Gilpin observer., 1909-03-18


to New Orleans, split logs for rails
and in this way they earned all theil
clothes.
When he was twenty-five years o.
age he became a clerk in a store
in New Salem. One day he sold
poor woman some goods and
charged her six cents too much, but
did not notice it at the time, SO that
-vening after closing he walked six
miles to give it back to her. Anoth.
sr time, just before closing. he sold
what he thought was a half pound OF
.ea, but in the morning discovered
hat he had not given enough. He
promptly closed up the store and
carried the remainder of the tea to
her. The store keeper was very
proud of ABE" as he had quail
ties superior to any one else he had
ever employed.
Lincoln was 4 candidate for the
General Assembly in 1881, but all his
plans were broken by the break
ing out of the "Black Hawk" war.
The land belonging to Black Hawk
the great Indian chief, had been sold
10 the whites, and he wanted to get
1t back, which caused a dispute and
finally ended in war.
Lincoln became captain of the
company from Sagamon County, and
on the march, an incident happened
that will illustrate Lincoln's power to
meet an emergency. When coming
10 a narrow gateway, could not think
Of the word of command for getting
his company endwise, SO he said.
This company is dismissed for two
minutes, when it will fall in again
on the other side of the gate" This
is only one of many stories which
Lincoln tells about himself. While
N camp one day an old Indian came
:egging protection. and Lincoln's
men were going to shoot him i'm
nediately, but Lincoln saved his life.
After the war Lincoln returned to
New Salem and soon became can
didate for the General Assembly in
1882, but was defeated, the first
time in his life, SO he kept store for
pointed postmaster and carried mail
in his hat. If he had business any
where he would put the mail in his
hat, lock up the post-office, and walk
up the street. Some one would walk
up to him and ask for their mail, he
would take off his hat and give them
their mail.
Many years afterwards Lincoln still
held money that he knew belonged
to the government, and when govern
ment officials came to settle witt
him he met their obligations. Al
though he was never penniless ht
would not even borrow one cent O
this fund. While still postmaster h,
fell violently in love with Ann Rut
ledge, at whose home he was board
ing and where he was highly es
teemed for his honesty as well a:
his fine stories. 1t seems that AM
was betrothed to a man named JohI
McNeill, who was a foremost store
keeper then, but, in the spring h
suddenly sold his store and farm
and left for his old home, saying
that he intended to bring his folk
back with him, when he came, ant
also promised Ann that he woul,
tsend her a letter every mail. AM
wrote often but never received al
answer until early one summer, Lin
ter from him. The letter said tina
Mcneil had been taken sick on tn
way and also that his real name wa
not McNeill but McNamar. Tw
more letters came at different intel
walls and then ceased Altogether. A
ter he stopped writing, she tried t
forget him, and often Lincoln an
Ann were seen under the sycamor
on the hill, studying together wher
they spent many happy hours. Lii,
oln succeeded in winning her low
at last, only to see her fade dali!
until he was sent for and show
into her room where he and Ann ha
a short talk. When he went OF
he was in the greatest sorrow. A
ter her death he was on the verg
Of insanity for months and visite
her grave often. where he met NJ,
Naman unexpectedly one day, an
the two men clasped hands over he
grave in mutual sorrow and frient