From pioneer home to the White House : life of Abraham Lincoln: boyhood, youth, manhood, assassination, death . gather two loads tomy one. In 1833, President Jackson appointed him postmas-ter of New Salem, because he was better qualified forthe position than any man in the town. The post-office was kept in Mr. Hills store, the proprietor tak-ing charge of it when Lincoln was engaged in survey-ing or other business. When he was in the office, hemade himself useful by reading letters for parties whocould not read. He read all the newspapers receivedat the office, and frequently read them aloud t
From pioneer home to the White House : life of Abraham Lincoln: boyhood, youth, manhood, assassination, death . gather two loads tomy one. In 1833, President Jackson appointed him postmas-ter of New Salem, because he was better qualified forthe position than any man in the town. The post-office was kept in Mr. Hills store, the proprietor tak-ing charge of it when Lincoln was engaged in survey-ing or other business. When he was in the office, hemade himself useful by reading letters for parties whocould not read. He read all the newspapers receivedat the office, and frequently read them aloud to anignorant assembly in front of the store. A story which fastened itself to him in manhood wasthat, when he was Postmaster in New Salem, he carriedthe office in his hat Of course mail-matter at suchan office was light. Few letters were received ; and,sometimes, when Lincoln was going out, he would putthe letters in his hat, that he might deliver them tothe parties addressed, should he meet them or go neartheir residences. This novel arrangement disclosesboth his kindness of heart and fidelity to CHAPTER XX. LAURELS WON. EMBERS of the Legislature served xwqyears in Illinois, so that the next electionoccurred in 1834. Lincoln was a was a Whig party then, and he was amember of it. Yet many Democrats supported himin the contest, so that he was elected by a larger ma-jority than any other man on the ticket. Who is this man Lincoln I hear talked about forthe Legislature ? inquired one Dr. Barrett, who wasa stranger to the candidate, but a friend of question was put to the latter. Go to Berlin to-morrow, and you will learn who heis ; he is going to speak there, Herndon replied. Dr. Barrett was there promptly, and when the tall,awkward, homely candidate was pointed out by Hern-don, he said, — Cant the party raise any better material thanthat! Wait, answered Herndon, until you hear hisspeech before you pass judgment. He is our candi-date, and goo
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbancroft, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookyear1888
