The Voice of Lincoln
In life's great symphony,
Above the seeming discord and the pain,
A master-voice is ever singing, singing,
The plan of God to men.
In young America's song,
As threatening tumult pierced the tensioned air,
The voice of Lincoln over all was singing
The love of brother-man.
And still his voice is heard;
'Twill pierce the din of strife and mystery,
Till master-voices cease their singing, singing,
In life's great symphony.
LINCOLN AT THE TIME OF DEBATE WITH DOUGLAS
From an Ambrotype taken at Beardstown, Ill., 1858
His friends advised Lincoln to press his opponent on the Dred Scott decision (of the United States Supreme Court permitting slavery in the Territories), as Douglas would accept it, but argue for nullifying it by anti-slavery legislation in the territorial assemblies, and this would satisfy the people of Illinois, and elect him Senator. "All right," said Lincoln, "then that kills him in 1860. I am gunning for larger game."
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps was born in Andover, Massachusetts, on August 13, 1844. Educated at Andover. Her literary career began at the age of thirteen with contributions to the newspapers. The earlier years of her life were devoted to Christian labors among the poor families in Andover, but failing health finally prevented her from carrying on her labors along that line, and kept her within her study, but her sympathy was always enlisted in the reformatory questions of the day. The Gates Ajar proved very popular, as did also her many juvenile books. She wrote this poem for the Lincoln Memorial Album in 1882. She died January 29, 1911.