Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-11-25

some unpublished Anecdotes ABOUT
Him-His Love OF Truth IllustrNte0-
The CncOuth Lads Loan.

The CncOuth Lads Loan.
In another letter from Wm. Fl. Herndon,
Abraham Lincolns old law partner, are some
! fresh "reminiscences of the great war Presl-
dent. and also letter of Mr. Lincoln's never
before published. Some of the stories ne
tells about Lincoln are very interesting. Let
| me illustrate to you, he says, his love OF
truth. Thomas Lincoln, the father OF Aora-
| ham, was twice-married. His first wife WAS
Nancy Hawks, the mother of Abraham. His
second marriage was to lady Dy the name
of JOhnsOn-a widow with three children.
The second marriage was in 1910, when
Abraham was 10 years old; he had STEP
sister, Matilda johnson, nearly his own age.
About the year 1926 these children had grown
nearly to manhood and womanhood. Here
tofore they had roamed in the wild woods
together but now Mrs. Lincoln forbade Ma
tilda going with Abraham, when he went to
chop wood, or maui rails, or rive boards.
One morning Abraham took his ak and maui
and went into the forest to maui rails. 'Tilda
saw him start, and was determined to follow.
So, after Lincoln had been gone sometime
she darted down the path, stealthily overlook
him, sprang upon him, putting her knee in
the small OF his back, and clasping her arms
around his neck, thus bending him backward,
and threw him to the ground. In the scuffle
'Tida fell on the sharp edge of the ak and
cut her foot badly. After staunching The
blood, Abraham said to her: ''What will you
do now:' why" said 'Tilda, ''Ill tell my
mother that fell on the AK; and that will be
the truth, won't it, Abe?" Yes, that will be
the truth, but it won't be the whole truth.
'Tilda, tell the whole truth about this, and
trus: your good mothers forgiveness" " said
Abraham. This little story needs no CON-
ment.
Again, let me give you another incident
illustrative of Mr.. Lincoln's sense and love
of justice. A gentleman named Chandler,
now of Chandlerville, Cass county, Illinois,
moved from New York to this State in 1890.
He entered, soon after his arrival, under the
acts of Congress, eighty acres OF land, and 1t
was then the custom among the old settlers
A custom as strong as law-that each man had
right to enter as many as 12O acres adjoin-
ing his first entry and in addition thereto.
About the year 1882 kinsman of Chandler
came to Illinois and stopped with him six
months or more free of charge. He was told
by Chandler and others what was the custom
among the people, and woe to him who violat-
ed it! l have seen the old settlers armed to the
teeth with rifle and knife to defend and en-
force this custom. Woe to the speculator
who violated the law! By this custom Mr..
Chandler owned eighty acres adjoining his
first entry. 1t was so rich, so fertile, lay so
fairly to the sun, and was so justly and even
ly divided between tree and prairie, that his
kinsman fixed his eye upon it. So, gather
ing all he could borrow, in addition to what
he had honestly made, he started for the
Land Office in Springfield one morning be-
fore daybreak. MIR. Chandler; when inform
ed by his neighbors of this plot against him,
said it was impossible He was soon, how
ever, convinced of the truth of their state
ment So, catching his fleetest horse, he put
spur for the Land Office, about thirty-five
miles distant His neighbors gave him the
money to enter his eighty acres. He ran his
horse as rapidly as possible for about twenty
Springfield he overlook two young men-one
tall, uncouth-looking lad-both utter strang-
ers to him. Chambers horse was quite ex-
hausted, and so was he. He halted Tor few
moments, and was asked by one cf them why
this hurry. Chandler told them the story,
when the tall young man, who was riding
fleet horse, said: ''Stranger, you take my
mare; she is fresh and yours is worn out; put
her under whip and spur and she will take
you to Springfield in one hour-Wont she,
Green:" Eyes, in short sixty minutes"
said Green. ''Beat the scoundrel to the land
office. by all means. We are all strangers,
but your face looks right, and I'll risk the
mare We will all meet al Herndon's store
in Springfield, in two or three hours. Come,
be off, quickly" said the young man. MIR.
Chandler and the stranger exchanged horses.
The kinsman, supposing that Chandler was
ignorant of his purpose, rode leisurely along,
conycrsing with those he met, SO that Chan
ller got ahead of him, and arriving in Spring
field in the short sixty minutes, walked into
the land Office, threw his hundred gold dol
lars ringing on the table, and entered his 80
acres of land, much to his joy and subse-
quent profit. Well, who was this tall, un-
couth young stranger? Who was he? 1t was
one who loved Justice and fair play, honor
and truth-it was Abraham Lincoln.
A DIVER named Fradette has been elected
to the Quebec Legislature from the county of
Bellcchasse. He can neither read nor write,
and some one having renrOached him with