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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 392John Calhoun was at that time surveyor of Sangamon county. He had beena lawyer and had noticed the studious Lincoln. Needing an assistant heoffered the place to Lincoln. The average young man without any regularemployment and hard-pressed for means to pay his board as Lincoln was,would have jumped at the opportunity, but a question of principle wasinvolved which had to be settled before Lincoln would accept. Calhoun wasa Democrat and Lincoln was a Whig, therefore Lincoln said, "I will take theoffice if I can be perfectly free in my political actions, but if my sentimentsor even expression of them are to be abridged in any way, I would not haveit or any other office."With this understanding he accepted the office and began to study books onsurveying, furnished him by his employer. He was not a naturalmathematician, and in working out his most difficult problems he soughtthe assistance of Mentor Graham, a famous schoolmaster in those days,who had previously assisted Lincoln in his studies. He soon became acompetent surveyor, however, and was noted for the accurate way in whichhe ran his lines and located his corners.Surveying was not as profitable then as it has since become, and the youngsurveyor often had to take his pay in some article other than money. Oneold settler relates that for a survey made for him by Lincoln he paid twobuckskins, which Hannah Armstrong "foxed" on his pants so that the briarswould not wear them out.About this time, 1833, he was made postmaster at New Salem, the firstFederal office he ever held. Although the postoffice was located in a store,Lincoln usually carried the mail around in his hat and distributed it topeople when he met them.A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.The following year Lincoln again ran for the Legislature, this time as anavowed Whig. Of the four successful candidates, Lincoln received thesecond highest number of votes.