''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 138business was entered upon with the utmost earnestness."LONG AND SHORT OF IT.On the occasion of a serenade, the President was called for by the crowdassembled. He appeared at a window with his wife (who was somewhatbelow the medium height), and made the following "brief remarks":"Here I am, and here is Mrs. Lincoln. That's the long and the short of it."MORE PEGS THAN HOLES.Some gentlemen were once finding fault with the President because certaingenerals were not given commands."The fact is," replied President Lincoln, "I have got more pegs than I haveholes to put them in.""WEBSTER COULDN'T HAVE DONE MORE."Lincoln "got even" with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in 1855, ina most substantial way, at the same time secured sweet revenge for aninsult, unwarranted in every way, put upon him by one of the officials ofthat corporation.Lincoln and Herndon defended the Illinois Central Railroad in an actionbrought by McLean County, Illinois, in August, 1853, to recover taxesalleged to be due the county from the road. The Legislature had granted theroad immunity from taxation, and this was a case intended to test theconstitutionality of the law. The road sent a retainer fee of $250.In the lower court the case was decided in favor of the railroad. An appealto the Supreme Court followed, was argued twice, and finally decided infavor of the road. This last decision was rendered some time in 1855.Lincoln then went to Chicago and presented the bill for legal services.Lincoln and Herndon only asked for $2,000 more.