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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 235"There was a man down in Maine," said the President, in reply, "who kept agrocery store, and a lot of fellows used to loaf around for their toddy. Heonly gave 'em New England rum, and they drank pretty considerable of it.But after awhile they began to get tired of that, and kept asking forsomething new--something new--all the time. Well, one night, when thewhole crowd were around, the grocer brought out his glasses, and says he,'I've got something New for you to drink, boys, now.'"'Honor bright?' said they."'Honor bright,' says he, and with that he sets out a jug. 'Thar' says he,'that's something new; it's New England rum!' says he."Now," remarked the President, in conclusion, "I guess we're a good deallike that crowd, and Congress is a good deal like that store-keeper!"SAVED LINCOLN'S LIFEWhen Mr. Lincoln was quite a small boy he met with an accident thatalmost cost him his life. He was saved by Austin Gollaher, a youngplaymate. Mr. Gollaher lived to be more than ninety years of age, and to theday of his death related with great pride his boyhood association withLincoln."Yes," Mr. Gollaher once said, "the story that I once saved AbrahamLincoln's life is true. He and I had been going to school together for a yearor more, and had become greatly attached to each other. Then schooldisbanded on account of there being so few scholars, and we did not seeeach other much for a long while."One Sunday my mother visited the Lincolns, and I was taken along. 'Abe'and I played around all day. Finally, we concluded to cross the creek tohunt for some partridges young Lincoln had seen the day before. The creekwas swollen by a recent rain, and, in crossing on the narrow footlog, 'Abe'fell in. Neither of us could swim. I got a long pole and held it out to 'Abe,'who grabbed it. Then I pulled him ashore.