out riding with several friends,
they missed Lincoln. One of them, having heard the distressed cries of
two young birds that had fallen from the nest, surmised that this had
something to do with Mr. Lincoln's disappearance. The man was right.
Lincoln had hitched his horse and climbed the fence into the thicket
where the fledglings were fluttering on the ground in great fright. He
caught the young birds and tenderly carried them about until he found
their nest. Climbing the tree he put the birdlings back where they
belonged. After an hour Mr. Lincoln caught up with his companions, who
laughed at him for what they called his "childishness." He answered them
earnestly:

"Gentlemen, you may laugh, but I could not have slept tonight if I had
not saved those little birds. The mother's cries and theirs would have
rung in my ears."

LAWYER LINCOLN, IN A NEW SUIT OF CLOTHES, RESCUING A PIG STUCK IN THE
MUD

Lawyer Lincoln rode from one county-seat to another, on the Eighth
Judicial Circuit of Illinois, either on the back of a raw-boned horse,
or in a rickety buggy drawn by the same old "crowbait," as his legal
friends called the animal. The judge and lawyers of the several courts
traveled together and whiled away the time chatting and joking. Of
course, Abraham Lincoln was in great demand because of his unfailing
humor.

One day he appeared in a new suit of clothes. This was such a rare
occurrence that the friends made remarks about it. The garments did not
fit him very well, and the others felt in duty bound to "say things"
which were anything but complimentary.

As they rode along through the mud they were making Lincoln the butt of
their gibes. He was not like most jokers, for he could take as well as
give, while he could "give as good as he got."

In the course of their "chaffing" they came to a spot about four miles
from Paris, Illinois, where they saw a pig stuck in the mud and
squealing lustily. The men all laughed at the poor animal and its absurd
plight.

"Poor piggy!" exclaimed Mr. Lincoln impulsively. "Let's get him out of
that."

The others jeered at the idea. "You'd better do it. You're dressed for
the job!" exclaimed one.

"Return to your wallow!" laughed another, pointing in great glee to the
wallowing hog and the mudhole.

Lincoln looked at the pig, at the deep mud, then down at his new
clothes. Ruefully he rode on with them for some time. But the cries of
the helpless animal rang in his ears. He