McClures Magazine, January, 1896, Vol. VI. No. 2 | Page 4

must be whipped, I suppose I might
as well whip you as any other man;" and going outdoors with the
fellow, he threw him on the ground, and rubbed smartweed in his eyes
until he bellowed for mercy. New Salem's sense of chivalry was
touched, and enthusiasm over Lincoln increased.
[Illustration: DUTCH OVEN
From a photograph made for this Magazine.
Owned by Mrs. Ott, of Petersburg, Illinois. These Dutch ovens were in
many cases the only cooking utensils used by the early settlers. The
meat, vegetable, or bread was put into the pot, which was then placed
in a bed of coals, and coals heaped on the lid.]
His honesty excited no less admiration. Two incidents seem to have
particularly impressed the community. Having discovered on one
occasion that he had taken six and one-quarter cents too much from a
customer, he walked three miles that evening, after his store was closed,
to return the money. Again, he weighed out a half-pound of tea, as he
supposed. It was night, and this was the last thing he did before closing
up. On entering in the morning he discovered a four-ounce weight on
the scales. He saw his mistake, and closing up shop, hurried off to
deliver the remainder of the tea.
[Illustration: LINCOLN IN 1858.
After a photograph owned by Mrs. Harriet Chapman of Charleston,
Illinois. Mrs. Chapman is a grand-daughter of Sarah Bush Lincoln,
Lincoln's step-mother. Her son, Mr. R.N. Chapman of Charleston,
Illinois, writes us: "In 1858 Lincoln and Douglas had a series of joint
debates in this State, and this city was one place of meeting. Mr.
Lincoln's step-mother was making her home with my father and mother
at that time. Mr. Lincoln stopped at our house, and as he was going
away my mother said to him: 'Uncle Abe, I want a picture of you.' He
replied, 'Well, Harriet, when I get home I will have one taken for you

and send it to you.' Soon after, mother received the photograph she still
has, already framed, from Springfield, Illinois, with a letter from Mr.
Lincoln, in which he said, 'This is not a very good-looking picture, but
it's the best that could be produced from the poor subject.' He also said
that he had it taken solely for my mother. The photograph is still in its
original frame, and I am sure is the most perfect and best picture of
Lincoln in existence. We suppose it must have been taken in
Springfield, Illinois."]
[Illustration: JOHN POTTER.
From a recent photograph. John Potter, born November 10, 1808, was a
few months older than Lincoln. He is now living at Petersburg, Illinois.
He settled in the country one and one-half miles from New Salem in
1820. Mr. Potter remembers Lincoln's first appearance in New Salem in
July, 1831. He corroborates the stories told of his store, and of his
popularity in the community, and of the general impression that he was
an unusually promising young man.]
LINCOLN STUDIES GRAMMAR.
As soon as the store was fairly under way Lincoln began to look about
for books. Since leaving Indiana, in March, 1830, he had had, in his
drifting life, little leisure or opportunity for study--though he had had a
great deal for observation. Nevertheless his desire to learn had
increased, and his ambition to be somebody had been encouraged. In
that time he had found that he really was superior to many of those who
were called the "great" men of the country. Soon after entering Macon
County, in March, 1830, when he was only twenty-one years old, he
had found he could make a better speech than at least one man who was
before the public. A candidate had come along where John Hanks and
he were at work, and, as John Hanks tells the story, the man made a
speech. "It was a bad one, and I said Abe could beat it. I turned down a
box, and Abe made his speech. The other man was a candidate--Abe
wasn't. Abe beat him to death, his subject being the navigation of the
Sangamon River. The man, after Abe's speech was through, took him
aside, and asked him where he had learned so much and how he could
do so well. Abe replied, stating his manner and method of reading,
what he had read. The man encouraged him to persevere."
He had found that people listened to him, that they quoted his opinions,
and that his friends were already saying that he was able to fill any

position. Offutt even declared the country over that "Abe knew more
than any man in the United States," and "some day he would be
President."
[Illustration: JOHN A. CLARY.
John A. Clary was one of the "Clary's Grove Boys." He was a son of