Lincoln, the unknown

W hen Lincoln was fifteen he knew his alphabet and couldread a little but with difficulty. He could not write at all. Thatautumn— 1824—a wandering backwoods pedagogue driftedinto the settlement along Pigeon Creek and started a school.Lincoln and his sister walked four miles through the forests,night and morning, to study under the new teacher, Azel Dorsey.Dorsey kept what was known as a "blab" school; the childrenstudied aloud. In that way the teacher believed he could tellwhether or not they were applying themselves. He marchedabout the room, switch in hand, giving a cut to those who weresilent. With such a premium on vociferousness, each pupilstrove to out-blab the others. The uproar could often be hearda quarter of a mile away.While attending this school Lincoln wore a cap of squirrelskin,and breeches made from the hide of a deer. The breechesfailed by a considerable stretch to meet the top of his shoes,leaving several inches of sharp, blue shinbone exposed to thewind and snow.The school was held in a crude cabin barely high enoughfor the teacher to stand up in. There were no windows; a loghad been left out at each side, and the opening covered withgreased paper to let in the light. The floor and seats were madeof split logs.Lincoln's reading lessons were chapters from the Bible; andin his writing exercises he took the chirography of Washington26