The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-05-17

saIesman--How lie Kept His Head Above
the Waves OF Destitution-A Surveyor
Under Calhoun.
From "The Life of Lincoln" by William II.
Herndon and Jesse w. Wcik. Copyright 1885,
by Jesse W. weik Copyright, 1892. by ID. APP
pleton & Co.
That Lincoln's attempt TO make q
lawyer of himself under adverse and
unpromising circumstances excited COM
ment is not to be wondered at Russell
Godby, an old man who still survives.
told me in 1865 that he had often EN-
ployed Lincoln to do farm work for him
and was surprised to find him one day
sitting barefoot on the summit of a
wood pile and attentively reading a
book. This being an unusual thing for
farmhands in that early day to do,
asked him." relates Godby, what no
was reading. I'm not reading, he an
swered. I'm studying. Studying
WHAT inquired. Law, sia' was the
emphatic response. 1t was really too
much for me as looked at him sitting
there proud as Cicero. Great God AL
mightyl' l exclaimed and passed on. -
But Lincoln kept OH at his studies.
Wherever he was and whenever he
could do so the book was brought into
use. He carried it with him in his ram
bles through the woods and his walks
to the river. When night came, he read
IL by the aid of any friendly light he
could find. Frequently he went down TO
the cooper's shop and kindled fire out
Of the waste material lying about, and
by the light it afforded read until far
into the night.
Preliminary Practice.
One Of his companions at this time
relates that while clerking in the store
or serving as postmaster he would apply
himself as opportunity offered to his
studies, if it was but five minutes time;
would open his book, which he always
kept at hand, study it, reciting to him
self; then entertain the company pres
ent or wait on customer without APP
parent annoyance from the interruption.
Have frequently seen him reading while
walking along the streets. Occasionally
he would become absorbed with his
book; would stop and stand for few
moments, then walk on, or pass from
one house TO another, or from one crowd
or squad of men to another. He was
apparently seeking amusement, and with
his thoughtful face and i'll fitting clothes
was the last man one would have sim
gled out for "a student.
1t was not long until he was able 70
draw up deeds, contracts, mortgages aud
other legal papers for his neighbors.
He figured conspicuously as pettifog-
ger before the justice of the peace; but,
regarding it merely as kind of pre-
hminary practice, seldom made any
charge for his services. Meanwhile he
was reading not only lawbooks, but
natural philosophy and other scientific
subjects.
1t has been denied as often as charged
that Lincoln narrated vulgar stories,
but the truth is he loved story, how
ever extravagant or vulgar, if it had
good point. If it was merely ribald
recital and had no sting in the end
that is, if it exposed no weakness or
pointed no moral-he had no use for it
either in conversation or public speech,
but If 1t had the necessary ingredients
of mirth and moral no one could use it
with more telling effect. AS mimic
he was unequaled, and with his charac-
teristic gestures he built up reputation
for story telling, although fully as
many of his narratives were borrowed
as original, which followed him through
life One who listened to his early sto-
ries in New Salem says: His laugh
was striking. Such awkward gestures
belonged to no other man. They at
tracted universal attention, from the
old sedate down to the schoolboy. Then
in few moments he was as calm and
thoughtful as judge on the bench and
as ready to give advice on the most i'm
portant matters. Fun and gravity grew
on him alike. ~
A Striking Figure.
AS salesman lIlnCOln WAS lanenta-
bly, deficient. He was too prone to lead
off into discussion of politics or mo-
rality, leaving some one else to finish
the trade which ne had undertaken.
One of his employers says: HE always
disliked TO wait on the ladies, prefer
ring, he said, to wait on the men and
boys. / also remember he used to sleep
on the store counter when they had too
much company at the tavern. He wore
fax and tow linen pantaloons -
thought about five inches too short in
the legs-and frequently had but one
suspender, no vest or coat. He wore a
calico shirt, such as he had in the Black
Hawk war; coarse brogans, tan color;
blue yarn socks and straw hat, old style
and without band" His friend Ellis
attributed his shyDess in the presence of
the ladies TO the consciousness Of his
awkward appearance and the unpreten-
tious condition of his wearing apparel.
IL was more than likely due to pure
bashfulness. ION one occasion" con-
times Ellis, "while we boarded at the
ho,- g., So,