Editor, OBSERVER:

I thought this might be put in the paper on Lincoln’s birthday, which is today

LINCOLN’S EARLY YEARS

Written by Carleton R. Lancaster (1914-1995)

He learned the use of axe and wedge,

to build a fence to hold the forest edge.

To hew the timbers for their cabin home,

To hunt the game which through the forest roamed.

By the dim light of the fireplace,

which threw a glow upon his youthful face.

He learned to read and write and spell,

while the embers burned and into ashes fell.

He must have seen within the meager blaze,

something of the splendor of a future age.

As we see in the measure of his mind ,

something of the courage in the heart of all mankind.

RICHARD LANCASTER,

Westfield