country, deserted by all the world beside, and I, standing up boldly and alone, hurling defiance at her victorious oppressors. And here, without contemplating the consequences, before high Heaven and in the face of the whole world, I swear eternal fidelity to the just cause, as I deem it, of the land of my life, my liberty and my love."

When the fulfilment of this oath was called for, and the suffering country he loved so well stretched out her hands to him in her dire extremity, he hesitated not, but redeemed to the uttermost the solemn pledge he had given this night as if in anticipation of the event.

CHAPTER VI.

ALTHOUGH he was deeply interested in politics and gave up much of his time to side issues, Lincoln did not forget that it was by the practice of law that he was to make his living and, in his plodding and patient way, was slowly making a reputation. He never excelled in his knowledge of the law, unlike his partner, Judge Logan, who was ranked as the bestequipped nisi prius lawyer in the West. Nor did he apply himself to a single branch of the law, so as to become a recognized authority.

He had, by persistent study, gained a sufficient knowledge of common and statute law to enable him to practice successfully in the circuit courts, and his quickness to take advantage of any flaw in the evidence or to turn a point upon his adversary fully compensated for any lack of legal culture which he might have manifested.

As an example of this an interesting story is related of his defense of the son of an old friend, who was accused of murder. The incident was so striking and dramatic that it has been made the basis of a popular novel.1 The murder was committed one Sunday evening at a camp-meeting. The victim was a young man against whom the accused had been heard to make violent threats. The principal witness was a disreputable man, who swore that he had heard the

1 "The Graysons," by Edward Eggleston.

accused threaten to take the life of the victim, and that, on the night of the murder, he saw the deed. performed from a thicket in which he had concealed himself. The chain of evidence seemed to be completely forged and public sentiment was strongly against the accused. To the surprise of all, Lincoln sat calmly in his seat during the trial, asked but few questions and produced no witnesses, except one or two to prove the previous good character of the young man. When it came his turn to address the jury he reviewed briefly the case and called to mind the fact that the leading witness had sworn that he had seen the foul deed performed by the light of the full moon. Producing an almanac he showed the jury that there had been no moon that night; and then pointing his long finger at him, he accused the witness of the murder. He completed his speech with a most eloquent appeal to the jury to restore the young man to his widowed mother, and pictured so fervently the desolation of the home, deprived of the only son, that there was not a dry eye in the audience. It is needless to say that the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty," without leaving their seats.

In those days lawyers were compelled to go from place to place to attend court, making the rounds of the circuit with the Judge. The cases were generally free from legal technicalities and required but little preparation. The fees were not large and were often in kind, so that it was not a difficult matter for even a

poor lawyer to secure a horse. The lawyers generally traveled in congenial groups, and enlivened the monotonous journey with stories and anecdotes, or heated political discussions.

Lincoln was always a favorite traveling-companion and made an extensive circle of friends. For a young man, ambitious for political preferment, no mode of life could have been more favorable. People from the surrounding country flocked to the court-house during the session to listen to the speeches, and they made an appreciative audience, quick to recognize ability. They knew all the lawyers by name, frequently being personally acquainted with them, and freely discussed. their relative merits. Indeed, the court-session and the doings of the lawyers formed the topic of general conversation in the intervals, and the favorites were always cordially greeted.

It is needless to say that Lincoln made many firm friends during this peripatetic life. His open and frank demeanor, his good memory, which enabled him to remember the names of even casual acquaintances, his helpful disposition, and his geniality and good humor, all united to make him preferred above the most of his associates. The popularity thus acquired added to his political speeches and work soon caused him to be recognized as one of the Whig leaders in the State, and as such he gained no little prominence.

There is always a tendency on the part of posterity to idealize great heroes and to see nothing but the good and great things in their lives. This heroworship has always been specially directed towards, Lincoln. During the last four years of his life he occupied so lofty an eminence, and performed such signal services for humanity, as to be ranked in the short list of her greatest heroes. Using this period

as a starting point, men paint the halo of perfection about his whole life. As the wise men followed the star from the East to the stable at Bethlehem, so it is a common tendency to picture Lincoln passing through the minute details of his life with the star of his destiny ever in sight and pointing him out, from early boyhood, as the man upon whom the fate of the nation should depend.

This state of things was far from true. While he undoubtedly gave promise of a brilliant future, the great pre-eminence which he was to attain was but little more than hinted at. There were many more noted and learned lawyers, even in his own circuit. As an orator he had many peers, a few superiors. As a statesman he had had but little opportunity to show his mettle, but his efforts in that direction had been largely attended with failure and seemed indicative of political short-sightedness, if not of actual incapacity. Had it not been for his captivating manners and the vast fund of story and anecdote, with which he illustrated and pointed his thoughts in conversation and public addresses, he would have attracted hardly more than passing attention. That he had the elements of true greatness in youth no one can deny, but they required much training before he was fitted to occupy an exalted position in the world.

Many interesting stories are related of his sayings and doings while "riding circuit," that will be recognized as thoroughly characteristic of the man.

Two farmers, having a misunderstanding about a horse trade, went to law. By mutual consent Mr. Lincoln and his partner took the opposite sides. the day of the trial Mr. Logan, having bought a new

On