Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-01-09
Racy Reading-0ld Abe's First and Only
 Dcel.

The Chicago Post in ailuding to some verses going the rounds purporting to have been written by Abe Lincoln thus gives the history of the duel that didn't come of be- tween the Rail Splitter and Cen. Shields:
 Somewhere less than thirty years ago, Mir Lincoln ant Gen. Shields were very brave and gallant cavaliers, and were lions in the social circle of our State eapital.- Springfield at that time was the fashiona- ble metropolis of the State. The legisla- ture then met annually, and the winters generally found congregatcd at the State capital the beauty, the wealth and the fash ion of the State. All the rich farmers in the State, and at that time nearly all of that class resided south of Springfield, talk ing with them their grown-up sons and daughters. Illinois has sent forth to other States many of the men who in those days took an active part in the public affairs, and most of these bore away wives whose love and whose hands were won dur ing the good old times when Springfield was made brilliant by the gay throngs that visited there every winter,
 In those days were Douglas, Bissel, Rich ardson, Trumbull, Browning, McClernand Whiteside, Carlin, Shields, the Camp bells, Baker, Hardin, McDougall, Colonel Taylor, Lincoln, Scales, and hosts of other men, who since have become Historical, who were even then brilliant in the social circle.
 Mr. Lincoln was, of course, gallant gentleman in those days; bis fiat boat expe- hrience had been unhe&ra of, or, If known, was never mentioned. Gen. Shields was also one of the beaux of the times, and 1t so turned out that in the course of time, he and Mir. Lincoln became visitors at the same house, in which were domiciled bevy of lovely ladies, of whom We cannot speak more particularly, as they both now oecu py social positions of the highest grade and through the official positions of their l husbands, may rank with the very highest. The two gentlemen were accustomed to visit the house often inthe absence of each other. The ladies in addition to being lovely and fascinating, were remarkable for the brilliancy of their wit, and for their accomplishments, They possessed, also, all that, inezpressible bouyancy of spirits and charming gaiety that attend light heart ed innocence.
 Many were the comments upon the pccu- liarities of their visitors and notwithstand- ing the high respect and esteem in which they both held Mr. Lincoln and MT, Shields they could not restrain playful .jests upon each others supposed admirers.
 One day when the object of Mir. Lin coln' visit had been mercilessly rallied upon the grace and elegance of her. supposed lov- CT, she daterinined upon having her re- venge by a practical experiment. Accord lying, when the future heso of Cerro Gordo called thst evening, he was requested to take seat, and did take one that was standing in. delightful proximity.to that occupied lay his fair entertainer. Bpt hard ly had he sat down, when with a. bound, he stood upon his feet again. Something sharp had rendered the seat uncomfortable. TLe evening passed off pleasantly, and the wooiRg doubtless progressed most happily until few days after Mir. Lincoln was seen now in the supreme court library, now up- on the State-foase steps, now at the street corner, at the hotels, and everywhere enter taining delighted crowds by reading sonas dozen verses, having for their object the little incident of the setting down and get ting up ip haste. A