Aoatutv

Liucotu
Written by Delores Malone
Illustrated by Stephen Costanza
22
Cuesllon ol lhe Veek
How hos working logelher
chonged hislory?
Inlormolionol lexl ollen glves locls oboul
reol people, ploces, ond evenls lhol rellecl
hlslory or lhe lrodlllons ol communllles.

It was clean up time in Ms. Grants second

grade class. Noah and Maya were putting away the
big map of the United States. Suddenly, there was
the worst ripping sound.

Everyone looked at Noah and Maya. The map

was torn into two pieces.
Look what you did! said Noah.
Me? said Maya. Youre wrong! Its not my fault!

Ms. Grant stepped in. Please stop, she said.

I dont think either of you is at fault. We can fix
that. They held up the two pieces of the map.
Look! Our country has been torn in two.
We need Abraham Lincoln!

Abraham Lincoln? asked Noah. You mean

the President Lincoln from long ago?
Yes, said Ms. Grant. Ill tell you about
Abraham Lincoln and how he worked with other
people to put our country back together.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12,

1809, in Kentucky. His family lived in a log cabin
that had only one room. When Abraham Lincoln
was a boy, everyone called him Abe.

Abe and his family moved to Indiana in 1816.

He was seven years old. Abe worked very hard
on the farm.
One of his jobs was cutting wood. Wood was
used for cooking and for heat. Wood was also
used to make fences. When Abe grabbed the
handle of his ax, a big log soon became firewood
or fence rails.
Abe also plowed fields and planted corn.
Young Abe carried a book with him wherever
he went. Whenever he had time to rest, Abe
took the book from his pocket and read.

As a young man, Abe worked in a store in

New Salem, Illinois. One day a woman bought
some things in the store. After she left, Abe
noticed that he hadnt given enough money
back to the woman. Abe walked many miles to
give her the money. When his friends heard
this story, they called him Honest Abe.

Abe loved to read, tell stories, and make

people laugh. Abe studied hard and passed a
test to become a lawyer. In 1837, he opened a
law office in Springfield, Illinois. Now people
called him Mr. Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the

United States on November 6, 1860. Now he was
called President Lincoln.
President Lincoln had a very big problem.
People in the North wanted to end slavery. The
people in the South wanted to form their own
country and keep slavery. President Lincoln
wanted to keep the country together.
23

Abrohom Llncoln
ls born ln Kenlucky.
Young Abe
ond hls lomlly move
lo lndlono.
Llncoln
opens hls low
olllce.
23Z
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861. The
armies of the North and the South fought each
other. Many people died. President Lincoln
had to find a way to stop the fighting.
The Civil War finally ended, on April 9, 1865.
Abraham Lincoln worked very hard with many
others to put our country back together. To
this day, many people call Abraham Lincoln
Americas Great President.

Llncoln ls
elecled Presldenl ol
lhe nlled Sloles.
lhe Clvll Vor beglns.
lhe Clvll Vor ends.

When Ms. Grant finished her story, Maya smiled

at Noah and said, Do you think we could put our
country back together again?
Noah nodded. We certainly can.

When they finished, Maya and Noah held up

the map for the class to see.
Thank you, said Ms. Grant. You did a terrific
job. Now you have something in common with
Abraham Lincoln. You worked together and you
put our country back together.