The four bloody years of strife and struggle from 1861 to 1865 tell far better the magnitude of his official duties than pen can. Upon a wise decision, judicious discharge of all official duties, depended the stability of the Nation.

THE SQUARE AND THE CUBE

At this time of his life, it can well be said, that in all his undertakings, in everything he did, the linear, the square, and the cube were always exact to an iota. He did nothing at random. His intuitions were as safe as his calculations. He never stumbled over blunders. Thus inspirationally equipped he went forth to the greatest work ever undertaken by a President.

HIS RELIGION

He was not a member of any church. He believed in Divine Providence, an overruling, everguiding Providence. He believed in right, in being right, and doing right.

Few if any of all our Presidents, in speeches, messages, official papers and official acts, more frequently or more suitably acknowledged implicit dependence upon Divine Providence.

HE LEAVES SPRINGFIELD

When the intense excitement of the presidential election of 1860 had culminated in the choice of Abraham Lincoln for President, another excitement, more intense and far more disturbing, boldly asserted itself in various threatening ways. Instead of a calm after the storm, another storm of far more alarming pretensions, that knew no bow of peace, began making up. This great storm of such alarming aspects the President-elect undertook to avoid. He employed all allaying influences at his command, but to no purpose. This storm was the Civil War, and this no one more thoroughly realized than Abraham Lincoln. He made preparation for an early arrival in Washington that he might be in the best possible position to render the best possible service in saving the country. On the 11th day of February, having bidden his dear stepmother good-bye, with his family and a few personal friends, he left his home for Washington. At the station, to see him off, a large company of old friends and neighbors gathered; and to them, as the train was about leaving, he made the following impressive, prophetic talk:

*My Friends: no one, not in my position, can realize the sadness I feel at this parting.

To this people I owe all that I am. Here I have lived more than a quarter of a century. Here my children were born and here one of them lies buried. I know not how soon I shall see you again. I go to assume a task more difficult than that which has devolved upon any other man since Washington. He never would have succeeded except for the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he relied. I feel that I cannot succeed without the same Divine blessing which sustained him and on the same Almighty Being I place my reliance for support. And I hope you, my friends, will all pray that I may receive that Divine assistance, without which I cannot succeed, but with which success is certain. I then bid you an affectionate farewell.”

Thus did Abraham Lincoln, as the train rolled away to the East, most solemnly and sacredly, with his dear family, leave his dear home and dear friends in sadness and sorrow, never more in life to return.

*From Arnold's life of Lincoln.

HIS JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON

His route to the National Capital was through Indiana, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. In these states he made speeches agreeably to previous arrangement. He was everywhere well received. He expected to speak in Baltimore. However, when he reached Harrisburg and there did not find the Baltimore committee of reception, as was promised, and was advised by a special committee from Washington that assassination awaited him in Baltimore, he allowed the detectives to take charge of his train and, by a ruse, run it through to Washington without stopping in Baltimore. Thus, about the 20th of February, he was quartered at Willard's Hotel in the city of Washington, consulting and advising, as best he could, with reference to the impending pandemonium of secession.