Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-05-20
Some of LincoIn,s Stories

Mr. Lincoln usually accompanied his
gay little wife to parties, but seldom
remained Where the largest portion of
the company were, but would slip of
% Some SIDE room, or perhaps sit upon
tfe stairs, where friends would soon
snther about him, begging him for n
story. They often named the tale they
wished him 10 tell: for instance saving.
'Oh, Mr. Lincoln, do tell us the scauIr,-
meeting story, or the Baker story,'"
rtc., etc l was SO much aniuseti by
Tie calnp-meeting story that at one
time when Mr.. T.. was stopping at our
home got him to relate it, and even
to tell me how to spell the ridiculous
names of 'NOah's sOnS,' so that think
L can repeat it just as he told it: but il
needs his peculiar voice to give If eff
feet. Here ii is:
There had been a great carnp-meet.
ing going on for nearly week in the
beech woods in Chic, and on the first
day fine speaker preached the closing
sermon. He was large, powerful
man, with a strong voice, and his hear
ers were deeply affected. He was a
very sensible man, and, seeing clouds
gathering in The west, he shortened his
sermon, telling the crowd they would
not have much time to collect their eff.
iects aDd take up their beds and walk
as storm Was coming on. In less time
thah II takes to tell it tents were pulled
40 Hn, beds tables, chairs, and children
were loatied into wagons, and all was
noise and confusion on the camp
ground. la the midst of all this hustle
a little wizened-faced man ascended
the log steps of the pulpit, and, clasp
ing his small hands, and rolling his
weak eyes upward. squealed out,
Brethren and sisternp lie was such a
striking contrast 10 the last speaker
that some did pause in their work to
look with wontlerupon him. Thus en-
couraged, the little man began again :
'Brethern and sistern'" ii wish YOU
could have heard Mr.. Lincoln initiate
that squeaking voice, az rise to norate
ON toe you on the subjec of the baptis-
mal-yes the baptisnlal There was
Noah, he had three sons-ahem-
lameltie, Shadadarack, Meshisick, and
Bellteezer! They all went in toe Dan
iels den, and likewise with them acds
a lion! Ahem.' Here the crowd eth
er renewed their work of loading up
wagons Or laughed and turned away.
So the speaker, after repeating the
above, and yet gaining no attention,
closed abruptly in the following man.
ner: Dear perishing friends, eff you
will not hear on toe me on this great
subjec, l will only say this, that Squire
Nobbs has recently lost a little bay
mare with a fiaxy name and tail
amen y"
The last sentence, without a pause,
was very ludicrous.
Here is another short story of Mr..
Lincoln's:
after the Wednesday-nights services
at country Westinghouse the minis
ter urged the members present to SUBJ
scribe literally toward erecting light
ning-rod on their new church building,
saying: Surely you are willing to
lend to the Lord. Is He not the owner
OF the cattle on thousang hills? Will
He not repay?' etc. When a rich old
farmer got up, and speaking slowly
through his nose, said l.: you say the
Lord is owner of the cattle on a thou
sand hills, do ye? Well. then, why
can't He sell His cattle and buy light
ming rod, eh '"-[ Editors Drawer, in
Harper's Magazine for June.