e was the personal
friend of Lincoln and of Douglas, and the political follower of
the latter. The fondness of a mother for her first-born hardly
exceeded that of Dr. Rogers for the party of his choice. Any
uncomplimentary allusion to his "principles" was considered a
personal injury, and his devotion to party leaders, from Jackson
to Douglas, savored of idolatry. Some camp-meeting experiences in
early life had given zest and tone to his style of oratory,
which stood him well in hand in his many political encounters of
a later day.

For three consecutive terms the Doctor had been a member of the
Legislature, and his record from every point of view was without
a blemish. At his fourth election, it was found that for the first
time in a decade or more his party had secured a majority in the
House, to which the Doctor had just been elected. The goal of his
ambition was the Speakership, and it truly seemed that his hour
had now come.

Soon after these facts were known beyond peradventure, the Doctor came
one day into my office. After election matters had been talked
over at length and with much satisfaction, the Doctor modestly
intimated a desire to be a candidate for the Speakership. I at
once gave him the promise of my earnest support and inquired whether
he had any friends upon whom he could rely in the approaching
caucus. He assured me that there were four members of the last
House re-elected to this, upon whom he knew he could absolutely
depend under all circumstances. Upon my inquiry as to their names,
he said:

"Hadlai,"--the Doctor, it may be here mentioned, had from my boyhood
kindly given me the benefit of an "H" to which I laid no claim and
was in no way entitled--"Hadlai, you take your pencil and take down
their names as I give them to you."

I at once took my seat, and pencil in hand, looked inquiringly
toward the Doctor.

"Hadlai," he continued, "put down Heise of Cook. John and I
have been friends for more than thirty years; I worked for him for
a delegate-at-large to the last National Convention, and he told
me then, 'Doctor, if there is anything I can do for you, just let me
know.'"

To which I replied, "Heise of Cook, dead sure," and his name was
at once placed in the Rogers column.

"Now, Hadlai," continued the Doctor, "there is Armstrong of La
Salle; Wash and I were boys together in Ohio, and sat side by side
in the Charleston Convention when we were trying to nominate Douglas.
He