Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-09-06
5Aiscellanp.
Lincoln i'm Early Manhood.
HIS FRIENDS AND FIGHTS.

John Calhoun, the surveyor OF Sanga-
mon county in 1884, La brother of Hon.
William b. Calhoun, of Springfield,
Mass, was the type of perfect gentle
man, brave, courteous, able and culti-
waited. He was democrat then, and a
democrat when he died. All the world
knows how he was president of the Le-
compton convention how he admins
tered the trust in accordance with his
we'll known convictions and how, after
a life OF devotion to Douglas, he was
adroitly betrayed by that facile politi-
clan. and left to die in the midst of OBJ
loauy and disaster. AT the time we
speak of, he was one of the most popu-
lar men in the State of Illinois, and was
one of the foremost chieftains of the po-
litical party which invariably carried the
county and the district where Mr.. Lin
coin lived. He knew Lincoln, and ad-
mired him. He was well assured that
Lincoln knew nothing of surveying but
he was equally certain that he could
very soon acquire it. The speculative
fever was at its hight; he was overrun
with business the country was alive
with strangers seeking land and every
citizen was buying and selling with a
view to great fortune in the :" flush
times" coming. He wanted deputy
with common sense and common honesty;
he chose Lincoln, because nobody else
possessed these qualities in more emf
nent degree. He hunted him up, gave
him book, told him to study it, and
said that as soon as he was ready, be
should have as much work as he could
do. Lincoln took the book, and Ere
tired to the country" that is, he went
out to Minter Graham's for about six
weeks, in which time, by the aid OF that
good master, he became an expert su,-
veyor, and was duly appointed Calhoun's
deputy. OF course he made some mon
ey, merely his pay for work but it is
remarkable fact, that, with his vast
knowledge of Sangamon and adjacent
counties, he never made single specula.
. ton on his own account. 1t was moi
, long until he acquired considerable
private business. The accuracy of his
= surveys was seldom, if ever questioned
. Disputes regarding "corners and
+" lines were frequently submitted to hi
arbitration; and the decision was inva
. riably accepted as final. 1t often hap
pened that his business kept him away
= from New Salem, and his other studies
J. for weeks at time but all this Will,
;. he was gathering friends against the da,
of election. In after years,-from 1o4-
= onward-it was his good or bad fortun
frequently to meet Calhoun on the stump
but he never forgot his benefaction f
him, and always regarded him as tn
ablest and best man with whom he ha,
ever crossed steel. To the day of Ca
houn's death they were warmly attache
to each other. In the times when it wa
~ most fashionable and profitable to dc
nounce Calhoun and the Lecompton cor
stitution, when even Douglas turned t
to revile his old friend and coadjutor, MI
5e Lincoln was never known to breathe
word of censure on his personal charat
ter.
n When Mr.. Lincoln first came to Ne
Al Salem, he employed a woman to make
pair of pantaloons, which, probably fror
J the scarcity of material, were cut Ell
IS tirely too short, as his garments usual
IN were. Soon afterwards the woman's brotf
Ie he er came to town, and she pointed Alb
y y out to him as he walked along the stree
=" The brothers name was james Shori
L. Without the necessity of formal II
PRODUCTION" says Short, "we fell in tt
an gether, and struck up conversation, th
nu purport of which l have now forgotten
i, He made favorable impression on N
ne ne by his conversation on first acquaintanc
S- S through his intelligence and sprightl
ppSS ness, which impression was deepene
from time to time, as became better a,
ouainted with him." THIS was luck
/" impression" for Abe. Short was
fast friend, and in the day of trouble
sure and able one. At the time tt
Judgment was obtained, Short lived Q
!! the Sand Ridge, four miles from Ne
Die Salem; and Lincoln was in the habit I
I. walking out there almost daily. Sho
~ ~ was then unconscious of the main re-
tic tic son of Mr.. Lncoln's remarkable dew
s,eei tion to him: there was lady IN tt
nd SdI house whom Lincoln secretly out earl
,SI al estly loved, and of whom there is muc
bss b.s to be said at another place. If the ho
pie pie had known everything, however, pos
eI- Abe would have been eqcslly welcome
h.' for he made himself strangely agree
i. BILE guest here, as he did everywhere els
ion In busy times he pulled off his roun
out about, and helped Short in the field Wi
aei more energy than any hired man wou
" 1.f.o5 He uas y said Sho,