Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/84

 Mr. Fill-more did what he could to save his land from the woes of a home war, so that we might have peace and joy, in lieu of that which came,—great loss of life and large debts.

While he was Pres-i-dent there was a band of rough men from our land whose wish it was to try to get Cu-ba in their hands. Fill-more soon put a stop to that. Spain then got hold of some of them and shot them.

When the chief's term was up, all who had been in close touch with him while he held the chair wrote to him that they were one with him in all that he had done. They said, too, that they knew he had skill, tact, and good faith; that he was fair and square at all times, and had great zeal for the weal of his own land and all in it.

Mr. Fill-more, aft-er he left the chair, had his home in Buf-fa-lo for more than twen-ty years. All there had pride in him and gave him high praise. His heart was in all good work. In the war with the South he lent his aid in all ways to the cause of the North, and for the help of those in need. He made the start in schemes for the good of those in his midst, and to this day there are those in his town who rise up and bless his name.

Fill-more, like Lin-coln, rose from a poor home. It was hard work. He kept his hands clean, his heart pure, and his head cool. It has been said that he was a sound Christian and did not know it.

It was but a brief time that ex-Pres-i-dent Fill-more was ill. His death came March 8, 1874.