Abraham Lincoln . it as he shouldered hisaxe and went down thehill-side to the woodsalong the river, choppingdown trees in order toubtaiu splints, which hecarried to a shanty, wherehis evenings were spentreseating chairs. He was twenty-fouryears old, without an oc-cupation, and did not know for what he was fitted. He would like tobe a lawyer. He had not forgotten the plea of lawyer Breckenridgein Indiana. He had come in contact with the prominent lawyers ofSpringfield: Stephen T. Logan and Major John T. Stuart. The lastnamed served with him in the war with the Indians. His old comradevras very
Abraham Lincoln . it as he shouldered hisaxe and went down thehill-side to the woodsalong the river, choppingdown trees in order toubtaiu splints, which hecarried to a shanty, wherehis evenings were spentreseating chairs. He was twenty-fouryears old, without an oc-cupation, and did not know for what he was fitted. He would like tobe a lawyer. He had not forgotten the plea of lawyer Breckenridgein Indiana. He had come in contact with the prominent lawyers ofSpringfield: Stephen T. Logan and Major John T. Stuart. The lastnamed served with him in the war with the Indians. His old comradevras very kind, and loaned him a law-book. The people of Xew Salemsometimes saw him stretched upon the ground beneath an oak-treestudying it. liussell Godby wanted a hand to help harvest his cornand gave him work. He was astonished to see his new hand, Avhenresting, seated on a stump reading a book. Never before had he be-held a fellow with a book in the field. What are you reading, Abe t I am not reading-: I am OAK-TREES STANDING NEAR THE SITE OF BERRY & LIN-COLNS STORE. [From ;i photograph by C. S, McCuUougb, Petersburg, III.] LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. Studying! What, I should like to know ? Law, sir. Great God Almighty! exclaimed Godby. It was not a profaneexpression, but one of astonishment. When the book was iinished, the farm hand walked to Springfieldand obtained another from his friend. He earned money enough topay his board by assisting Mr. Ellis, who had opened a store. When acustomer came he put his book aside, but took it up again the momenthe was at leisure. Just how it happened is not known, but he was appointed post-master. President Jackson was a Democrat, and did not appointmany Whigs to office; for he had given utterance to the expression,To the victors belong the spoils. Lincoln was in a Dem-? ocratic community, but was popular with Whigs and Democratsalike. So few letters came to New Salem that the revenue would hardlypay him for the trouble of receiving a
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcoffincharlescarleton, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890
