The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1892-08-19
NUMBER 28.
NEW STORY OF LINCOLN.

lHe -AlldHId COUSttNttOH mas
some Lincoln stories, one which
introduces a well.kn0wn South
erner as a benefactor Of Lincoln
in his early days. A son of The
man who enabled Abraham Lin.
coin to read law. and then gave
him the advice which started him
on his pubic career, was giving
some interesting "reminiscences re.
Gently at the Kimball, says the
Constitution. The narrator was
Mr.. Joe Hewitt, Of Galveston. Mr..
Hewitt is native of Natchez aud
was a gallant, daring young SOL
dier. His father, Judge Hewitt,
was a native Of Kentucky and re.
moved to Illinois when a young
man. He formed law partner
ship with Colonel Baker, who
had been through the Mexican
war, and who was killed at the
head OF his regiment by a Texas
regiment in the fight at Balls
Bull. Hewitt and Baker were
prominent lawyers. Young Lin.
coin was running a small grocery
store near by he bad picked
up a knowledge of surveying, and
would go off for a week or a month
with his compass ard chain. On
these trips he would leave his
store in the hands of his clerk.
Once he was gone four weeks.
When he returned he found his
store closed. HIS clerk had sold
out and skipped with the funds.
Lincoln was badly broken up. In
his distress he wen. to Judge Hew-
lit for advice. Lincoln told his
woes and ended by declaring that
he did not know what 10 do.
"You would make a success at
the law, Abe. Why don't you
study and get admitted 10 The
bar p said Judge Hewitt.
81 cannot support myself and
buy law books, Too, Judge" Lin
coin replied.
Turning to Colonel Baker Judge
Hewitt said: "You have no objec-
lions, Colonel, to Abe's using our
library, have you?"
Colonel Baker was perfectly
willing.
Lincoln thought he could sup.
port himself while reading law by
teaching night school, and he de-
cided to begin the study, for the
law had been his ambition.
He did teach at night and stud
led during the day in Hewitt &
Bakers office. Alter he was ad.
mitted he rode the circuits with
these lawyers.
II have heard my father say"
said Mr.. Hewitt, "that Lincoln
used to provoke them all by tell.
ing stories and singing songs at
night when The rest of them want
ed to 60 10 sleep. Colonel Baker
was the only one who could stop
him. The Colonel would rip out
some vigorous oath, and Lincoln
would laugh and shut up and 60
to sleep"
Long before the war Judge Hew.
III removed to Natchez, where he
became prominent in his profess
sion. de lost sight OF Lincoln.
When Qultman went first 10 Con.
gress from Mississippi,Judge Hew.
lit gave him letters of introduc.
ton to some members he knew.
He did not know that Abraham
Lincoln was in the House, and
was surprised 10 receive a letter
from him inqulring why he had
not given Quitman letter to him.
'lf you have forgotten the old
days in Illinois, l have not" wrote
Lincoln.
i When the Yankees took Match
ez they turned Judge Hewitt and
his daughters out of their beauii-
ful home, aud would not allow
them single thing except the
clothes they had on. The Hewltts
were absolutely without shelter
and personal effects, except as their
friends assisted them. Adolph
Meyer, a Natchez merchant was in
Washington about that time, and
he met President Lincoln, who
asked him If he knew Judge Hew-
1T. Meyer said he did, and Mr..
Lincoln told him when he went
back home he wished him 10 tell
Judge Hewitt that If he wanted
any protection 10 telegraph him
and he should have it il all the
armies in the United States were
required to give it. Judge Hewitt
would not ask Lincoln Tor any fa-
vor, and at the end OF the war,
when he recovered his home
it was almost a wreck. Not a sin.
gle book Of his library, which had
been the largest aud finest private
one in the State, was left.
II