incoln said:

"Oh, yes; you Virginians shed barrels of perspiration while standing off
at a distance and superintending the work your slaves do for you. It is
different with us. Here it is every fellow for himself, or he doesn't
get there."

"BUTCHER-KNIFE BOYS" AT THE POLLS.

When young Lincoln had fully demonstrated that he was the champion
wrestler in the country surrounding New Salem, the men of "de gang" at
Clary's Grove, whose leader "Abe" had downed, were his sworn political
friends and allies.

Their work at the polls was remarkably effective. When the "Butcherknife
boys," the "huge-pawed boys," and the "half-horse-half-alligator men"
declared for a candidate the latter was never defeated.

NO "SECOND COMING" FOR SPRINGFIELD.

Soon after the opening of Congress in 1861, Mr. Shannon, from
California, made the customary call at the White House. In the
conversation that ensued, Mr Shannon said: "Mr. President, I met an old
friend of yours in California last summer, a Mr. Campbell, who had a
good deal to say of your Springfield life."

"Ah!" returned Mr. Lincoln, "I am glad to hear of him. Campbell used
to be a dry fellow in those days," he continued. "For a time he was
Secretary of State. One day during the legislative vacation, a meek,
cadaverous-looking man, with a white neck-cloth, introduced himself to
him at his office, and, stating that he had been informed that Mr. C.
had the letting of the hall of representatives, he wished to secure
it, if possible, for a course of lectures he desired to deliver in
Springfield.

"'May I ask,' said the Secretary, 'what is to be the subject of your
lectures?'

"'Certainly,' was the reply, with a very solemn expression of
countenance. 'The course I wish to deliver is on the Second Coming of
our Lord.'

"'It is of no use,' said C.; 'if you will take my advice, you will not
waste your time in this city. It is my private opinion that, if the Lord
has been in Springfield once, He will never come the second time!'"

HOW HE WON A FRIEND.

J. S. Moulton, of Chicago, a master in chancery and influential in
public affairs, looked upon the candidacy of Mr. Lincoln for President
as something in the nature of a joke. He did not rate the Illinois man
in the same class with the giants of the East. In fact he had expressed
himself as by no means friendly to the Lincoln cause.

Still he had been a good friend to Lincoln and had often met him when
the Sprin