For Samson and Sarah the most notable social event of the winter was a chicken dinner at which they and Mr. and Mrs. James Rutledge and Ann and Abe Lincoln and Dr. Allen were the guests of the Kelsos. That night Harry stayed at home with the children. Kelso was in his best mood. "Come," he said, when dinner was ready. "Life is more than friendship. It is partly meat." "And mostly Kelso," said Dr. Allen. "Ah, Doctor! Long life has made you as smooth as an old shilling and nimbler than a sixpence," Kelso declared. "And, speaking of life, Aristotle said that the learned and the unlearned were as the living and the dead." "It is true," Abe interposed. "I say it, in spite of the fact that it slays me." "You? No! You are alive to your finger tips," Kelso answered. "But I have mastered only eight books," said Abe. "And one--the book of common sense, and that has wised you," Kelso went on. "Since I came to this country I have learned to beware of the one-book man. There are more living men in America than in any land I have seen. The man who reads one good book thoughtfully is alive and often my master in wit or wisdom. Reading is the gate and thought is the pathway of real life." "I think that most of the men I know have read the Bible," said Abe. "A wonderful and a saving fact! It is a sure foundation to build your life upon." Kelso paused to pour whisky from a jug at his side for those who would take it. "Let us drink to our friend Abe and his new ambition," he proposed. "What is it?" Samson asked. "I am going to try for a seat in the Legislature," said Abe. "I reckon it's rather bold. Old Samuel Legg was a good deal of a nuisance down in Hardin County. He was always talking about going to Lexington, but never went. "'You'll never get thar without startin',' said his neighbor. "'But I'm powerful skeered fer fear I'd never git back,' said Samuel. 'There's a big passel o' folks that gits killed in the city.' "'You always was a selfish cuss. You ought to think o' yer neighbors,' said the other man. "So I've concluded that if I don't start I'll never get there, and if I die on the way it will be a good thing for my neighbors," Abe added. The toast was drunk, and by some in water, after which Abe said: "If you have the patience to listen to it, I'd like to read my declaration to the voters of Sangamon County." Samson's diary briefly describes this appeal as follows: * * * * *