is dead！ He breathed his last on yesterday； at
twenty minutes after eleven； in his chamber at Washington。 To
those who followed his lead in public affairs； it more
appropriately belongs to pronounce his eulogy and pay specific
honors to the memory of the illustrious dead。 But all Americans
may show the grief which his death inspires； for his character
and fame are national property。 As on a question of liberty he
knew no North； no South； no East； no West； but only the Union
which held them all in its sacred circle； so now his countrymen
will know no grief that is not as wide…spread as the bounds of
the confederacy。 The career of Henry Clay was a public career。
》From his youth he has been devoted to the public service； at a
period； too； in the world's history justly regarded as a
remarkable era in human affairs。 He witnessed in the beginning
the throes of the French Revolution。 He saw the rise and fall of
Napoleon。 He was called upon to legislate for America and direct
her policy when all Europe was the battlefield of contending
dynasties； and when the struggle for supremacy imperilled the
rights of all neutral nations。 His voice spoke war and peace in
the contest with Great Britain。
〃When Greece rose against the Turks and struck f
