A Year of Waiting and Trial--Again Defeated for the Senate--Depression and Neglect--Lincoln Enlarging His Boundaries--On the Stump in Ohio--A Speech to Kentuckians--Second Visit to Cincinnati--A Short Trip to Kansas--Lincoln in New York City--The Famous Cooper Institute Speech--A Strong and Favorable Impression--Visits New England--Secret of Lincoln's Success as an Orator--Back to Springfield--Disposing of a Campaign Slander--Lincoln's Account of His Visit to a Five Points Sunday School CHAPTER XIII Looking towards the Presidency--The Illinois Republican Convention of 1860--A "Send-Off" for Lincoln--The National Republican Convention at Chicago--Contract of the Leading Candidates--Lincoln Nominated--Scenes at the Convention--Sketches by Eye-Witnesses--Lincoln Hearing the News--The Scene at Springfield--A Visit to Lincoln at His Home--Recollections of a Distinguished Sculptor--Receiving the Committee of the Convention--Nomination of Douglas--Campaign of 1860--Various Campaign Reminiscences--Lincoln and the Tall Southerner--The Vote of the Springfield Clergy--A Graceful Letter to the Poet Bryant--"Looking up Hard Spots" CHAPTER XIV Lincoln Chosen President--The Election of 1860--The Waiting-Time at Springfield--A Deluge of Visitors--Various Impressions of the President-Elect--Some Queer Callers--Looking over the Situation with Friends--Talks about the Cabinet--Thurlow Weed's Visit to Springfield--The Serious Aspect of National Affairs--The South in Rebellion--Treason at the National Capital--Lincoln's Farewell Visit to His Mother--The Old Sign, "Lincoln & Herndon"--The Last Day at Springfield--Farewell Speech to Friends and Neighbors--Off for the Capital--The Journey to Washington--Receptions and Speeches along the Route--At Cincinnati: A Hitherto Unpublished Speech by Lincoln--At Cleveland: Personal Descriptions of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln--At New York City: Impressions of the New President--Perils of the Journey--The Baltimore Plot--Change of Route--Arrival at the Capital CHAPTER XV Lincoln at the Helm--First Days in Washington--Meeting Public--Men and Discussing Public Affairs--The Inauguration--The Inaugural Address--A New Era Begun--Lincoln in the White House--The First Cabinet--The President and the Office-Seekers--Southern Prejudice against Lincoln--Ominous Portents, but Lincoln not Dismayed--The President's Reception Room--Varied Impressions of the New President--Guarding the White House CHAPTER XVI