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the frequent contortions of which excite a merriment his words could not produce."

A distinguished scholar, who heard him debate with Mr. Douglas, says, "He then proceeded to defend the Republican party. Here he charged Mr. Douglas with doing nothing for freedom; with disregarding the rights and interests of the colored man; and for about forty minutes he spoke with a power that we have seldom heard equalled. There was a grandeur in his thoughts, a comprehensiveness in his arguments, and a binding force in his conclusions, which were perfectly irresistible. The vast throng were silent as death: every eye was fixed upon the speaker, and all gave him serious attention. He was the tall man eloquent: his countenance glowed with animation, and his eye glistened with an intelligence that made it lustrous. He was no longer awkward and ungainly, but graceful, bold, commanding."

Here the chapter narrating the struggles and successes of his manhood, previous to his entering on his great work, may fittingly close. It has been conclusively shown that the growing man was preparing for the advancing era. Bishop Simpson stated in his funeral address, that, "as early as 1839, Mr. Lincoln presented resolutions in the Legislature asking for emancipation in the District of Columbia, when, with but rare exceptions, the whole popular mind of his State was opposed to the measure. From that hour he was a steady and uniform friend of humanity, and was preparing for the conflict of later years."

Who cannot see God's hand in all these events, though rapidly traced, as the hour and the man approached each other? The scroll of Time is fast unrolling; and as

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every day prophecy becomes history, we should learn lessons of patient hope, and humble, earnest, rejoicing faith; for

"Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain:

God is his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain."

CHAPTER IV.

CALLED TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CHAIR.

"The man whom Heaven appoints

To govern others should himself first learn
To bend his passions to the sway of reason."

THOMSON'S TANCRED AND SIGISMUNDA.

"Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." 1 SAM. xvi. 13.

THE prepared man now moved toward the appointed place of labor. The hour of destiny struck in Chicago on the 18th of May, 1860, when the Republican National Convention met "in an immense building, which the people of Chicago had put up for the purpose, called the Wigwam. There were four hundred and sixty-five delegates. The city was filled with earnest men who had gathered to press the claims of their favorite candidates, and the halls and corridors of all the hotels swarmed and buzzed with an eager crowd, in and out of which darted or pushed or wormed their way the various leaders of party politics."*

Mr. Lincoln was then at his home in Springfield. With a not improper anxiety to hear the result of the Convention, he called at the telegraph-office, and there learned how the first and second ballots resulted. He then left, and, going to the office of the "State Journal," sat there quietly conversing with some friends, when a boy placed a note in his hand. It was the announcement of his

*Raymond's "Life of Lincoln."

nomination on the third ballot. He looked at it silently, while the friends around him shouted in triumph; and then, putting it into his pocket, with characteristic calmness he said, in his own peculiar way, "There is a little woman down at our house would like to hear this; I'll down and tell her;" and immediately returned to his home.

The next day brought to Springfield the Committee appointed by the Convention to inform Mr. Lincoln of ficially of his nomination. They were escorted to his house by a large concourse of citizens. One who was present on that occasion, and will never forget that memorable visit to the plain, white, two-story wooden

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house, on the corner of two streets, where the unpretending nominee received his official visitors, stated to the writer of these pages that no refreshments were provided save iced-water; and that when citizens of

* C. C. Coffin, Esq.,-" Carleton," of the "Boston Journal."

Springfield, apprising Mr. Lincoln of the coming Committee, asked him to furnish them with wine, &c., as was customary, he refused, saying he never used liquors himself, and could not give them to others: they insisted on furnishing some themselves; but the noble man answered characteristically, "I will not permit my friends to do in my house what I will not do myself." So temperance principles triumphed, and those citizens could only "put the cup to their neighbors' lip" by taking them afterward to a hotel, where all who wished strong drink could be gratified.

The President of the Convention was spokesman for the Committee, and in a brief speech informed the host of his nomination. With an expression half sad, half dignified, Mr. Lincoln heard the words; and, after a short pause of reflection, he answered:

"MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE,

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"I tender to you, and through you to the Republican National Convention, and all the people represented in it, my profoundest thanks for the high honor done me, which you now formally announce. Deeply and even painfully sensible of the great responsibility which is inseparable from this high honor, a responsibility which I could almost wish had fallen upon some one of the far more eminent men and experienced statesmen whose distinguished names were before the Convention, -I shall, by your leave, consider more fully the resolutions of the Convention denominated the platform, and without any unnecessary or unreasonable delay respond to you, Mr. Chairman, in writing, not doubting that the platform will be found satisfactory, and the nomination gratefully accepted. And now I will not longer defer the pleasure of taking you and each of you by the hand."

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