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Show i A3 LINCOLN IN SPRINCFIELD. Iluw Hi" rrf.l.l.nlUI CnrilUt (lot llll Mll-lll Wlf'4 AmtiUlon. ' Ye, n you guy, now varus nhont Miiculn nro hard to Hud." Nuveriltf-lm. Nuveriltf-lm. his was such n striking iioraoiml-liy iioraoiml-liy that it ii hot easy to oxlmust the niaturlal liu oITuitiI to thn story-teller." So spoko it inlddlu-nged man a few ulglils nu 16 the writer. You see." continued my friend. "I wns born In Sprlngllolri, III., and lived thoro until tlio war. From my curliest boyhood Alio Lincoln wot to mu an liupriniivo llguie. Ho mod to come to my father's store, stick his feet on tlio counter nnd talk about tlio ami Irs of tho nation. I was present one night when Abo came in looking ns inulanclioly as a man whose liens won't lay. "What's tho matter, Llncolu?" my father asked. "Oli. nothing much. I'm dlscour-aged dlscour-aged a bit. I fear my tilt with Doug-lus Doug-lus was not vory successful." "Nonsonso. Abe," remarked my fathor. fa-thor. "Your words hnvo electrified tho country. They will hear rich fruit for you. Your reputation has been meroly local , heretofore; now it is national." "Do you think so? Woll. I hopo you're right." Then tho futuro President Presi-dent stalked out into tlio night looking moro cheerful than wliou ho entered. I will never forgot tho llrst fow dn'ys nftur he wns nominated. At that time Sprlngllold had no postal delivery and wo wero in the habit of going to tho pnstoUIco Into in tlio afternoon for our mall. Sometimes 200 people would gathor hi and near tho postolllcc. Tho ovenlng after ho w.n cho-on presidential presi-dential candldnto by his party Abe camo to tlio postofllce ns usual for his letters. He was dressed In the homely fashion of the time and place and greeted his neighbors In his usual democratic dem-ocratic way. Ho found Ms box full of letters nml nowspapurs. Tho next nfternoou lie came ntrain. This Jlmo tho mall filled tltrou boxes. Ho was dressed with moro euro than ho had bcon tho day boforo. On tho third day aftor his nomination ho appeared ap-peared at the poslofHco with a basket on his arm. lto went away with his basket, pockets and hat ovorllowlug with envelopes, nowspapers, cam-pulg'i'documonts, cam-pulg'i'documonts, etc. Afts1 this ho was obliged to employ a Bocrotary, 5o collected his mall, and wo saw but llttlo of tho great man. Whonovor he appoarod in public, however, how-ever, wo noticed thai ho wore what gossip called "his Sundny best." Thoso woro lively times in Spring-Hold. Spring-Hold. Tho town was overrun with prominent men from all parts of tho country. It wni my privllogo to attend at-tend tho reception given to his fellow-townsmen fellow-townsmen bV Lincoln), after his -olcou tiou.) I shall never fomet tho picture ho presented us ho towered above his wife hnd greotod Ills old friends. There was cot in his manner tho slightest Indication In-dication of what is now called "tho big heiid."- Mrs. Lincoln was very gracious und mado n fine impression that night. I heard Abo say to my father fa-ther lu tho hallway as wo woro about to leave: "I guess Mary will carry herself right wo ' in Wnshington, old man." Speaking ot Mrs. Lincoln reminds me of an oplsodo that took placo some years boforo Abo becamo n nntional hero. Thoro was a well-to-do tailor in Spring!' lid who jwucd a handsomo housn Just across tho street from tho Liueolns. Mrs. Lincoln did not fool pleased that a tailor should live in a liner resldonco than that occupied by a leading lawyer. Whon Abo was ouT on circuit, therefore, sho had a story added to their hnuso. The job was nearly tlnishod wheu Abo returned. Ho strode down tho street, gazed at his houso in surprise, and then crossed to the tailor's sldo of tlio road. "Who lives in that palatial mansion ovor thoroP" ho askod of his nolghbor. "Tile widow Lincoln," nuswured tlio smiling tailor. Then wns heard a volco from the top story of tho Lincoln houso: Abo, Abo, come to dinner. You're Into." |