ate a swiftness of
preparation and a power in the field which will astonish the world, and
when it is all over the world will want to know how this potent Democracy
of ours came about. The one name--Lincoln--with the background of your
story, especially the background, for the trouble with all the
biographies is a lack of background--will be the best answer we could
give I think. Of course there are other answers, but, as there are few
who dare to doubt, these days, that Lincoln is the greatest democrat
since Jesus Christ, if we can only present your knowledge to the world we
should do well. Again the great crowd, whom you and I desire to enlighten
if we can, do not read biography or history save under the compulsion of
the schools, so let us try only to tell the moving story as you have told
it to me, with Lincoln striding across the scene or taking the center of
the stage just as he was wont to do in your recollection of him. So we
will make them to know the giant of Democracy without trying.

Duty calls. What is your answer? Please let me know by cable. Meanwhile
I shall be thinking more about it. With love to all the family, from your
affectionate grandson, R.L.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

BOOK ONE

I Which Describes the Journey of Samson Henry Traylor and His Wife
and Their Two Children and Their Dog Sambo through the Adirondack
Wilderness in 1831 on Their Way to the Land of Plenty, and
Especially Their Adventures in Bear Valley and No Santa Claus
Land. Furthermore, It Describes the Soaping of the Brimsteads and
the Capture of the Veiled Bear

II Wherein Is Recorded the Vivid Impression Made upon the Travelers
by Their View of a Steam Engine and of the Famous Erie Canal.
Wherein, Also, Is a Brief Account of Sundry Curious Characters Met
on the Road and at a Celebration of the Fourth of July on the Big
Waterway

III Wherein the Reader Is Introduced to Offut's Store and His Clerk
Abe, and the Scholar Jack Kelso and His Cabin and His Daughter
Bim, and Gets a First Look at Lincoln

IV Which Presents Other Log Cabin Folk and the First Steps in the
Making of a New Home and Certain Incapacities of Abe

V In Which the Character of Bim Kelso Flashes Out in a Strange
Adventure that Begins the Weaving of a Long Thread of Romance

VI Which Describes the Lonely Life in a Prairie Cabin and a Stirring