“Why did he not come at me with his other end?” At this Mr. Lincoln whirled about in his long arms an imaginary dog and pushed his tail end towards the jury. This was the defensive plea of “Son assault demesne”--loosely, that “The other fellow brought on the fight”--quickly told and in a way the dullest mind would grasp and retain. LINCOLN’S HONESTY WITH A LADY CLIENT. A lady who had a real estate claim which she desired prosecuted once called on Lincoln and wished him to take up her case. She left the claim in his hands, together with a check for two hundred dollars as a retaining fee. Lincoln told her to call the next day, and meanwhile he would examine her claim. Upon presenting herself the next day the lady was informed that he had examined the case carefully, and told her frankly that she had no valid or legal grounds on which to base her claim. He therefore could not advise her to institute legal proceedings. The lady was satisfied, and thanking him, rose to leave. “Wait,” said Lincoln, at the same time fumbling in his vest pocket, “here is the check you left with me.” “But, Mr. Lincoln, I think you have earned that,” replied the lady. “No, no,” he responded, handing it back to her, “that would not be right. I can’t take pay for doing my duty.”--From Lincoln’s Stories, by J. B. McClure. LINCOLN WINS A CELEBRATED CASE. The son of Lincoln’s old friend and former employer, who had loaned him books, was charged with a murder committed in a riot at a camp-meeting. Lincoln volunteered for the defense. A witness swore that he saw the prisoner strike the fatal blow. It was night, but he swore that the full moon was shining clear, and he saw everything distinctly. The case seemed hopeless, but Lincoln produced an almanac, and showed that at that hour there was no moon. “Then he depicted the crime of perjury with such eloquence that the false witness fled the court house.” One who heard the trial says: “It was near night when Lincoln concluded, saying, ‘If justice was done, before the sun set it would shine upon his client a free man.’” The court charged the jury; they returned and brought in a verdict of “not guilty.” The prisoner fell into his weeping mother’s arms, says the writer, and then turned to thank Lincoln. The latter, looking out at the sun, said: “It is not yet sundown, and you are free.”--From Lincoln’s Stories, by J. B. McClure. LINCOLN’S “SELFISHNESS.”