Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-08-24
Ghoits Mistellang.
"Reminiscences Of Lincoln.

HcuninlscenCes ot LthColhs
A correspondent of the Methodist, visit.
ing Springfield, H., was introduced to
President Lincon's former law paitner,
VIM. II. Herndon, Esq, from whom he
gathered some interesting "reminiscences Of
the martyr
"Mr. Herndon told me that Mr. Lincoln
came to Sangamon county in 1881. lie cut
the timbers for a canoe at the mouth OF
Sp,iug creek, on which he hoated down to
Sangamou town, seven miles northwest OF
Springfield. lu April of that year he went
TO New Orleans on q fat-boat, and return
ed the following August. He was at this
time fine and noble looking, weighed 2l0
pounds, was six feet, three or four inches
in hight, and of forid complexion. Going
to the town of New Salem, the judges of
election being minus one clerk, and impress
ed with the good appearance of the young
man, chose him as the clerk Of election.
"Mr. III. said that Mr.. Lincoln approach
ed more nearly the angelic nature than any
person he ever saw, women not excepted
He had, he said, more of the angel-looking
eye and face than he had ever seen. Yet
he was not without passions. These, IN
Lincoln, were powerful; but they were held
under control by giant will. He was,
said Mr.. Hsrndon, q great animal but q
great angel was engrafted upon it. he had
towering ambition, but that ambition was
directed to the attainment OF power with
entertained very vivid impressions Of his
obligations to her. Familarly he once said
to his partner: Billy, all that l am eve
to my blessed mother
nPcooupa nf h;u tronsnorapt honesty hp
was taken as clerk in store, by man
named Offutt This Offutt reposed all con-
fdence in him, and in no point was he de-
ceived.
"He obtained the name of Honest Abe
as follows: A lady came to pay him for a
dress she had purchased of him, and In
computing the amount he made it come to
two dollars and thirty-seven and halt CENTS
whereas it was six and quarter cents too
much. In the evening, after business hours
were over, he took the six cent piece to the
woman, and corrected the mistake. At
another time, q lady came to buy pound
of tea. By mistake hali-pound weight was
placed in the scale. After Lincoln discov-
cred the error, he, closed the door about
sunset, and tsok the halt pound of tea with
him to the lady.
I'm addition to his business integrity, he
was extremely humorous, sociable, aud
agreeable, becoming everybody friend, and
nobody's enemy. He was taken into every
mans house, as one Of his own household.
From his nature honesty, purity, ETC., peo-
pie termed him Honest Abe
when he first came to Springfield he
was extremely poor, having not shilling
in his pocket, and with but very scapty
wardrobe. He would stop while with one,
and then with another, going irom neigbbor
to neghbor, all esteeming it favor to have
him in their houses. At that time be had
read well and thoroughly everything he had
touched, including the Bible and Shaks,
peare, which were his leading books at the
time of his death. He was, said MIR. Hern-
don, good biblical scholar. When he was
twenty-three years of age he had read his
tory and biography considerably, and he
mastered Burns when he was twenty-five.
" He never, while engaged in his profes-
sion, accumulated much property. lie
seemed to not have had much care to gath
er wealth. When he did service profess
sisnally, he would charge accordingly as he
estimated the valre Of the work done, and
not according to the standard ofother men e
fees. If he regarded a service worth dol
lar, he charged only that, although ether
men might charge twenty dollars for doing
the same thing.
His strict fdelity to principle was illus
trated by his partner by the following Incl.
dent He said when Mr.. Lincoln collected
any money belonging to the firm, he would
always take halt the amount received, and
fold up the other half, write upon 1t the
word Billy" (the name he famitisry called
his partner and lay it away in his pocket
book. One ti,ue Nh. Herndon said to hini:
"'Why do you do that? Why not take
the whole OF the money and use itR'
"'Because,' said Lincoln, Il promised my
mother never to use anybody's money
Should anything happen me, that money
would be known to be yours
"Mr. Hernden took Inc into the law ONCE
where Mr.. Lincoln used to sit and toll 1t
is plain and unpretcnding. Indeed, every
thing about the man was indicative of the
simplicity of his character. And, yet,
though SO transparent and unassuming, he
was sagacious. His friend ted me that he
was man OF profound policy. His neigh
bor, to whom have referred, said he was
a great thinker-that he was accustomed to
think much on the affairs of the nation :
Sometimes he would pass his friends on the
street without a sign of recognition in
his deep musings. Again, as a neighbol
approached him, he would cast up his eye,
smile, and remark, I've been thinking,
and then proceed to unfold the subject o1
his thoughts.
Assassination cast its shadow on the
hearts Of his friends as early as the, presi
Dental election of 1860. Mr.. Herndnn tolC
mo that himself and two other friend;
guarded Mr.. Lincoln to the polls in Spring
field on that day to prevent stilletto from
being aimed at his heart At length h'
fell, but not until his great work was done
ard he vas enthroned among the chieies