Spray courier. (Spray, Or.) 1???-19??, 1916-03-09
A Story Of
Abraham Lincoln s
Physical Strength
BY ELINoR MARSH

i'm 'o"p''cSA nave lived to II grent ago. fol
no was physically very strong man.
10 We mny well wonder how Abraham
Lincoln endured tho strain OF fout
years Of civil war. millions OF people
l. looking at him 10 bring about resto.
IT. ration OF the Union. foreign nations
threatening 70 intervene. thus insurlnR
the division OF the country; vainly try
ing to nnd generals who could accom-.
II LliSh results. and constantly abused
Tor whnt wns considered his misman.
ngencnt IL would seem that no map
Without hcrculean strength could 1.-Two
through such an ordcnL
That tho physical structure OF Abra.
nam Lincoln was equal 10 the require
msnts IN made plain by tho following
story told OF him many years ago by
friend or his boybood who wns en-.
pioyed In tho same store with Lincoln.
billy said Abe ono dny, "what
makes you bet with Enoch? You ought
TO know better thnn 10 bet with man
on Ills own tricks. If be didn't know
he had sure thing be wouldn't bet"
The advice was given because this
Enoch would come into the store In
tho evening ostensibly for tho purpose
or ionnnR. but really 10 win small beta |
by number of.trtcks. One OF these
was doubling up his hand 30 as TO hide
ono OK his fingers. He would bet that
Billy couldn't mark TINT particular I'm.
ger. or course Enoch always won
such bets. When Abe advised Billy
10 stop betting the latter told him that
he had lost nearly a dollar TO Enoch
and he didn't wish to stop iii the
money was won buck ,
VIII you promise me-" said Abe. |
that you'll never bet any more IL I c
put you In way TO win back what
you have lost and great deal moreY'
You betf" replied Billy.
How would you like a plug hat TO :
wear with your Sunday clothes? Il a
would set you up with the girls" 4
I'd like plug hat first rate. bnt o
now am l going to get one. seeing that :
u would cost mo S7i 1t would take y
pretty nigh weeks salary"
reckon can help you TO one. At "
any rite We can try the next time d
Enoch comes around and wants 10 bct n
you ON his tricks. Tell him thnt you've !,
got tired betting picayune amounts. :"
but II isc really wants TO bet something d
worth while you'll 30 him; then. n be u
isFces. yon ofTer TO bet him that Abc
Lincoln can take n forty gallon barrel Il
u whisky on tho iloor and drink out G,
Il the bunghole." -
Can you do thnt. Abef" oe
"Reckon | can. After the store
loses tonight III try It, z.
Az soon MS the proprietor had gone
ome for the day the two clerks shut M
p the store. and there was a re-
carsal. at which Abe convinced Billy
nut he would risk nothing provided
could ger Enoch to take the bet
Tie next day Enoch came into the
ore and had not been there long be-
ire he called to Billy an offer 10 bet
IN on some new trick that had nor
4 been demonstrated. Billy was :"
eighlng out some sugar at the time ste
I'd said he hadn't time to do any fool 3rd
z. But Enoch hung around till Billy ste
ID finished whnt he was doing. when Nh.
renewed his offer Billy consented q,
talk with him and during the inter- =
wv said: Sou
DO you know. Enoch. how strong Mel
70 Lincoln is?" IN
No. don't but reckon he's pretty ,;.,,
ong" hsn
! shouldn't be surprised IL Abe could oeio
up one OF those barrels of whisky sion
= mere In the corner and take day
nix out OF the bunghole." r.
Bet you quarter he can't"
Now. look a.here, Enoch. I don't IL
Mt any more Of these small bets. Hen
you want to bet something to make Jam
worth while Ill 30 you. but IL you Jam
e, why. let's have no more talk
ut t."
What you want to bet, Billy?" 2--9
IN Abe's being able to take forty
on barrel Off the floor and drink
OF the bunghole."
III bet you he can't do It." 80
snoch. I'm wanting plug hat, and vi
'De you're wanting one. Did you MI
: wear one?"
had one once. II set me or fine"
Ven, here's your chance to get an
r. III bet you plug hat that Abe us
take that barrel-the big one-up
no iloor and take dram out o. the
! hole"
ere was a good deal of dickering,
Enoch tried to lift the barrel him.
not succeeding In stirring It.
lily he agreed to Billy's PROPOSE
and the bet was duly made in tho
,nce OF witnesses.
G being called upon to decide the
advanced to tho barrel and. stoop-
tilted it on his right knee. Then
mt backward. and Billy pulled out \
>ung. Abe craned his neck for. "
and took drink out of the bung
spit IL out on the floor and set
arrel down again.
{ was the last time Enoch came
The store with his betting offers.
aid the forfeit. and Billy kept his
Sc to Abe TO bet no more
RS passed, and the man who had Eve
med this feat was called upon TO
m another. one OF the greatest E
required Of any man who has
Ived. Who knows but that with.