The National tribune., 1899-12-07

book. or in state q f'5fsossund 81 abstraction
at at night; Rt b but R as Iglf as necessary vt /,
his purpose as thetkwete expensive, tht
village cooper permitted lhim to sit in hi:
shop, where he burnt the shavings, anC
one else was in bed:. The Greenes lent hin
books; the schoolmaster gave him instruc
ton in the store, on th4 road, or in the
meadows; every visitor t9 New Salem who
made the least pretensiGh to scholarship
was waylaid by Abe and required to ex
stand. The result df itaall was that the
village and the rntlndmg country won
dered at his growth IN Knowledge, and he
soon became as famo.As for his understand
ing as for his muscular power and his un
! failing humor."
| LINCOLN'S FIRST OFFICIAL ACT.
| This event happened in the Summer OF
! 1881. "On the day of the election, in the
month of August" as Minter Graham, tbs
school teacher, tells us, ABE was seen
lettering about the polling place. 1t mus
| New Salem, for nobody knew that he could
| write They were short of clerk at the
polls; and, after casting about in vain fol
some one competent to fill the Office, il
occurred to one of the Judges that perhaps
the tall stranger possessed the needful
| and asked if he could write. He replied
Yes. a little Will you act as clerk of the
election to-day?' said the Judge. L will
| try returned Abe, and do the best | can,
| ifyou so request" He did try accordingly,
| and, in the language OF the schoolmaSter'
| performed the duties with great facility
| firmness, honesty, and impartiaiity.
| clerked with him." says MIR. Graham, "on
| the same day and at the same polls. The
| election books are now in the City of Spring.
| field, where they can be seen and inspected
any day.
| LINCOLN AS 4 WRESTLE "CLARY
GROVE BOYS"
At this era, Lincoln was as famous fol
| his skill in athletic sports as he was for his
love of books. Mr.. Offutt, who had a
strong regard for him, according TO Mr.
| Arnold, "often declared that his clerk, oil
salesman, knew more than any man in the
| United States, and that he could outrun
whip, or throw any man in the County
| These boasts came to the ears of the 'Clary
| Grove Boys set of rude, registering,
| good-natured fellows, who lived in and
around Clary's Grove, a settlement near
| New Salem. Their leader was Jack Arm
strong, great, square-built fellow, strong
as an OK, who was believed by his partisans
| to be able to whip any man on the Sanga-
| mon River. The issue was thus made be-
tween Lincoln and Armstrong as to which
was the better man; and although Lincoln
| tried to avoid such contests, nothing but an
actual trial could settle the question among
their partisanS. And so they met and
wrestled for some time, without any de-
| cided advantage on either side. Finally
| Jack resorted 10 some foul play, which
reused LincOln's Indignation. Putting
forth his whole strength, he seized the great
bully by the neck, and holding him at
arms length shook him like a boy. TIE
'Clary Grove Boys who made up most of
the crowd of lookers-on, were ready to pitch
in on behalf of their companion, and a
general onslaught upon Lincoln was
threatened. Lincoln backed up against
OffuttS store, and was ready, calmly
awaiting the attack of the whole crowd.
But his cool courage touched the manhood
Of Jack Armstrong. sEHe stepped forward,
seized Lincoln's hand and Shook it heartily,
as he declared: Boys Abe Lincoln is the
best fellow that ever broke into this settle
ment. He shall be one OF u.s. From that
time on, Jack Armstrong was Lincoln's
man and most willing thfall. His hand,
his table, his purse his vote. and that of
the 'Clary Grove Bots belonged to Lin
coin. Lincoln's popularity with them was
unbounded, and his rule was Just. He
would have fair play andhe repressed the
violence and brutality of these rough fel-
lows to an extent which would have been
impossible to anotheriman. He could stop
a fight and Quell riot a tnong these rude
neighbors when all others failed"
FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THRAsHINGs.
Under whatever circumstances Lincoln
was forced into fight, the end could be
confidently predicted.l1tIe was sure to
thrash his opponent, and gain his friend
ship afterwards by a,generous use of his
victory. Innumerable instances could be
cited in proof of the Statement. while
showing goods to two or three women in
Offutt's store one day, bully came in and
began to talk in an offensive manner, using