Lincoln’s Struggle for an Education.—The Books he Read.—Lincoln as the Oracle of Jones’s Store.—Slavery in Indiana.—Lincoln 69 Develops into an Orator and Writer.—Life on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and its Effect on Lincoln CHAPTER V. Lincoln’s Literary Fame among his Neighbors.—The Champion of the Spelling-bee.—His Retort to a Boasting Jockey.—His Affection for 80 his Step-mother CHAPTER VI. Amusements of Lincoln’s Life in Indiana.—Lincoln as a 88 Sportsman.—Lincoln’s Earliest Romance.—Early Bereavements CHAPTER VII. The Lincolns leave Indiana.—Parting from Old Friends in Indiana.—The Journey to Illinois.—Lincoln as a Peddler.—Begins Life on his own Account.—Splitting Rails for a Pair of 94 Trousers.—Lincoln’s Great Strength and his Pride in it.—Lincoln and the Professional Athlete CHAPTER VIII. Lincoln’s First Work on his own Account.—Lincoln’s Popularity in Sangamon County.—Rescues Three Comrades from Drowning.—Ingenuity 103 in getting a Flatboat over a Dam.—A Visit to New Orleans.—New Orleans in 1831, and Lincoln’s Experiences there CHAPTER IX. Lincoln settles in New Salem.—He becomes a Grocery Clerk.—The Frontier Store.—Lincoln defeats the Champion Wrestler of Clary’s 115 Grove.—His Popularity in New Salem.—His Chivalry and Honesty.—Masters Kirkham’s Grammar and enters Politics CHAPTER X. Lincoln’s First Announcement to the Voters of Sangamon County.—His Views on the Improvement of the Sangamon.—Views on Usury and 125 Education.—The Modesty of his Circular.—Pilots a Steamboat up the Sangamon CHAPTER XI. The Black Hawk War.—Outbreak of Sacs and Foxes.—Lincoln volunteers and is elected a Captain.—The Manner of his Election.—An Inexperienced Captain and a Disorderly Company.—The Course of 134 the War.—Stillman’s Defeat.—Zachary Taylor’s Way of dealing with Insubordination CHAPTER XII. Expiration of Lincoln’s Term and his Reënlistment.—Major Iles’s Reminiscences of the Campaign.—The Frantic Terror raised by 144 Black Hawk.—Lincoln and his Company enter Michigan Territory.—End of the War, and Lincoln’s Return to New Salem CHAPTER XIII. Electioneering in 1832 in Illinois.—Lincoln defeated of Election to the Assembly.—Looking for Work.—Berry and Lincoln buy Three 155 Stores on Credit.—New Salem Merchants in Lincoln’s Day.—Lincoln reads Burns and Shakespeare.—His Familiarity with Shakespeare CHAPTER XIV. Lincoln begins to Study Law.—His First Law-book.—A Chance Copy of Blackstone.—Berry and Lincoln take out a Tavern License and hire 166 a Clerk