k was always well done. Sometimes, to make a diversion, when he was
working as a "hired hand," he would stop to tell some of his funny
stories, or to make a stump speech before his fellow-workers, who would
all crowd round him to listen; but he would more than make up for the
time thus spent by the increased energy with which he afterward worked.
Doubtless the other laborers, too, were refreshed and stimulated to
greater effort by the recreation he afforded them and the inspiration
of his example.

Thomas Lincoln had learned carpentry and cabinet making in his youth,
and taught the rudiments of these trades to his son; so that in
addition to his skill and efficiency in all the work that falls to the
lot of a pioneer backwoods farmer, Abraham added the accomplishment of
being a fairly good carpenter. He worked at these trades with his
father whenever the opportunity offered. When he was not working for
his family, he was hired out to the neighboring farmers. His highest
wage was twenty-five cents a day, which he always handed over to his
father.

Lincoln got his first glimpse of the world beyond Indiana when he
worked for several months as a ferryman and boatman on the Ohio River,
at Anderson Creek. He saw the steamers and vessels of all kinds sailing
up and down the Ohio, laden with produce and merchandise, on their way
to and from western and southern towns. He came in contact with
different kinds of people from different states, and thus his views of
the world and its people became a little more extended, and his longing
to be somebody and to do something worth while in the world waxed
stronger daily.

His work as a ferryman showed him that there were other ways of making
a little money than by hiring out to the neighbors at twenty-five cents
a day. He resolved to take some of the farm produce to New Orleans and
sell it there. This project led to the unexpected earning of a dollar,
which added strength to his purpose to prepare himself to take the part
of a man in the world outside of Indiana. Let him tell in his own
words, as he related the story to Mr. Seward years afterward, how he
earned the dollar:--

"Seward," he said, "did you ever hear how I earned my first dollar?"

"No," said Mr. Seward.

"Well," replied he, "I was about eighteen years of age, and belonged,
as you know, to what they call down south the 'scrubs'; people who do
not own land and slaves are nobodies there; but we had succeeded in
raising