Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-12-01
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx. ...5.
Which Tells Of the Settling % Abe
Lincoln and the TrayIors In the VII
laoe Of Springfield and Of samson,s
Second Visit to Chicago.
Bins Judgment of her old friends
was Ill founded. It was slow time
in which she lived. The foot Of the
horse, travelling and often mired In a
rough muddy highway, was its swift
est courier Letters carried by horses
or slow steamboats, were the only
media Of communication between peo-
pie separated by wide distances. So
1t Is easy to understand that many
who. had Travelled far were as the
dead. in a measure, to the friends they
had left behind them and that those
separated by only hundred miles
had to be very enterprising to keep ac-
qlainted.
In March Abe Lincoln had got his
license to practice law. On his return
from the North he had ridden to
Springfield to begin histwork as a law
yer in the office of John T. Stuart.
His plan was to hire and furnish
room and get his meals at the home
of his friend, Mr.. William Butler. He
went to the store of Joshua Speed to
buy a bed and some bedding. He
found that they would cost seventeen
dollars.
"The question is whether you would
trust man owing national debt and
without an asset but good Intentions
and license to practice law, for so
much money" said Honest Abe. II
don't know when could pay you"
Speed had heard Of the tall repre-
sentative from Sangamon county
II have plan which will give you
bed for nothing If you would care to
sleep with me,' he answered.
"rm much obliged, but for you it's
quite contract"
You're rather long," Speed laughed
Eyes, / could lick salt off the top
of your hat. I'm about man and a
half but by long practice I've learned
how to keep the half out of the way
Of other people" 81 )
I'm sure we shall get along well
enough together said Speed. s
u. Mr.. Lincoln hurried away for his
saddle:bags and returned shortly
"There are all my earthly posses.
sions," he said as he threw the bags
on the floor. s., ~
So his new life began in the village
Of Springfield. Early In the autumn
Samson arrived and bought small
house and two acres Of land on the
edge Of the village and returned to
New Salem to move. his family and
furniture. When they drove along the
top of Salem hill a number Of the
houses were empty and deserted, their
owners having moved away. Two Of
the stores were closed. Only ten fami-
lies remained. They stopped at Rut-
ledge's tavern whose entertainment
was little sought those days f'eople
from the near houses came to bid
them good-by. ;.
Pete and Colonel, invigorated by
their long rest, but whitened by age
and with dropping heads, drew the
wagon. Sambo ana the small boy rode
between Sarah and Samson. Betsey
and Josiuh walked ahead Of the wag-
on. the later leading i COW. inst
evening they were comfortably settled
In their new home. When the beds
were set up and ready for the night
Sarah made some tea to 60 with the
cold victuals she had brought. Mr..
Lincoln ate with them and told Of his
new work: 81 IL rs
Betsey was growing tail and slim.
She had the blond hair and fair skin
Of 6amson and the. dark eyes Of her
mother. Josiah had grown to be q
bronzed, sturdy, good-looking lad,
very shy and sensitive. Il
There's a likely boy r. said Sam
son as he clapped the shoulder Of his
eldest son. He's got . good heart in
him Z Il III n ts'3 N S35:s 81
.'You'll spoil him with praise, :
Sarah protested and them asked al
she turned to the young statesman,
Have you heard from BIN or any Of
the Kelsos? n ss.
.rsot 9 word. often think Of
Them n. 4. ts ssS If
There's been q letter In the candle
every night for : week or 30, but We
haven't heard q word from Harry f,r