It's a day that was created to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
I went through a "jag" when I read a lot about Abraham Lincoln. One book in particular really struck me. It was more about Abraham Lincoln as a husband and a father than as a President. In my mind's eye I can see the cover of the blue book and it seems to me that it may have been written as a biography about Mary Lincoln and not Abraham at all, but I can't remember the title! I just know that it is buried in one of the boxes that we have in storage miles and miles from here!
I read about President Lincoln's inability to keep the fire going in his house. He was always having to go out and borrow coals from the neighbors to relight his own fire.
I read about Mary Lincoln and how she took the baby of a woman who could not produce her own milk and breastfed that child to keep in alive. Back then there was no running to the corner store for formula and it was not always easy to procure a goat or milk cow. Knowing what we know now, it was probably her milk was probably the best option for that little bundle.
I read about President Lincoln walking down the sidewalk with his nose buried in a book. Behind him he pulled his two boys in a wagon. They must have been quite small. One of them fell out and Lincoln didn't even notice!
I remember another book about the Lincoln's and how their boys were known as "little terrors!" by some of the people who visited the White House . . .it is interesting to view people through different lenses, isn't it?
I remember stories about George Washington, too. Did you know that he never had children of his own? He married Martha Washington and she already had children. He loved them dearly, but Martha refused to let him "interfere" with the children. Some people say that they would have been better people if Martha would have let George teach them a bit, but Martha feared that he would "hurt their feelings" and did not allow him to influence them very much . . .
How interesting that he was known as the "Father of our Country" and yet was not allowed to father the children in his house.
But that was only one way of looking at it, and perhaps that was not the way it REALLY was. Who knows?
Today the kiddos and I are reading about these men . . .
This link is to a wonderful story about Abraham Lincoln and his stepmother. I cried when I read it to my children. I had read it when I was a child and was surprised to think that our famous President came from such a humble beginning. I read it again, as a mother, and thought of what it must have taken for Sally Lincoln to live with grace and compassion and strength in that wilderness . . .
It's inspiring!
Enjoy the link. http://2rbetter.org/pipermail/mailing/2008/000065.html
More links for you to check out . . .but I must say that the story about Abraham Lincoln had a rather bloody bit about Native Americans in it. And these stories were written before "political" correctness, so just keep that in mind as you search for interesting bits about our Presidents.
Abraham Lincoln http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=hamilton&book=lincoln&story=boyhood
George Washington http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=pratt&book=ahs1&story=george
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