Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/248

JHE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS 7^ III HIS FAREWELL WORDS IN SPRINGFIELD* (1861) My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this part- ing. To this place and the kindness of this people I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. With- out the assistance of that Divine Being who » Delivered on February 11, 1861, and here given as printed by Isicolay and Hay "from the original manuscript, having been written down immediately after the train started, partly by Mr. Lincoln's own hand and partly by that of his private secretary at his dictation." Hemdon gives a somewhat longer and textually different version of the speech, as printed at the time in a Spring- field newspaper: " Friends, no one who has never been placed in a like position can understand my feelings at this hour, nor the oppressive sad- ness I feel at this partmg. For more than a quarter of a century I have lived among you, and during all that time I have received nothing but kindness at your hands. Here I have lived from my youth until now I am an old man. Here the most cherished ties of earth were assumed. Here all my children were born and here one of them lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I have, all that I am. All the strange checkered past seems to crowd now upon my mind. " To-day I leave you. 1 go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great God who assisted him shall be with and aid me I must fail; but if the same omniscient mind and mighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and support me I shall not fail— I shall succeed. Let us all pray that the God of our fathers may not forsake us now. To Him I commend you all. Permit me to ask that with equal sincerity 238