beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto
unexplored.

"It seeks no distinction in adding story to story upon the monuments of
fame, erected to the memory of others.

"It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief.

"It scorns to tread in the footpaths of any predecessor, however
illustrious.

"It thirsts and burns for distinction, and, if possible, it will have
it, whether at the expense of emancipating the slaves or enslaving
freemen.

"Another reason which once was, but which to the same extent is now no
more, has done much in maintaining our institutions thus far.

"I mean the powerful influence which the interesting scenes of the
Revolution had upon the passions of the people, as distinguished from
their judgment.

"But these histories are gone. They can be read no more forever. They
were a fortress of strength.

"But what the invading foeman could never do, the silent artillery of
time has done, the levelling of the walls.

"They were a forest of giant oaks, but the all-resisting hurricane swept
over them and left only here and there a lone trunk, despoiled of its
verdure, shorn of its foliage, unshading and unshaded, to murmur in a
few more gentle breezes and to combat with its mutilated limbs a few
more rude storms, then to sink and be no more.

"They were the pillars of the temple of liberty, and now that they have
crumbled away, that temple must fall, unless we, the descendants, supply
the places with pillars hewn from the same solid quarry of sober reason.

"Passion has helped us, but can do so no more. It will in future be our
enemy.

"Reason--cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason--must furnish all the
materials for our support and defense.

"Let those materials be molded into general intelligence, sound
morality, and, in particular, a reverence for the Constitution and the
laws; and then our country shall continue to improve, and our nation,
revering his name, and permitting no hostile foot to pass or desecrate
his resting-place, shall be the first to hear the last trump that shall
awaken our Washington.

"Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest as the rock of its
basis, and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution,
'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'"

TOM CORWINS'S LATEST STORY.

One of Mr. Lincoln's warm friends was Dr. Robert Boal, of Lacon,
Illinois. Telling of a visit he paid to the White House soon after Mr.
Lincoln's ina