Phoebe Cary was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, September 24, 1824. Her advantages for education were somewhat better than those of her sister Alice, whose almost inseparable companion she became at an early age. They were quite different, however, in temperament, in person and in mental constitution. Phoebe began to write verse at the age of seventeen years, and one of her earliest poems, _Nearer Home_, beginning with "One sweetly solemn thought," won her a world-wide reputation. In the joint housekeeping in New York she took from choice (Alice being for many years an invalid) the larger share of duties upon herself, and hence found little opportunity for literary work. In society, however, she was brilliant, but at all times kindly. She wrote a touching tribute to her sister's memory, published in the _Ladies' Repository_ a few days before her own death, which occurred at Newport, R. I., July 31, 1871. In the volume of _Poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary_ (Philadelphia, 1850) but about one-third were written by Phoebe. Her independently published books are _Poems and Parodies_ (1854), and _Poems of Faith, Hope and Love_ (1868). ABRAHAM LINCOLN Our sun hath gone down at the noonday, The heavens are black; And over the morning the shadows Of night-time are back. Stop the proud boasting mouth of the cannon, Hush the mirth and the shout; God is God! and the ways of Jehovah Are past finding out. Lo! the beautiful feet on the mountains, That yesterday stood; The white feet that came with glad tidings Are dabbled in blood. The Nation that firmly was settling The crown on her head, Sits, like Rizpah, in sackcloth and ashes, And watches her dead. Who is dead? who, unmoved by our wailing Is lying so low? O, my Land, stricken dumb in your anguish, Do you feel, do you know? Once this good man we mourn, overwearied, Worn, anxious, oppressed, Was going out from his audience chamber For a season to rest; Unheeding the thousands who waited To honor and greet, When the cry of a child smote upon him And turned back his feet. "Three days hath a woman been waiting," Said they, "patient and meek." And he answered, "Whatever her errand, Let me hear; let her speak!" So she came, and stood trembling before him And pleaded her cause; Told him all; how her child's erring father Had broken the laws.