hand out of oak timber. The nails used and they

were very few were all brought from their old home. in Indiana.*

"You never saw such land as this," remarked John Hanks to Mr. Lincoln. "The land in Indiana can't compare with this prairie land."

"I'm convinced of that," answered Mr. Lincoln; "the half wan't told us. And we must turn over a big piece of it this spring for corn, and fence it, too. Abe is great on splittin' rails."

"He can have a chance to split 'em to his heart's content now," continued John. "It'll take a pile on 'em to fence fifteen acres, and you'll want to put in as much as that."

"And fifteen acres of such land as this will make such a corn-field as Indiany farmers are not acquainted with," added Mr. Lincoln.

"Abe and I can break it up," continued John, "and fence it into the bargain."

This was the final decision, after the Lincolns were settled in their new home-that Abraham and John should plough the fifteen acres, and then fence the field. With the four yokes of oxen, each driving two yokes, the fifteen acres were turned over within a week; and as soon as the planting was done, the rail-splitting and fencing commenced in earnest. Abraham and John got out all the rails, and put up the fence around the fifteen acres. Those rails became historic after thirty years, and played an important part in an interesting chapter of our national career, as we shall learn hereafter.

With all his labour at home, Abraham found time to work out considerably in the neighbourhood. Rev. A. Hale, of Springfield, Illinois, visited the locality, after

* Dr. Holland,

the death of Abraham Lincoln, and one Mrs. Brown related the following to him:—

"I remember Mr. Lincoln. He worked for my old man, and helped make a crap. We lived on the same farm we live on now, and he worked and made a crap, and the next winter they hauled the crap all the way to Galena, and sold it. At that time there was no public-houses, and travellers were obliged to stay at any house along the road that could take them in. One evening a right smart-looking man rode up to the fence, and asked my old man if he could get to stay over night. 'Well,' said Mr. Brown, 'we can feed your crittur, and give you something to eat, but we can't lodge you unless you can sleep on the bed with the hired man.' The man hesitated, and asked, 'Where is he?' 'Well,' said Mr. Brown, 'you can come and see him.' So the man got down from his crittur, and Mr. Brown took him around to where, in the shade of the house, Abe lay his full length on the ground, with an open book before him. 'There,' said Mr. Brown, pointing to him, he is.' The stranger looked at him. a minute, and said, 'Well, I think he'll do;' and he stayed and slept with the President of the United States."

It is claimed that Mrs. Brown was wrong in saying that Abraham worked for her husband, the fact being that he worked for one Taylor, near by, and boarded with her. It is probable, also, that he worked for him only at such times, during that first summer in Illinois, as he was not needed at home.

"Abe was the roughest-looking feller I ever saw," remarked George Cluse, who worked with him occasionally that year; "he was so tall, awkward, and wrinkled!"

"Was he a good worker?"

"None better to be found; and he knew more than any man I ever saw; but his dress was comical."

"How did he dress?"

"He wore trousers made of flax and tow, cut tight at the ankles, and out at both knees. I looked bad enough myself, but compared with him my dress was superb." At the time Thomas Lincoln left Indiana, few families in that part of the country used woollen goods. They were unknown there until about 1825.

man.

"I split rails with him a good deal," continued Cluse. "He'd split more rails in a day than any other He was strong as an ox, and never got tired. He made a bargain that season with Nancy Miller, to split four hundred rails for every yard of brown jeans, dyed with white walnut bark, that would be necessary to make him a pair of trousers; and that was the way he got trousers that were not out at the knees."

"What about reading? Was he fond of books?"

"When I worked with him, he'd not much chance to fool with books; but he was allers talkin' history, and politics, and great men; and I have seen him goin' to his work with a book in his hand. Then, Abe walked five, six, and seven miles to his work."

It is quite evident that Abraham made himself extremely useful in Illinois in the year 1830 by his industry and hard labour. He made himself very agreeable, also, by his intelligence and social qualities. George Cluse says, "He was a welcome guest in every house in the neighbourhood.”

In the autumn of that year fever and ague visited the region of Decatur, and every member of the Lincoln family was attacked by it-not severely, nevertheless with sufficient violence to make them "shake." Even Abraham's stalwart frame came under its power for a brief season; but he shook it off before it had

much of a chance to shake him. The experience, however, satisfied the family that their location in Illinois was not favourable to health. And we may state here as well as anywhere, that, in consequence of the appearance of this disease, Mr. Lincoln removed subsequently to a more favourable locality, and finally settled in Cole's County, where he died on the 17th of January, 1851.

The first winter of the Lincolns in Illinois was a very trying one. It was the winter of the "great snow," as it was called, when, for weeks, it averaged three feet deep. Being chiefly dependent upon the rifle for meat, the severity of the winter interfered somewhat with their supplies. But for the strength, endurance, and perseverance of Abraham, their comforts would have been abridged much more. His use

of the rifle during that rigorous winter well nigh disproved what one of his early associates writes to us, viz.: "Abe was not much of a hunter; we seldom went hunting together. The time spent by us boys in this amusement was improved by him in the perusal of some good book."

XV.

ANOTHER TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS.

ENTON OFFUTT was a trader, residing at New

"John! I want you to take a boat for me to New Orleans on a trading trip; you understand the business." John had some reputation as a waterman.

"I can't do it; don't fancy the business." 'Fudge! you can do it if you only think so. I'll pay you extra for it. You are the only man who can do it

to suit me."

"I know of a man who can do it for you," said John. "Abe Lincoln understands it, and perhaps he'll do it." "Who's Abe Lincoln ?"

"He's a relative of mine; came to Illinois from Indiany about one year ago, and settled a few miles. from me."

"Well, I don't know anything about him," continued Offutt, "and I do know about you. Say you'll go." "Maybe I'll go if Abe and John Johnston will go." "And who's John Johnston?"

"He is Abe Lincoln's step-brother, and lives with him. He came with him from Indiany."

"And you think they are good men for the business?" “I know they are; Abe, especially, can't be beat on a boat. He's the tallest and strongest chap in Illinois."

Well, now, John, I'll do most any way to get you to undertake the trip," continued Offutt; "and if you'll see