n and read one to the company, finding in their
enjoyment of it the temporary excitement and relief which another man
would have found in a glass of wine. The instant he had ceased, the book
was thrown aside, his countenance relapsed into its habitual serious
expression, and the business was entered upon with the utmost
earnestness."

LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

On the occasion of a serenade, the President was called for by the crowd
assembled. He appeared at a window with his wife (who was somewhat below
the medium height), and made the following "brief remarks":

"Here I am, and here is Mrs. Lincoln. That's the long and the short of
it."

MORE PEGS THAN HOLES.

Some gentlemen were once finding fault with the President because
certain generals were not given commands.

"The fact is," replied President Lincoln, "I have got more pegs than I
have holes to put them in."

"WEBSTER COULDN'T HAVE DONE MORE."

Lincoln "got even" with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in 1855,
in a most substantial way, at the same time secured sweet revenge for an
insult, unwarranted in every way, put upon him by one of the officials
of that corporation.

Lincoln and Herndon defended the Illinois Central Railroad in an action
brought by McLean County, Illinois, in August, 1853, to recover taxes
alleged to be due the county from the road. The Legislature had granted
the road immunity from taxation, and this was a case intended to test
the constitutionality of the law. The road sent a retainer fee of $250.

In the lower court the case was decided in favor of the railroad. An
appeal to the Supreme Court followed, was argued twice, and finally
decided in favor of the road. This last decision was rendered some time
in 1855. Lincoln then went to Chicago and presented the bill for legal
services. Lincoln and Herndon only asked for $2,000 more.

The official to whom he was referred, after looking at the bill,
expressed great surprise.

"Why, sir," he exclaimed, "this is as much as Daniel Webster himself
would have charged. We cannot allow such a claim."

"Why not?" asked Lincoln.

"We could have hired first-class lawyers at that figure," was the
response.

"We won the case, didn't we?" queried Lincoln.

"Certainly," replied the official.

"Daniel Webster, then," retorted Lincoln in no amiable tone, "couldn't
have done more," and "Abe" walked out of the official's office.

Lincoln withdrew the bill, and started