were few, Lincoln was busy with his Blackstone. He lay in the shade of a large tree near the store, and read to his heart's content. Unfortunately, Berry was "busy" in the back end of the store, where strong drink was kept!

Berry drank and Lincoln read! The storekeeping was a failure. They sold out. The men gave their note just as Berry and Lincoln had done. Pretty soon the new storekeepers ran away, and Berry died. Lincoln had to shoulder the entire debt. He told the men whom he owed that he had no money, but that they should have it as soon as he could get it. It was a mountain of debt to that poor young man. He called it his "national debt," by way of a joke. But it was no joke for a poor young man to pay out a thousand dollars in a country where money was scarce. He paid every cent of it-interest and all. It took him seven

teen years to do it!

What a burden to

hang over one like a cloud! After that people called him "Honest Abe."

Two Offices Given Lincoln by the Democrats

Before he was out of the store Lincoln's friends asked President Jackson to make him postmaster at New Salem. The President and many of Lincoln's friends were Democrats, but this made no difference. Being postmaster was not a big office, and it gave Lincoln time to read and study. It is said that he "carried the post office in his hat." When he met a person for whom he had a letter Lincoln took off his hat and handed him the letter. When he went about the country he took the mail in his hat, and as he passed the cabins he handed it out. He was a sort of first Rural Free Delivery.

Pretty soon a better chance came to him. The surveyor of Sangamon County found he needed help. He sent word to Lincoln that he wanted him as deputy surveyor. Lincoln talked the matter over with the man and said he would take the position if he did not have to

change his politics! The surveyor was a Democrat; Lincoln was a Whig.

It was agreed. But Lincoln knew nothing about surveying. He obtained a book on surveying and began the work of mastering it. Day and night he studied, sometimes

Lincoln's surveying instruments

until early morning hours. He called upon his friend the school teacher for help. In a few weeks he reported for business.

For every day's work as surveyor he received three dollars. A princely sum ! He had never earned so much money for a day's work before. One great use to which he put his work as surveyor was to get acquainted with people.

While he was acting as postmaster and surveyor, Lincoln never failed to do a kind deed when he saw a chance. The people of New Salem said Lincoln was "obliging." The children of the neighborhood all loved him.

Hannah, wife of Jack Armstrong, treated Lincoln like one of her family. "Abe would come out to our house, drink milk, eat mush, corn bread and butter, bring the children candy, and rock the cradle while I got him something to eat."

It was but a short time before Lincoln had to have a horse. The surveyors had to go long distances. But

Lincoln had no money.
How was he to get a
horse without money?
He bought one on credit

Lincoln's saddlebags

in

and promised to pay at some future time. He obtained a pair of saddlebags, which he carried a compass, a chain, his surveying books, and other useful things.

But

But the man grew tired of waiting for his money, so one day an officer of the law stopped Lincoln, seized the horse, and was bound to have the money. Lincoln could not pay. He was hardly able to find money for his board, and to keep himself in decent clothes. A friend came to his rescue, paid for the horse, and

turned him over to Lincoln. So it was that Lincoln found friends at every turn.

Lincoln never forgot this act of friendship. Years afterward, when he was President and this old friend was living in California, he received a letter from Lincoln naming him for an office with a good salary.

Elected to the State Legislature

Two years had gone by since Lincoln's defeat. He had made many friends in that time. They encouraged young Lincoln, and he finally told the people that he wanted their support for the State Legislature.

During the spring and summer he went to all house raisings, horse races, shooting matches, sales, or auctions as we would say, wherever the people came together. This was just the sort of thing he liked best. He could be a judge at a horse race, make a speech on the Constitution, act as peacemaker between two