"Yes," said one, "and Dr. Allen couldn't get no sort of office after making a remark like that. Nobody can get anywhere without dram-drinking." "Abe Lincoln don't drink anything stronger than cider." "And he goes with the Clary Grove bunch, too. Wonder how he manages." "No telling. The Creator broke up the mold after Abe Lincoln was made. He isn't like no human mortal I ever seen." "Some folks says he's crazy," Mrs. Benson volunteered. "It was lazy I heard he was," another said. "I heard he was dead sure to go to the Legislature, crazy or no crazy." "He's always reading something. Looks like he'd have all the books read through after awhile. Wherever he walks he reads." "Yes, and I've found him sprawled all over the cellar door reading," Aunt Sallie Green said. "And did you ever see him lyin' under that tree in front of the store with his back to the ground and his long legs reaching up the tree? Phoebe Jane said he'd better watch or his legs would grow on up like bean-vines." "And somebody thought it was so funny, they went and told him," added Mrs. Cameron. "Mercy!" ejaculated Mrs. Benson; "was he mad?" "No. He said he'd learned a new verse--something about seeing ourselves as others see us--he wasn't mad, though." "And they do say he hasn't got but one shirt to his back--that he sends what little money he gets, off to his step-mother." "And that he never looks at none of the girls. Is this true, Mis' Cameron?" "He don't seem to. The time we had that woman from Virginia and her two daughters, he slept at the store on the counter every night. But he's obliging that way when we're crowded." "The men all say he's famous in stump speaking, wrestling and story-telling." "And the women like him because he's honest, kind to women and forgetful of himself." "He has a good turn for everybody and everything, from rabbits to such poor stuff as Snoutful Kelly. But he don't show no attention to girls." "Maybe he has a girl at Gentryville or back on Pigeon Creek." "I don't think so," Mrs. Cameron said, "and I'd be apt to know." "Well, I don't know much about his affairs, only he never looks at Ann," Mrs. Rutledge observed. "He really don't pay as much heed to Ann as he does to Sis, and that's little enough. I don't suppose he knows what color her eyes are or her hair." It was at this stage of the visit that the young people were heard coming across the fields, shouting and laughing. Several of the women arose and looked out. "Will you look!" Mrs. Benson exclaimed. "There's Abe Lincoln himself!" "And he's with Ann Rutledge," Mrs. Armstrong observed. "Abe Lincoln with Ann?" Mrs. Rutledge said, hurrying to the door. For the moment she looked bewildered. Then she said, "He's wanting something--and just happened to walk with Ann." "Just hear him laugh," said Aunt Green; "I'm glad he's come. He's a fine hand to take care of the baby." At the door the other boys in the party declined to come in. Not so with Lincoln.