read law-books in a desultory and unaided way, and now he tackled them with more energy than ever, dimly realizing that here, at least, was a gleam of leading light for him. He borrowed every book on law that he could find, the attorneys of the region round about good-naturedly lending him whatever they had.

He also bought an old book of legal forms, and amused himself and his neighbors with drawing up imaginary deeds, wills, and conveyances in which fictitious property was disposed of at tremendous prices; this by way of practice. But whenever an opportunity occurred the people went to "Abe Lincoln " for advice and assistance in the selling or mortgaging of real estate, and thus he gradually worked his way into something like a business. His fees were generally necessaries of life turned in to the family with whom he happened to board. He also undertook small cases on trial before the justice of the peace, and, to use his own figure of speech, "tried on a dog" his legal eloquence and lore.

About this time, too, that is to say, in 1833, he undertook the study of surveying, and, as in other undertakings, he succeeded so well that he soon became an expert. His instruments were few and simple; contemporaries have said that his first chain was a grape-vine. But maps and plots of land surveyed by Lincoln, still extant, show a neatness and semblance of accuracy that testify to the rigid care that he always exercised in all his work.

In May, 1833, Andrew Jackson being President, Abraham Lincoln was appointed postmaster of New Salem. The office had very small revenues and no political importance. It was given to Lincoln, because all his neighbors wanted him to have it, and because he

was the only man willing to take it and able to make out the necessary returns to the post-office department. The mail was light, and Lincoln, as tradition runs, generally carried the post-office in his hat. He could not keep at home, of course, and when a villager met him and asked if there were letters for him, the postmaster gravely searched through his hat for an answer. But there were newspapers brought to New Salem by this weekly mail, and Lincoln religiously made it his duty to read them all before they could be called for; this, he used to say, made the office worth more to him than many times the amount of the money income.

In course of time, the population of New Salem migrated to other and more promising localities, and the post-office was discontinued. When an agent of the post-office department came to settle the accounts and to collect the small balance due to the Government, Lincoln's friend, Dr. A. G. Henry, happened to be present, and, knowing Lincoln's extreme poverty, offered to lend him the sum required. "Hold on a

minute," said Lincoln, and let's see how we come out." Going to his sleeping-room, he brought out an old stocking and, untying it, poured on the table the exact amount, just as it had been paid to him in pennies and small silver pieces. Many a time had Lincoln been in bitter want, many a time hard-pressed for money; but the receipts of the little post-office were to him a sacred trust, to be kept until required of him.

The debt incurred by the winking out" of the store of Berry & Lincoln pressed upon him. So vast did it seem that he was accustomed to speak of it as "the national debt." But, unlike most national debts, it was ultimately paid. In the course of business, the notes that he and Berry had given for the stock-in

trade fell into the hands of a person who was more than usually impatient; for every man's credit, in those days, was unlimited. The creditor in this case seized Lincoln's horse, saddle, and bridle and sold them under a sheriff's execution. One of Lincoln's steadfast friends, Bolin Greene, attended the sale, from which Lincoln, greatly cast down in his mind, absented himself. Greene bought the outfit, and, to Lincoln's great surprise and relief, gave them to him with the injunction," Pay for them, Abe, when you get ready, and if you never get ready, it's all the same to me." Not long after this, Bolin Greene-long be his name remembered!—died, and Lincoln was asked by his townsmen of New Salem to deliver a eulogy at his burial. The rising young lawyer attempted the grateful task, but his voice failed him. The tears ran down his cheeks as he rose to speak, and, overcome with emotion, he sat down without saying a word. More eloquent than words, his tears spoke his affection for the man who had been his friend in need.

CHAPTER VI

THE YOUNG POLITICIAN

IN 1834, Lincoln again became a candidate for the

Legislature. This was to be expected. On the previous occasion, he had made what was a very good run, although, as we have seen, he had a very few days in which to finish his canvass after returning from the war. The election took place in August, and, after a sharp fight, Lincoln was elected. Many Democrats, we are told, voted for him from purely personal and friendly reasons, and he was sure of the united support of the Whigs. The four successful candidates, with their votes, were as follows: Lincoln, 1376; Dawson, 1370; Carpenter, 1170; Stuart, 1164; Lincoln thus leading the poll. To say that Lincoln was elated, would faintly express his satisfaction over this great but not unexpected triumph. He was now twenty-five years old, hardy, in perfect health, manly, tolerably self-possessed, and not ashamed to address himself to the discussion of any of the questions of the day, and fully competent to hold his own with the general run of debaters on the stump, or in the Legislature.

He had mastered the elementary law-books, was familiar with legal phrases and forms, knew every rod of the country roundabout the region from which he was a representative, and, above all, knew the people,

their wants, their hopes, fears, aspirations, habits, and manner of life.

But we do not learn that in the Legislature of that year Lincoln was remarkable for anything but his height, then six feet and four inches. If he created any impression otherwise, it was when, the day's session over, he tilted his chair back in some place where the budding statesmen chiefly congregated, and entertained them with stories of which the repute has lasted long. But the tall young backwoodsman, now passing into the era of statesmanship, was keenly alive to all that was going on. He held his place in the legislative debates, but he listened to others. He introduced few bills, but he narrowly observed what other men were doing in this direction; and, while he said little, he took in everything and thought a great deal. The session of that winter was not lost to him.

Next year, he was again nominated for the Legislature and was again elected, as in 1834. In his appeal to the voters, that year, Lincoln said: I go for all sharing the privileges of the Government who assist in bearing its burdens. Consequently, I go for admitting all whites to the right of suffrage who pay taxes or bear arms (by no means excluding females)." And again: "Whether elected or not, I go for distributing the proceeds of the sales of the public lands to the several States, to enable our State, in common with other States, to dig canals and construct railroads without borrowing money and paying interest on it." At that time there were two great questions before the people : one was the right of persons not born in the United States to vote; and the other was the policy of making public improvements, such as those named by Lincoln, at public expense.