o the remark, he said: "I believe that this is a sort of
proposition in proportion, which may be stated thus: 'As the negro is
to the white man, so is the crocodile to the negro; and as the negro may
rightfully treat the crocodile as a beast or reptile, so the white man
may rightfully treat the negro as a beast or reptile.'"

LINCOLN WAS READY TO FIGHT.

On one occasion, Colonel Baker was speaking in a court-house, which had
been a storehouse, and, on making some remarks that were offensive to
certain political rowdies in the crowd, they cried: "Take him off the
stand!"

Immediate confusion followed, and there was an attempt to carry the
demand into execution. Directly over the speaker's head was an old
skylight, at which it appeared Mr. Lincoln had been listening to the
speech. In an instant, Mr. Lincoln's feet came through the skylight,
followed by his tall and sinewy frame, and he was standing by Colonel
Baker's side. He raised his hand and the assembly subsided into silence.
"Gentlemen," said Mr. Lincoln, "let us not disgrace the age and country
in which we live. This is a land where freedom of speech is guaranteed.
Mr. Baker has a right to speak, and ought to be permitted to do so. I am
here to protect him, and no man shall take him from this stand if I can
prevent it." The suddenness of his appearance, his perfect calmness and
fairness, and the knowledge that he would do what he had promised to do,
quieted all disturbance, and the speaker concluded his remarks without
difficulty.

IT WAS UP-HILL WORK.

Two young men called on the President from Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln shook hands with them, and asked about the crops, the weather,
etc.

Finally one of the young men said, "Mother is not well, and she sent me
up to inquire of you how the suit about the Wells property is getting
on."

Lincoln, in the same even tone with which he had asked the question,
said: "Give my best wishes and respects to your mother, and tell her I
have so many outside matters to attend to now that I have put that case,
and others, in the hands of a lawyer friend of mine, and if you will
call on him (giving name and address) he will give you the information
you want."

After they had gone, a friend, who was present, said: "Mr. Lincoln, you
did not seem to know the young men?"

He laughed and replied: "No, I had never seen them before, and I had to
beat around the bush until I found who they were. It was up-hill wo