Changes

Both of Abraham’s parents were nearly completely illiterate, and he himself had not much more than one year of formal education.  When he did go to school, it was by “littles” – a little here, a little there – and he would call it “blab” school, which meant that they had to recite their lessons constantly due to lack of paper, pencils, and chalk.  “Of course, when I came of age I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the rule of three; but that was all.”   

Both of Abraham’s parents were nearly completely illiterate, and he himself had not much more than one year of formal education.  When he did go to school, it was by “littles” – a little here, a little there – and he would call it “blab” school, which meant that they had to recite their lessons constantly due to lack of paper, pencils, and chalk.  “Of course, when I came of age I did not know much. Still, somehow, I could read, write, and cipher to the rule of three; but that was all.”   

His step-mother encouraged his reading as much as possible, and although Abraham did not have access to a large number of books, he would read as much of what was there, and read voraciously.  He read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Aesop’s Fables, Daniel DeFoe’s Robinson Crusoe, Parson Weems's Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and undoubtedly he read many times the only book his family actually owned, the Bible.  He would walk for miles to borrow a book he heard about, and after his chores he would collapse into a heap in front of the fire and read for hours.  He would say years later that his best friend was the man who let him borrow a book he hadn’t read yet.

His step-mother encouraged his reading as much as possible, and although Abraham did not have access to a large number of books, he would read as much of what was there, and read voraciously.  He read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, ''Aesop’s Fables'', Daniel DeFoe’s ''Robinson Crusoe'', Parson Weems's ''Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington'', Edward Gibbon’s ''Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire'', and undoubtedly he read many times the only book his family actually owned, the Bible.  He would walk for miles to borrow a book he heard about, and after his chores he would collapse into a heap in front of the fire and read for hours.  He would say years later that his best friend was the man who let him borrow a book he hadn’t read yet.

===The Rail-Splitter===

===The Rail-Splitter===