his great athletic power,
his quaint, odd ways, his uncouth appearance--all tended to bring him in
sharp contrast with the dull mediocrity by which he was surrounded.

Denton Offutt, his old employer, said, after having had a conversation
with Lincoln, that the young man "had talent enough in him to make a
President."

ON THE WAY TO GETTYSBURG.

When Lincoln was on his way to the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, an
old gentleman told him that his only son fell on Little Round Top at
Gettysburg, and he was going to look at the spot. Mr. Lincoln replied:
"You have been called on to make a terrible sacrifice for the Union, and
a visit to that spot, I fear, will open your wounds afresh.

"But, oh, my dear sir, if we had reached the end of such sacrifices,
and had nothing left for us to do but to place garlands on the graves
of those who have already fallen, we could give thanks even amidst our
tears; but when I think of the sacrifices of life yet to be offered, and
the hearts and homes yet to be made desolate before this dreadful war is
over, my heart is like lead within me, and I feel at times like hiding
in deep darkness." At one of the stopping places of the train, a very
beautiful child, having a bunch of rosebuds in her hand, was lifted up
to an open window of the President's car. "Floweth for the President."
The President stepped to the window, took the rosebuds, bent down and
kissed the child, saying, "You are a sweet little rosebud yourself. I
hope your life will open into perpetual beauty and goodness."

STOOD UP THE LONGEST.

There was a rough gallantry among the young people; and Lincoln's old
comrades and friends in Indiana have left many tales of how he "went to
see the girls," of how he brought in the biggest back-log and made the
brightest fire; of how the young people, sitting around it, watching the
way the sparks flew, told their fortunes.

He helped pare apples, shell corn and crack nuts. He took the girls to
meeting and to spelling school, though he was not often allowed to take
part in the spelling-match, for the one who "chose first" always chose
"Abe" Lincoln, and that was equivalent to winning, as the others knew
that "he would stand up the longest."

A MORTIFYING EXPERIENCE.

A lady reader or elocutionist came to Springfield in 1857. A large crowd
greeted her. Among other things she recited "Nothing to Wear," a piece
in which is described the perplexities that beset "Miss