The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-12


was the most important incident in my
life. I could scarcely believe that / had
actually earned dollar in less than a
day. The world seemed wider and fairer
before me, and I was a more hopeful and
confident being from that time" LinColn's
first pair Of jean trousers We're earned by
splitting rails-40O rails for every yard Of
cloth.
The boy Lincoln was very much inter
ctAd in a book on the life of George
Washington. He had borrowed the
volume from a nelghbor. and one night
after sitting up late to read il. put it in
the opening between the logs IN the wall
of the cabin. During the night there was
d heavy rain and the water soaked
through the mud daub staining the leaves
and warping the binding OF the book. Abe
was dreadfuIly frightened over the dam
age that had been done, and with great
trepidation went TO the owner Of the book.
made his explanation, and asked how he
might make restitution. The neighbor
said: "Bein' as it's You. Abe. / won't be
hard on you. Come over and shuck corn
for three days and the books yours"
Lincoln was appointed postmaster by
Jackson, seeking the position so he could
read all the newspapers that passed
through his hands As the Office did not
pay he was seldom there. He carried the
letters around in his hat on the chance
Of meeting the owners, and was always
on the lookout for something to read.
While clerking in a store he decided that
he would like to study grammar and
hearing about man seven or eight miles
away who had one, he walked over and
borrowed it. When he studied law he
walked to the county seat twenty miles
away to borrow the books, lounging
around the old Salem tavern and making
himself useful as ohore boy while he
studied. His fayorite paper was the
Louisville Post, and il is said that he
always managed TO raise the money 10
pay the subscription. even though he
lacked proper clothing.
When the news got around the neigh
borhood that Abe Lincoln was studying
law, most Of the neighbors we're very
much amused. Old Squire GOdby says:
The first time 1 ever saw Abe with a
law book in his hand he was sittin'
astride Jake Baler's woodpile In New
Salem SEE I. Abe, what are you
studyin' now? Law says Abe. Great
God Almighty SEE t.
Lincoln was licensed to practice law in
Sangamon County on September 9. 1896
His first case was when he was counsel
for the defense in a suit brought by one
James 2. Hawthorne against David
Woodbridge. The case was based on a
misunderstanding and fstiC encounter
which had occurred between the two par
ties over breaking up some prairie sod
ground. Lincoln told the beHigerents
some funny stories and got them in such
q good humor that the case was settled
out of court. once ne and his partner,
Herndon. brought suit against a lawyer
for exacting money from an old woman
under pretense that il was a fee When
they recovered her funds they would take
no pay for themselves, and even settled
the old ladys hotel bin before sending
her home The first large fee Lincoln
ever received was $500 He added to this
sum $50 borrowed money and bought a
quarter section Of land for his step
mother When he was in the Illinois
legislature ne walked to and from the
state capital, 100 miles each way
In 1872 Lincoln was married to Miss
Mary Todd. of Kentucky story is
told that shortly before their marriage
Lincoln approached Miss Todd at a coun-
Try dance and said: Miss Mary / want
10 dance with you the very worst way.
The girl smiled and they moved off to-
gether. When she returned to her seat
= girl who was sitting next to her asked:
Did he. Mary?" And Miss Todd re-
piled: He did, indeed, in the very worst
way" Lincoln was not a good dancer.
and being TALL and thin, and awkward,
made a most ungraceful figure on the
floor. When the telegram came telling
of his nomination to the Presidency he
was in the office of the State Journal at