me to the place. Abe could read, write and cipher, but he felt
that if he should succeed in politics, he would disgrace his office and
himself by not speaking and writing English correctly.

The schoolmaster advised: "If you expect to go before the public in any
capacity, I think the best thing you can do is to study English
grammar."

"If I had a grammar I would commence now," sighed Abe.

Mr. Graham thought one could be found at Vaner's, only six miles away.
So Abe got up and started for it as fast as he could stride. In an
incredibly short time he returned with a copy of Kirkham's Grammar, and
set to work upon it at once. Sometimes he would steal away into the
woods, where he could study "out loud" if he desired. He kept up his old
habit of sitting up nights to read, and as lights were expensive, the
village cooper allowed him to stay in his shop, where he burned the
shavings and studied by the blaze as he had done in Indiana, after every
one else had gone to bed. So it was not long before young Lincoln, with
the aid of Schoolmaster Graham, had mastered the principles of English
grammar, and felt himself better equipped to enter politics and public
life. Some of his rivals, however, did not trouble themselves about
speaking and writing correctly.

GOING INTO POLITICS

James Rutledge, a "substantial" citizen, and the former owner of
Rutledge's mill and dam, was the president of the New Salem debating
club. Young Lincoln joined this society, and when he first rose to
speak, everybody began to smile in anticipation of a funny story, but
Abe proceeded to discuss the question before the house in very good
form. He was awkward in his movements and gestures at first, and amused
those present by thrusting his unwieldy hands deep into his pockets, but
his arguments were so well-put and forcible that all who heard him were
astonished.

Mr. Rutledge, that night after Abe's maiden effort at the lyceum, told
his wife:

"There is more in Abe Lincoln's head than mere wit and fun. He is
already a fine speaker. All he needs is culture to fit him for a high
position in public life."

But there were occasions enough where something besides culture was
required. A man who was present and heard Lincoln's first real stump
speech describes his appearance and actions in the following picturesque
language:

"He wore a mixed jean coat, clawhammer style, short in the sleeves and
bob-tail--in fact, it was so short in the tail that