At home, even with the help of his step-mother, who continually encouraged him, circumstances were adverse to his desire for scholarship. The household, which had increased to nine persons, belonging to four different families, was huddled together in the one common room of the cabin, the scene of all the household operations. Here, when the day's work was over and the evening meal was done, the father and the two elder cousins, Dennis and John Hanks, sat over the blazing logs talking together and telling interminable yarns. It was only when the others were out or after they had gone to bed, that there was any quiet; and then, by the dull light of the embers or by the blaze of spice-wood bushes, the lad would work out his arithmetic exercises with a burnt stick on the wooden shovel. At other times he would take a home-made candle up into his loft, to pore, while the light lasted, over his well-thumbed Life of Henry Clay, Weems's Washington-the Washington "who never told a lie "or Esop's Fables, making careful notes in some precious copy-book of all that struck his fancy; putting the volume reluctantly away into its nook beneath the shingles till the first dawn

He had borrowed it While in his possession assessed the damage as

1 He became the possessor of this book, which undoubtedly exercised a great influence over him, in a characteristic way. from an employer, a certain Josiah Crawford. the volume was spoiled by wet, and Crawford equivalent to three days' labour at pulling fodder. Abe paid the fine and became owner of the book; but he retained a not unnatural dislike of Mr Crawford, on whom he wrote some satirical doggerel verses. Mrs Crawford was a woman of education, and a good friend both to Abe and his sister, who repaid her kindness by devotion. Among other local friends are recorded the names of David Turnham, the constable, and John Baldwin, the blacksmith. Judge Pitcher, who lived at Rockport, subsequently lent him law books.

light glimmered through their chinks and awoke his mind anew to its insatiable hunger.

He seems to have been well drilled in the Bible by his mother, and now, besides the books I have already mentioned, he devoured the dictionary, Robinson Crusoe, Pilgrim's Progress, a history of the United States, and such other works as the neighbourhood could offer. All through the summer days he would carry a book or newspaper about with him, taking a turn at it whenever he found opportunity. This bookhunger often interfered with his labour-which he probably loved as little as do other clever lads-and became a source of friction between him and his father. For young Lincoln was an invaluable assistant, whether as a rough carpenter in and about Gentryville, as a labourer on the farm, or as a runner of errands; and he was hardly less valuable let out as a hired hand to some neighbour to plough, chop firewood, butcher hogs, or split fencing rails.

Even as a youth Lincoln presented an astonishing figure. He shot up early, and at eighteen stood six feet four in his buckskins and moccasins. He was ungainly as well as tall, and, withal, most homely to look upon. His big, protruding ears, standing out from his head, his mop of stiff dark brown hair which looked as though it had never known a brush, his grey eyes, his large, uncompromising nose and big mouth, with humorous hanging underlip, crowned a stalky, big-boned figure, roughly clad in deer-hide coat and breeches which he continued more and more to outgrow till at last a gap of bare bluish shins was exposed above the moccasins on his feet. This odd being became very familiar to the people of Gentryville. Mr Jones, the

village storekeeper, subscribed for a weekly paper, which was read in common and discussed about his doorway and counter; Abe, though the youngest, being the most eager of the group of village politicians. As soon as he was able he subscribed for a paper himself.

Under the influence of Mr Jones and his friends, Lincoln espoused the cause of Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay's successful rival, and the most powerful and picturesque personality then on the field of American politics, the idol and oracle of the frontiersmen. In the presidential contest of 1824, Jackson of Tennessee, although he had received the largest number of electoral votes, had failed of a clear majority, and the election had been decided in favour of Adams of Massachusetts by the House of Representatives. This decision was largely due to the action of Clay, and resulted in the open and bitter hostility of these two great Western leaders. Young Lincoln's sympathy was naturally enough with Jackson as against Adams, who was believed to represent an element in American politics jealous of the development and democracy of the West.

Jackson was possessed by intense conviction and had a remarkable insight into character, was a born and tried fighter, a master and ruler of men. Though autocratic and personally indifferent to constitutional forms, he was yet, in a sense, conservative, and was above all things devoted to the national idea. He was incorruptible, without fear, and without personal vices. His will was law for all who loved and feared and followed him. Lincoln always retained his admiration for the first Western President, though

he early and entirely separated himself from Jackson's party.

The political discussions at Jones's store, with their opportunities for debate, were supplemented by the trials before the local "squire," and the more important ones for the county held at Boonville Court-house, whither the lad would often repair. The Court-house was fifteen miles from Gentryville, and a mere log barn, boasting at the best one common retiring room for judge, clerk, and jury. The bench, to accommodate three, was raised on a platform at one end of the building; counsel occupied a settee, while the clerk had a table below it. The court was separated from the general public by a long boom, fastened with withes, across the house. Under such conditions the superficial dignity and ceremonial of the law were certainly not in evidence; but none the less, justice was sought and done, and the logic and eloquence of the lawyer was seen to advantage.

It was undoubtedly in this building that young Lincoln's own ambition was fired, and notably, as he himself recalled in after years, by the defence of a man under trial for murder by a Mr Breckinridge. This gentleman afterwards happened to call on the President in Washington, when Lincoln recalled the occasion, saying warmly, "I felt that, if I could ever make as good a speech as that, my soul would be satisfied." The young enthusiast is said to have offered his congratulations upon the spot to the eloquent advocate, much to the latter's amusement.

Indiana had been admitted as a State into the Union in the spring preceding the Lincolns' immigration, and had since then increased very rapidly in population.

When Abraham was sixteen, and deep in politics, the Gentryville district must have been mildly interested in the socialist experiment of Robert Owen at New Harmony, not many miles distant. Its short history of great hopes speedily overtaken by fraud, dissension, and disaster, doubtless formed one of his first practical object lessons in political theory. It is interesting to note that Robert Dale Owen, the son of the founder, lived in the State, and became actively engaged there in social reform as well as in the journalistic discussion of free thought. He subsequently became a notable figure in the political life of Indiana, which he represented in Congress for many years as a Democrat.

It is improbable that the pioneers of the State fully appreciated the significance of the English reformer's theory or experiment. They were doubtless much more interested in the slavery question, which in those days frequently overshadowed all others in their local politics. The Lincolns are reported to have held anti-slavery principles, and to have been in relation with certain ardent abolitionists who were then making this corner of the State the centre of their campaign. The South-West counties of Indiana lay too close to Illinois and Missouri not to share in the struggle which went on in these States at the time of their admission to the Union. And although Indiana herself had entered as a free State, she had, in this district especially, been largely peopled by Kentuckians from over the river, who brought with them and still retained among them a certain number of slaves. The discussion of slavery and emancipation seems early to have attracted Abraham, whom tradition represents as