tinction, but I would rather die now than, like the gentleman, live to see the day that I would change my politics for an office worth three thousand dollars a year, and then feel compelled to erect a lightning-rod to protect a guilty conscience from an offended God.""

FIFTH PERIOD: THE LEGISLATOR

-THE LAWYER

(1837-1855)

CHAPTER VIII

Arrival in Springfield-Odd campaigning experiences-Helping a land hunter-" A small crop of fight"-The blue sock and Government money-The slow horse story-The marriage of Lincoln-His partnerships-Speeches for Clay -Elected to Congress-Saving two young men from dishonesty.

MR. JOSHUA SPEED, a very dear friend of Lincoln's, relates in the following manner how at this time Lincoln made his first appearance as a lawyer in Springfield, with the intention of making it his permanent residence:

"He had ridden into town on a borrowed horse, with no earthly property save a pair of saddle-bags containing a few clothes. I was then a merchant at Springfield, and kept a country store, selling pretty nearly everything that might be wanted in the country.

"Lincoln came into the store with his saddle

bags under his arm. He said he wanted to buy the furniture for a single bed. The blankets, mattress, coverlids, sheets, and pillow, according to my prices, would cost seventeen dollars.

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'Perhaps that's cheap enough,' said Lincoln, 'but, small as the price is, I am unable to pay it. But,' he added, if you will give me credit till Christmas-time, and my experiment as a lawyer succeeds, I will pay you then.'

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Well,' I said, 'suppose you don't succeed.'

"In the saddest possible tone of voice he replied, "If I fail in this, I do not know that I can ever pay you.'

"As I looked up at him, I thought then, and I think now, that I never saw a sadder face.

"I said to him, 'You seem to be so much pained at making so small a debt, I think I can suggest a plan by which you can avoid the debt, and at the same time attain your end.'

"Do you really think so?' said Lincoln, his face brightening somewhat.

"Yes,' said I, 'I have a large room with a double bed up-stairs which you are very welcome to share with me.'

"Where is the room?' said he.

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'Up-stairs,' said I, pointing to a pair of winding stairs which led from the store to my He took his saddle-bags on his arm, went up-stairs, set them on the floor, and came down

with the most changed expression on his face. Looking very happy, he exclaimed:

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Well, Speed, I'm moved!""

Another friend took him to board without pay, and so, with the help of good, kind-hearted people, Lincoln began life as a lawyer in Springfield.

Story of Lincoln's Campaign Expenses, Seventy-five Cents

In these days when honesty in political matters is so rare, and when each candidate spends so much of his own or other people's money to get elected to an office, it may be well to turn back the pages of history and read of the days when honesty as well as ability was rewarded in the field of politics.

In 1838 there was a very exciting election in Illinois, and Lincoln for the second time was chosen for the Legislature by his party (the Whigs). A number of his friends gathered together and gave him two hundred dollars to pay his expenses. After the election was over and Lincoln had been successful, he handed back to his friend, Mr. Speed, the sum of one hundred and ninety-nine dollars and twenty-five cents, with the request that he give it back to those who had given it to him. He said: "I did not need the money; I made the canvass on my own horse;

my entertainment [board] being at the home of friends, cost nothing; and my only outlay was seventy-five cents for a barrel of cider which some farm laborers insisted I should treat them to!"

What a contrast this story of simplicity and honesty furnishes to the extravagance and dishonesty that prevails in politics to-day! Can we wonder that Lincoln was loved and admired by all who knew him, and that they got in the habit of calling him "Honest Old Abe," by which name he became generally known, and was afterward elected President of the United States?

Lincoln demands Free Speech for a Friend who was about to be Mobbed

It was during the preceding canvass that Mr. Lincoln interfered and protected his friend E. D. Baker from the fury of his opponents. This gentleman was speaking to a crowd in the court-room, which was immediately under Lincoln and Stuart's law office. Just over the platform on which the speaker stood was a trap-door in the floor. Lincoln at the time, as was often his habit, was lying on the floor, looking down through this hole at the speaker. Baker, getting warmed up, made a sweeping charge against his opponent, which angered many in the crowd, and the cry of "Pull him down! Pull him down!" was followed by a forward movement of the men. Baker, his face