The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1918-02-14
ABE LINCOLN BEFORE
HE BECAME FAMOUS

you know haven't any learning and
you had better do it yourself.
The smith then put the wedge in q
wise and. with a cold chisel Lincoln
proceeded to cut out the letters "a. L.
When he had finished he remarked:
It's not a very fine job, but guess it
!, will do,'',
Lincoln did not use this wedge for
splitting rails, but undoubtedly did use
It for splitting stove wood and logs for
fuel. Wedges, like axes, were much
needed by the pioneers of Salem, they
slonally 1t was difficult for man to
prove his title to any particular wedge
or ak. The incident took place about
1926"
Incident When Lincoln Was Postmaster
Have you any letters or papers re-
lating to Lincoln in your possession
II yentured to ask.
promptly. II have an interesting per-
/ sonal letter which Lincoln wrote to my
father, but5I have to tell you the his
tory OF it before l show it to you"
When Lincoln was postmaster at
Salem my father was subscriber to
the. Sangamon Journal Of Springfield.
IN those days the subscriber to a paper
had to pay postage and the law re-
CURED that it be paid a year in adj
vance. My father had forgotten to pay
this postage until it was long past due.
Ihen one day as he was riding along
the road he met an acquaintance going
to Salem. He tossed the man a dollar
saying:
Give that to Abe Lincoln for the
postage on my paper
The next moment it occurred to him
that this man was very fond of Old
Salem whisky and that his dollar was
not likely to reach Lincoln, SO he called
after the man:
Tell Lincoln to send me receipt
SO 1 won't have to pay it again
The man delivered not only the dol
lar but as to the request for receipt
This blunt request coming in such a
manner from an old personal friend
and not knowing the real reason for it,
Lincoln naturally misconstrued 1t and
sent my father the letter am going to
show YOU
Lineoln's Sharp Letter.
The letter which my informant soon
produced is not dated, but was prob
ably written in the spring of 1897 1t
reads as follows:
VOL Mr.. Spears Spears At your request send
paper. l am somewhat surprised at your
re- l will. however, comply with it.
~, me law requires newspaper postage to
waited full year. you choose to wound
my feelings by nsinuating that unless
you get a receipt will probably make
you pay 1T again. Respectfully,
"a. Lincoln"
Received of George Spears in full for
postage on the Sangamon Journal up &c
the first of July, 1887.
"a. Lincoln. p M"
The site Of Old Salem has passed in
to the hands Of the Old Salem Chau-
tauqua. Until year ago the building
in which Lincoln kept store and post
office stood in backyard at Peters.
burg. Some time ago storm blew ii
down and few old weatherbeater
boards is al! that IS left Of it. The
counter over which he sold goods is still
in existence. The top is made Of q
inch walnut plank, while the sides arc
made OF oak and sycamore Near the
Chautauqua grounds is preserved ar
Old log cabin, in which Lincoln boarded
for short time. The genuineness OF
the story of Lincoln's life in this cabir
has been doubted by some, but John
Spears of Tallula says, the cabin is
genuine Lincoln relic.