Abraham vs. Thomas

[Donna McCreary]

While I agree with all of the above comments, allow me a moment to defend Thomas. Having a little first hand knowledge of farming in Southern Indiana, I can assure you that it is not an easy way of life. I was put to work in the tobacco fields at the age of three. My task was easy (compared to others) but mainly it gave my parents a way to keep an eye on me while they worked. So, here we have Thomas, a man trying his best to carve a living in rural Indiana. His first wife has died and left him with two children to raise. His second wife has brought along three children. And, his deceased wife's cousin is living on the farm. Everyone works. It is the only way to survive. His wife Sarah, her daughters, and his daughter Sarah are cooking, cleaning, tending to chickens, making butter, and making clothing for a family of eight. Dennis and John D. are plowing the fields, harvesting, tending to animals, and working in the most humid conditions. And there sits Abraham, his own son, goofing off and reading a book or staring off into the distance day dreaming. Yes, we all appreciate that Lincoln had a better life in mind. But to Thomas, he probably just wondered how he had managed to raise such a lazy kid - and how was that boy going to make a life for himself if he couldn't do a decent day's work.