admirers, to nominate him for the Legislature. Though he had only been a resident of the county for nine months, an undoubted, intelligent "Henry Clay man" was required for the ticket, and he was deemed a candidate "proper to success."

The choice was particularly influenced by the fact, that the county had given General Jackson a large majority the year before; whereas it was believed that Lincoln's popularity would now insure success to the opposite ticket. The nomination was accordingly made. It must have been a proud moment, and one hard to realize, for the young man yet fresh from the woods, when, across a brief interval of retrospect, he could thus contrast his humble life of physical toil with the condition which found him worthy to sit in council beside the statesmen of his new, but wealth-gathering and fast-rising State. He accepted the proffered dignity with the gratitude and enthusiasm of youth and hope. The issue, however, was averse to him; he received but two hundred and seventy-seven votes out of the two hundred and eighty-four cast in New Salem ; there being, in all, eight aspirants for the legislative distinction. This was the only time that Mr. Lincoln ever was beaten in a direct issue before the people.

With the versatility characteristic of western enterprise, we find him about this period of his upward struggle uniting in his own person the double function of shop-keeper and village postmaster. He struggled manfully in his new vocation, but a lack of capital compelled him at last to abandon trade, and seek a different field of exertion.

Nothing daunted by his ill-fortune, he next endeavoured to gain an insight into the profession of law.

To this end he borrowed some books from a friend, and gradually made himself acquainted with the rudiments of the profession in which he afterwards achieved a marked success.

He, meantime, pursued his studies diligently. He made himself somewhat proficient in grammar; while his newer opportunities gave him the means of far more extensive reading than he had hitherto enjoyed. It was his custom to write out an epitome of every Book he read-a process which served to impress the contents more indelibly on his memory, as well as to give him skill in composition.

Before he had proceeded very far in his study of the law, he became acquainted with Mr. John Calhoun-afterwards President of the Lecompton (Kansas) Constitutional Convention, who proposed to him to take up the study and vocation of surveying. Mr. Lincoln assented, and immediately commenced the requisite routine of study and practice. He frequently went with Mr. Calhoun to the field, and in a short time set up for a surveyor on his own account. In this adventure fortune was more in his favour than it yet had been. He set to work with his usual industry and vigour, and soon obtained plenty of work. He won quite a reputation in his vocation, but continued in it for little more than a year.

At the close of this period, in August of 1834-two years after our subject was first a candidate for the Legislature, and when he had just entered his twentysixth year he was again nominated as a candidate for the Legislature of Illinois. The prospect of success was much brighter than before, for Abraham Lincoln had become a very popular man. The first to enlist,

and the last to leave, he was thought to have distinguished himself as a military man. He was an excellent surveyor, a tolerable lawyer-in fact, a rising man, in the western sense of the term. More than this, he was heartily esteemed for his good sense, greatness of heart, and integrity of soul.

These auguries were not fallacious. The day of election arrived; a large vote was polled; and, as had been generally anticipated, Mr. Lincoln was the suc cessful candidate by a handsome majority.

In this manner was commenced the political life of the humble and noble man who at length became the recipient of the highest gift of dignity and honour which it is in the power of the American people to bestow. To the Legislature of Illinois he accordingly

went.

It was during the first session that he determined to continue the study of the law; and he here formed the acquaintance of his colleague, the Hon. John T. Stuart. He was three times re-elected to the Legislature—in 1836, 1838, and 1840. What were his particular services, it is not necessary to relate. That he laboured successfully and acceptably for the interests of his constituents, and for the advancement of his State, is certain. The quick-discerning and strong-minded men who generally compose the "first settlers" of a new country, were not to be satisfied with the pretence of work; they judged the tree by its fruits, and that Mr. Lincoln was so frequently re-elected proves him to have been true to his old habits of industry and well-doing. It was during his legislative duties that Mr. Lincoln first became acquainted with Stephen A. Douglas. Little did the two men then realize the position they were, ere

long, to assume toward one another and toward their country. Mr. Douglas, like Mr. Lincoln, was the sole architect of his own fortunes; the State of Illinois cradled them both in their humble estate, and gave them, as her own, to a career of political glory now become

historical.

He obtained a law-licence in 1836, removed to Springfield in April, 1837, and commenced the practice of his profession as partner of Mr. Stuart.

One instance, in connection with his practice of the law, we may relate. A murder having been committed, a young man, named Armstrong, a son of the aged couple for whom, many years before, Abraham Lincoln had worked, was charged with the deed. Being arrested and examined, a true bill was found against him, and he was lodged in jail to await his trial. As soon as Mr. Lincoln received intelligence of the affair, he addressed a kind letter to Mrs. Armstrong, stating his anxiety that her son should have a fair trial, and offering, in return for her kindness to him while in adverse circumstances some years before, his services gratuitously. Investigation convinced the volunteer-attorney that the young man was the victim of a conspiracy, and he determined to postpone the case until the excitement had subsided. The day of trial, however, finally arrived, and the accuser testified positively that he saw the accused plunge the knife into the heart of the murdered man. He remembered all the circumstances perfectly; the murder was committed about half-past nine o'clock at night, and the moon was shining brightly. Mr. Lincoln reviewed all the testimony carefully, and then proved conclusively that the moon, which the accuser had sworn was shining brightly, did not rise

until an hour or more after the murder was committed! Other discrepancies were exposed, and, in thirty minutes after the jury retired, they returned with a verdict of 'not guilty.''

The prisoner and his mother had been awaiting the verdict with agonizing anxiety. No sooner had the most momentous words, "not guilty," dropped from the foreman's lips, than the mother swooned in the arms of her son. He raised her, and pressed her to his heart with words of glad reassurance.

"Where is Mr. Lincoln ?" he exclaimed, and then flew across the room and grasped his deliverer by the hand, with a heart too full for speech.

It was sunset-time, and they were near a window that faced the west. Mr. Lincoln returned the warm grasp of the prisoner, and then cast his glance through the window towards the golden western horizon.

"It is not yet sundown," said he, tenderly, "and you are free."

Mr. Lincoln continued prospering, devoting the succeeding six years to the study as well as the practice of the law. Each new case seemed to add to his growing reputation for ability as a court and jury lawyer, and eminence as counsel. Several of his associates in practice at the Springfield bar were remarkable men. Says a writer, familiar with the persons and incidents of that gathering of great and peculiar men who made the Illinois capital the arena of their combats :

"It would be hard to find in any backwoods-town, at the period of which I have been speaking, a collection of men of equal ability and possibilities with those who pleaded, and wrangled, and electioneered together in Springfield. Logan, one of the finest examples of the