Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; Moore, Matilda Johnston. 'Matilda Johnston Moore (William H. Herndon Interview)' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: interview]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon109.html

74. Matilda Johnston Moore (William H. Herndon Interview).

Sept 8th 1865 — at Mrs Lincolns House

Mrs More — once Mrs Hall ^[1] — once Miss Johnson —

I am the youngest Step Sister of A Lincoln — remember Coming from Ky — remember Ohio River — My Earliest recollection of Abe is playing — Carrying water about one mile — had a pet cat that would follow him to the spring — went to school about 2 miles or more — Abe was not Energetic Except in one thing — he was active & persistant in learning — read Everything he Could — Ciphered on boards — on the walls — read Robinson Crusoe ^[2] — the bible — Watts hymns ^[3] — . When father & Mother woud go to Church, they walked about 1 ½ miles — Sometimes rode — When they were gone — Abe would take down the bible, read a verse — give out a hymn — and we would sing — were good singers. Abe was about 15 years of age — : he would preach & we would do the Crying — sometimes he would join in the Chorus of Tears — One day my bro John Johnston caught a land terrapin — brought it to the place where Abe was preaching — threw it against the tree — crushed the shell and it Suffered much — quivered all over — Abe preached against Cruelty to animals, Contending that an ants life was to it, as sweet as ours to us — Abe read I think Grimshaws History of the U.S ^[4] —

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