Lincoln's life, stories, and speeches . any community not made up like thatwhich produced them. They pretended to be regu-lators, and were the terror of all who did not acknowl-edge their rule; and their mode of securing allegiancewas by flogging every man who failed to acknowledgeit. They took it upon themselves to try the mettle ofevery new-comer, and to learn the sort of stuff he wasmade of. Some of their number was appointed to fight,wrestle, or run a foot-race with each incomingstranger. Of course, Abraham Lincoln was obligedto pass the ordeal. Perceiving that he was a man who would not e
Lincoln's life, stories, and speeches . any community not made up like thatwhich produced them. They pretended to be regu-lators, and were the terror of all who did not acknowl-edge their rule; and their mode of securing allegiancewas by flogging every man who failed to acknowledgeit. They took it upon themselves to try the mettle ofevery new-comer, and to learn the sort of stuff he wasmade of. Some of their number was appointed to fight,wrestle, or run a foot-race with each incomingstranger. Of course, Abraham Lincoln was obligedto pass the ordeal. Perceiving that he was a man who would not easilybe floored, they selected their champion, Jack Arm-strong, and imposed upon him the task of laying Lin-coln upon his back. There is no evidence that Lincoln was an unwillingparty to the sport, for it was what he had always beenaccustomed to. The bout was entered upon, butArmstrong soon discovered that he had met more thanhis match. The boys were looking on, and seeing that theirchampion was likely to get the worst of it, did after. UNCOLNS early home at ELIZABETHTOw^, HARDIN CO., KV. FROM A PJi< TAKEN 1895. STORIES OF LINCOLNS EARLY LIFE. 67 the manner of such irresponsible bands. They gath-ered arotind Lincoln, struck and disabled him, andthen Armstrong, by legging him, got him down. Most men would have been indignant, not to sayfuriously angry, under such foui treatment as this; butif Lincoln was either, he did not show it Getting upin perfect good humor, he fell to laughing over his dis-comfiture, and joking about it. They had all calcu-lated on making him angry, and they intended, withthj amiable spirit which characterized the ClarysGrove Boys, to give him a terrible drubbing. Theywere disappointed, and, in their admiration of him,immediately invited him to become one of the com-pany. THE FIRST MEETING OF A FUTURE PRESIDENTAND GOVERNOR. Lincoln was a marked and a peculiar young talked about him. His studious habits, hisgreed for information, his
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