It is wonderful how many stories President Lincoln told, and still more wonderful how many stories are told of him. The late Senator Voorhees, of Indiana, said that Lincoln had more stories than any other man he had ever met. He had a story for every occasion, and he illustrated everything by anecdote. Some of the best stories current to-day originated with Lincoln and hundreds of his best stories have never been published. Senator Voorhees had preserved a number which he expected to use in lectures which he was preparing at the time he died. He had hoped to live long enough after his retirement from public life to write a book on his personal recollections of the martyred President, among which would have been included many stories. The late David Davis, of Illinois, before whose court Lincoln practiced so often, once said that there were but three men in the world who thoroughly understood Abraham Lincoln--himself, Leonard Swett, of Chicago, and Daniel W. Voorhees. All these three men are dead. In gathering material for this work the editor has exercised due care in accepting only such stories as bore the impress of truth. It is his hope that this little volume will be eagerly welcomed in every home which venerates the name of Abraham Lincoln, and that it will be an inspiration to every boy of the land who, in looking to Lincoln for an ideal, should ever remember that Honor and shame from no condition rise; Act well your part; there all the honor lies. J. E. GALLAHER. CONTENTS. PAGE. Preface 7 Lincoln’s Great Strength as a Boy 11 Was Proud of His Strength 11 Lincoln a Powerful Wrestler 12 Lincoln Split 400 Rails for a Yard of Jeans 12 Lincoln as a Verse Writer 14 Lincoln’s Quick Wit in Helping a Girl to Spell a Word 15 Lincoln as a Notion Peddler 15 Lincoln Saved From Drowning 16 Lincoln’s Youthful Eloquence 18 One of Lincoln’s Songs 19 Lincoln’s First Political Speech 20 How Lincoln Became Known as “Honest Abe” 21 Lincoln Was an “Obliging” Man 22 How Lincoln Paid a Large Debt 23 His First Sight of Slavery 23 Lincoln and Jeff Davis in the Black Hawk War 24 Lincoln’s Glowing Tribute to His Mother 25 What Lincoln’s Step-Mother Said of Him 26 Lincoln’s First Love 26