The herald., 1895-04-09

tion that he would build a steamboat to
plow up and down the Sangamon, and
that Lincoln should be her captain She
would have rollers for shoals and dams,
runners for ice, and, with Lincoln in
charge, "By thunder she'd have to go!''
After release from their embarrassing,
not to say perilous, position the boat and
her crew f1oated away. Early in May they
reached New Orleans, where they fingered
amonth, disposing Of their cargo and view
ing the sights which the Crescent City af-
forded.
In June the entire party including
Offut, boarded steamboat going up the
river. At st. Louis they disembarked,
Offut remaining behind, while Lincoln,
Hanks and Johnston started across Illinois
on foot. AT Edwardsville they separated,
Hanks going to Springfield, while Lin
coin and his stepbrother followed the road
to Coles county, to which point old Thomas
Lincoln had meanwhile removed. Here
Abe did not tarry long, probably not over
month, but long enough to dispose most
effeotually of one Daniel Needham, fa-
nous wrestler who had challenged the re-
turned boatman to test of strength. The
contest took place at a locality known as
Wabash Point Abe threw his antagonist
twice with comparative ease and thereby
demonstrated such marked strength and
agility as to render him forever popular
with the boys of that neighborhood.
Fond of Leisure.
Lincoln S return to New Salem in Au-
gust, 1881, was, within few days con
temporaneous with the temperance of
Offut, who made the gratifying announce
ment that he had purchased stock of
oOO1g which n fo1Ipuy him, from,
Beardstown. Ho had again retained the
services of Lincoln to assist him when his
merchandise should come to hand. The
tall stran9er-destined to be stranger in
New Salem no longer-pending the arrival
of his employers goods, lounged about the
village with nothing to do. Leisure never
sat heavily OH him. To him there was
nothing uncongenial in it, and he might
properly have been dubbed at the time
"loafer." He assured those with whom
he came in contact that he was piece Of
floating driftwood; that after the winter
of deep snow he had come down the river
with the freshet. Borne along by the swell
ing waters and aimlessly floating about,
he had accidentally lodged at New Salem.
Looking back over his history, we are
forced to conclude that Providence or
chance, or whatever power is responsible
for it, could not have assigned him to a
moro favorable refuge.
His introduction to the citizens of New
Salem, as Mentor Graham, the schooltcach-
er, tells us, was in the capacity of clerk of
an election board. Graham furnishes am.
pie testimony of the facility fairness and
honesty which characterized the new
clerks work, and both teacher and clerk
were soon bound together Ivy the warmest
of ties.
A few days after the election Lincoln
found employment with one DIR. Nelson,
who, after the style of dignitaries of later
days, started with his family and effects
in his private" conveyance-which in
this instance was 1latboat-for Texas.
Lincoln was hired to pilot the vessel
through to the Illinois river Arriving at
Beardstown, the pilot was discharged and
returned ON foot across the sand and hills
to New Salem. In the meantime Offut's
long expected goods had arrived, and Lin
coin was placed in charge. Offut relied IN
no slight degree on the business capacity
of his clerk. In his efrusive way he praised
him beyond reason. He boastod of lis
skill as business man and his wonderful
intellectual requirements. AS for J. s'sical
strength and fearlessness of danger, he
challenged New Salem and the entire
world to produce his equal.