The Story of Young Abraham Lincoln


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 9 reviews)

This is a careful and fascinating collection of interviews with people who knew Lincoln as a boy and young man. A glimpse into the type of person he was from the very beginning.

"All the world loves a lover"—and Abraham Lincoln loved everybody. With all his brain and brawn, his real greatness was in his heart. He has been called "the Great-Heart of the White House," and there is little doubt that more people have heard about him than there are who have read of the original "Great-Heart" in "The Pilgrim's Progress."

Indeed, it is safe to say that more millions in the modern world are acquainted with the story of the rise of Abraham Lincoln from a poorly built log cabin to the highest place among "the seats of the mighty," than are familiar with the Bible story of Joseph who arose and stood next to the throne of the Pharaohs.A new story is told by a dear old lady, who did not wish her name given, about herself when she was a little girl, when a "drove of lawyers riding the old Eighth Judicial District of Illinois," came to drink from a famous cold spring on her father's premises. She described the uncouth dress of a tall young man, asking her father who he was, and he replied with a laugh, "Oh, that's Abe Lincoln."

One day in their rounds, as the lawyers came through the front gate, a certain judge, whose name the narrator refused to divulge, knocked down with his cane her pet doll, which was leaning against the fence. The little girl cried over this contemptuous treatment of her "child."

Young Lawyer Lincoln, seeing it all, sprang in and quickly picked up the fallen doll. Brushing off the dust with his great awkward hand he said, soothingly, to the wounded little mother-heart:

"There now, little Black Eyes, don't cry. Your baby's alive. See, she isn't hurt a bit!"

That tall young man never looked uncouth to her after that. It was this same old lady who told the writer that Lawyer Lincoln wore a new suit of clothes for the first time on the very day that he performed the oft-described feat of rescuing a helpless hog from a great deep hole in the road, and plastered his new clothes with mud to the great merriment of his legal friends. This well-known incident occurred not far from her father's place near Paris, Illinois.These and many other real remembrances have been collected here in this book for your edification. ( The introduction and Phil Chenevert) (4 hr 59 min)

Chapters

Introduction 7:15 Read by Kara Shallenberg (1969-2023)
Abraham Lincoln's Forefathers 11:01 Read by Deena Rhoads
Abraham Lincoln's Father and Mother 11:22 Read by Deena Rhoads
The Boy Lincoln's Best Teacher 9:17 Read by Ralph Crown
Learning to Work 14:42 Read by Deena Rhoads
Losing His Mother 11:09 Read by Denise Nordell
School Days Now and Then 17:00 Read by Deena Rhoads
Abe and the Neighbors 16:06 Read by Denise Nordell
Moving to Illinois 10:41 Read by Mike Pelton
Starting Out for Himself 16:19 Read by Mike Pelton
Clerking and Working 13:05 Read by Mike Pelton
Politics, War, Storekeeping, and Studying Law 17:22 Read by Mike Pelton
Buying and Keeping a Store 9:06 Read by Mike Pelton
The Young Legislator in Love. 16:26 Read by davidpr
Moving to Springfield 23:48 Read by davidpr
Lincoln & Herndon 11:18 Read by davidpr
His Kindness of Heart 15:46 Read by davidpr
What Made the Difference Between Abraham Lincoln and His Stepbrother 8:10 Read by Jason Besse
How Emancipation Came to Pass 15:24 Read by Paul Simonin
The Glory of Gettysburg 11:25 Read by Paul Simonin
"No End of a Boy" 17:56 Read by Paul Simonin
Lieutenant Tad Lincoln, Patriot 14:37 Read by Paul Simonin

Reviews

Young Abraham Lincoln


(5 stars)

This is a book I recommend for anyone from Illinois. Throughout school Lincoln is portrayed mainly as an adult. Mostly during the war or as President. This Book builds a foundation, creates a background of how he became the man he was. Far to short, you wish there were more because it is delightful. I read parts twice out of enjoyment.


(5 stars)

a very well written book. I have so much admiration for Abraham Lincoln!! what a man....

6 uhhbutexcellent book. thank yobutu volunteers!


(1.5 stars)

great book