Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN•173dreds, locked arm in arm, marched in the middle of the dirtstreets, singing, "John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in thegrave."Lincoln devoted all that evening to giving his speech "anotherlick." At eleven o'clock he went to an adjoining house,where Secretary Seward was staying, and read the speech aloudto him, asking for his criticisms. The next morning, after breakfast,Lincoln continued working over it until a rap at the doorreminded him that it was time for him to take his place in theprocession headed for the cemetery.As the procession started, he sat erect at first; but presentlyhis body slouched forward in the saddle; his head fell on hischest, and his long arms hung limp at his sides.... He was lostin thought, going over his little speech, giving it "anotherlick." . . .Edward Everett, the selected orator of the occasion, madetwo mistakes at Gettysburg. Both bad—and both uncalled for.First, he arrived an hour late; and, secondly, he spoke for twohours.Lincoln had read Everett's oration and when he saw that thespeaker was nearing his close, he knew his time was coming,and he honestly felt that he wasn't adequately prepared; so hegrew nervous, twisted in his chair, drew his manuscript fromthe pocket of his Prince Albert coat, put on his old-fashionedglasses, and quickly refreshed his memory.Presently he stepped forward, manuscript in hand, and deliveredhis little address in two minutes.Did his audience realize, that soft November afternoon, thatthey were listening to the greatest speech that had ever fallenfrom human lips up to that time? No, most of his hearers weremerely curious: they had never seen nor heard a President ofthe United States, they strained their necks to look at Lincoln,and were surprised to discover that such a tall man had sucha high, thin voice, and that he spoke with a Southern accent.They had forgotten that he was born a Kentuckian and that hehad retained the intonation of his native State; and about thetime they felt he was getting through with his introductionand ready to launch into his speech—he sat down.What! Had he forgotten? Or was it really all he had to say?People were too surprised and disappointed to applaud.Many a spring, back in Indiana, Lincoln had tried to breakground with a rusty plow; but the soil had stuck to its mold-