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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 42"'But why did you not go at him with the other end of the pitchfork?'"'Why did he not come after me with his other end?'"At this Mr. Lincoln whirled about in his long arms an imaginary dog, andpushed its tail end toward the jury. This was the defensive plea of 'sonassault demesne'--loosely, that 'the other fellow brought on thefight,'--quickly told, and in a way the dullest mind would grasp and retain."LET SIX SKUNKS GO.The President had decided to select a new War Minister, and the LeadingRepublican Senators thought the occasion was opportune to change thewhole seven Cabinet ministers. They, therefore, earnestly advised him tomake a clean sweep, and select seven new men, and so restore the waningconfidence of the country.The President listened with patient courtesy, and when the Senators hadconcluded, he said, with a characteristic gleam of humor in his eye:"Gentlemen, your request for a change of the whole Cabinet because I havemade one change reminds me of a story I once heard in Illinois, of a farmerwho was much troubled by skunks. His wife insisted on his trying to get ridof them."He loaded his shotgun one moonlight night and awaited developments.After some time the wife heard the shotgun go off, and in a few minutes thefarmer entered the house."'What luck have you?' asked she."'I hid myself behind the wood-pile,' said the old man, 'with the shotgunpointed towards the hen roost, and before long there appeared not oneskunk, but seven. I took aim, blazed away, killed one, and he raised such afearful smell that I concluded it was best to let the other six go."'