from a private room in the depot building, and passed slowly to the car, the people falling back respectfully on either side, and as many as possible shaking his hands.  Having reached the train, he ascended the rear platform, and, facing about to the throng which had closed around him, drew himself up to his full height, removed his hat, and stood for several seconds in profound silence.  His eye roved sadly over that sea of upturned faces, as if seeking to read in them the sympathy and friendship which he never needed more than then.  There was an unusual quiver in his lip, and a still more unusual tear on his shriveled cheek.  His solemn manner, his long silence, were as full of melancholy eloquence as any words he could have uttered.  What did he think of?  Of the mighty changes which had lifted him from the lowest to the highest estate on earth?  Of the weary road which had brought him to this lofty summit?  Of his poor mother lying beneath the tangled underbrush in a distant forest?  Of that other grave in the quiet Concord cemetery?  Whatever the character of his thoughts, it is evident that they were retrospective and sad.  To those who were anxiously waiting to catch his words it seemed long until he had mastered his feelings sufficiently to speak.  At length he began, in a husky voice, and slowly and impressively delivered his farewell to his neighbors.  Imitating his example, many in the crowd stood with heads uncovered in the fast-falling rain.”  Abraham Lincoln spoke none but true and sincere words, and none more true and heartfelt ever fell from his lips than these, so laden with pathos, with humility, with a craving for the sympathy of his friends and the people, and for help above and beyond all earthly power and love.

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 the days of Washington.  He never would have succeeded except for the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he at all times 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.  Again I bid you an affectionate farewell.

The route chosen for the journey to Washington, as has been stated, was a circuitous one.  It seems to have been Lincoln’s desire to meet personally the people of the great Northern States upon whose devotion and loyalty he prophetically felt he must depend for the salvation of the Republic.  Everywhere he met the warmest and most generous greetings from