In his teens Abraham Lincoln, while not considered a man, was able to
swing an ax with full power. It was the borderer's multifarious tool
and accompanied him everywhere. One time, while sauntering along
Gentryville, his stepsister playfully ran at him of a sudden and leaped
from behind upon him. Holding on to his shoulders, she dug her knees
into his back--a rough trick called fun by these semi-savages--and
brought him to the ground. Unfortunately, she caused him to release the
ax in his surprise, and it cut her ankle. The boy stopped the wound and
bandaged it, while she moaned. Through her cries, he reproached her,
and concluded:
"How could you disobey mother so?" for she had been enjoined not to
follow her brother. "What are you going to tell her about getting hurt?"
"Tell her I did it with the ax," she replied. "That will be the truth?"
she questioned, with the prevarication of her sex inborn.
"Yes, that's the truth, but it is not all the truth. You tell the whole
truth."
The mother was forgiving, and nothing more came of the casualty.
* * * * *