Lincoln's yarns and stories : $b A complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story tellerMcClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
History
Lincoln's yarns and stories : $b A complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story teller
McClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Anecdotes
In the far-away days when “Abe” went to school in Indiana, they had
exercises, exhibitions and speaking-meetings in the schoolhouse or the
church, and “Abe” was the “star.” His father was a Democrat, and at that
time “Abe” agreed with his parent. He would frequently make political
and other speeches to the boys and explain tangled questions.
Booneville was the county seat of Warrick county, situated about fifteen
miles from Gentryville. Thither “Abe” walked to be present at the
sittings of the court, and listened attentively to the trials and the
speeches of the lawyers.
One of the trials was that of a murderer. He was defended by Mr.
John Breckinridge, and at the conclusion of his speech “Abe” was so
enthusiastic that he ventured to compliment him. Breckinridge looked at
the shabby boy, thanked him, and passed on his way.
Many years afterwards, in 1862, Breckinridge called on the President,
and he was told, “It was the best speech that I, up to that time, had
ever heard. If I could, as I then thought, make as good a speech as
that, my soul would be satisfied.”
WITHDREW THE COLT.
Mr. Alcott, of Elgin, Ill., tells of seeing Mr. Lincoln coming away from
church unusually early one Sunday morning. “The sermon could not have
been more than half way through,” says Mr. Alcott. “‘Tad’ was slung
across his left arm like a pair of saddlebags, and Mr. Lincoln was
striding along with long, deliberate steps toward his home. On one of
the street corners he encountered a group of his fellow-townsmen. Mr.
Lincoln anticipated the question which was about to be put by the group,
and, taking his figure of speech from practices with which they were
only too familiar, said: ‘Gentlemen, I entered this colt, but he kicked
around so I had to withdraw him.”’
“TAD” GOT HIS DOLLAR.
No matter who was with the President, or how intently absorbed, his
little son “Tad” was always welcome. He almost always accompanied his
father.
Once, on the way to Fortress Monroe, he became very troublesome.
The President was much engaged in conversation with the party who
accompanied him, and he at length said:
“‘Tad,’ if you will be a good boy, and not disturb me any more until we
get to Fortress Monroe, I will give you a dollar.”
The hope of reward was effectual for awhile in securing silence, but,
boylike, “Tad” soon forgot his promise, and was as noisy as ever. Upon
reaching their destination, however, he said, very promptly: “Father,
I want my dollar.” Mr. Lincoln looked at him half-reproachfully for an
instant, and then, taking from his pocketbook a dollar note, he said
“Well, my son, at any rate, I will keep my part of the bargain.”
TELLS AN EDITOR ABOUT NASBY.
Henry J. Raymond, the famous New York editor, thus tells of Mr.
Lincoln’s fondness for the Nasby letters:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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