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creasing in the neighbourhood, he had opportunities of mixing with people somewhat better educated than those with whom he had been associated in early years. Jones's store being, too, the chief place at which the farmers and others purchased their necessaries, he was ere long able to form a number of acquaintances.

Mr. Jones seems to have been very fond of Abraham, and, finding that he was a young man of unusual ability, not only encouraged him in his studies, but sometimes told him that he believed he would one day become a great man. He lent him books, among them the Lives of Benjamin Franklin and other worthies of America; he also took in a newspaper, and as he was much interested in political matters, he often talked about them with young Lincoln, thus inclining him to turn his thoughts towards the public affairs of his country.

Abraham, at this time, found another friend, who was of great help to him, in John Baldwin, the blacksmith, of Gentryville—a man who possessed a rich fund of stories, which he willingly related to young Lincoln. No doubt it was to this blacksmith that Abraham was indebted for not a few of the homely anecdotes and sayings with which, in after days, his speeches and conversation were so freely interspersed.

It was in the following year-1827-when Abraham was working with a man named Wood, a carpenter, that one of the earliest results of his self-education

was shown in the shape of an article on Temperance, and another on a political subject, which he succeeded in getting accepted and printed in Ohio newspapers; and each is said to have been exceedingly able and well written.

Next we find him at home again, but beginning to be somewhat dissatisfied with the kind of life he had to live there. Mixing as he had done for some time past with his fellow-men, and learning from the books which he had read something more of the great world outside Indiana, he somewhat chafed under the humdrum life of his father's cabin, and the ordinary farmwork in which he had hitherto been engaged. And he began to have visions of what he might perhaps achieve if only he could penetrate beyond the narrow confines of his present existence.

And one of the earliest results of these yearnings took the form of a request to his father to allow him to build a flat boat-a peculiarly constructed craft used on the large rivers of America-and carry a few barrels of produce from the farm down the river and sell it at a market.

How his father received this bold proposal is not known; the fact remains, however, that he eventually gave his consent, and that not only did Abraham build the boat, but made the voyage too. It was in connection with this undertaking that an incident occurred which is of considerable interest.

When the flat boat was completed, and Abraham

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stood on the bank of the river admiring it, a steamer suddenly approached; and at the same time two passengers (having with them their luggage), who wanted to go on by the steamer, approached the spot where Abraham was standing. Then, looking at the different boats on the water, they singled out his, and asked him to row them to the steamer. Gladly enough Abraham took them on board his little craft, landed them on the steamer, and finally lifted up their trunks on board. What was better, just as he was shoving off, each of the passengers threw him a silver halfdollar; and not a little was he astonished, for he had not dreamed of receiving such good payment.

In after years, when he became President, Abraham Lincoln said, in speaking of this occurrence: "You may think it was a very little thing, and in these days it seems to me a trifle; but it was a most important incident in my life. I could scarcely believe that I, a poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day. I was a more hopeful and confident being from that hour."

This dollar was, in fact, the very first that Abraham considered he had earned for himself; for, hitherto, his father had claimed any wages received by him when he was hired.

Abraham having succeeded so well in making the voyage I have spoken of, was now asked-in March, 1828-by Mr. Gentry, who owned much of the property in Gentryville and from whom the

place obtained its name, if he would take charge of a flat boat laden with a quantity of bacon and other produce, and, accompanied by his own son, Allen Gentry, make a voyage to New Orleans for the purpose of selling the cargo. This was a somewhat dangerous and exciting trip of no fewer than eighteen hundred miles.

It says much for Mr. Gentry's faith in the capacity of Abraham that he should have been willing not only to entrust his boat, but also his son, to his care; for young Lincoln was to be responsible for the whole management of the trip. So it was, however; and before long the two young men started on their voyage.

As I have said, this was a perilous undertaking, and only men who who were unusually strong and hardy could have entered upon it." The flat boat had to be propelled by hand, sometimes against contrary winds, the whole distance; while, apart from the dangers, there was the greatest discomfort for those who were on board. No snug cabin had such a craft; no fire; and there was only the rough blanket that was thrown over them to keep out the cold. Still, in spite of the drawbacks and difficulties and discomforts, the two plucky fellows accomplished their purpose; though they did not return to Mr. Gentry without meeting with some exciting adventures, one of which may be narrated.

After they had proceeded on their journey for some distance, they came to a sugar plantation; and having, as was their custom, secured their boat for the night, they lay down to rest. Suddenly, however, they were awakened by footsteps on the deck, and, jumping up, they saw that several negroes were just in the act of creeping on board, evidently bent on robbery or murder.

They had been aroused only just in time. Rushing towards them, they knocked down the first one as he stepped on deck; then they overpowered others that were following one by one, while the rest, who began to run off, were quickly chased and thrashed.

It was not, however, without being injured themselves, that Abraham and his companion thus got rid of the negroes; Lincoln, indeed, received one wound, the scar of which remained throughout his life.

CHAPTER III.

"HONEST ABE."

ABRAHAM was just twenty-one years of age when his father determined to move into a new home. Mr. Lincoln had for some time felt a desire to move from the cabin where he had lived so long-among other reasons because the climate of Indiana was not very healthy; so he resolved to go westward, to the State

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