th the children, and this feeling was intensified toward his
own offspring.

When Abe Lincoln was living in New Salem he distinguished himself by
caring for the little children--a thing beneath the dignity of the other
young men of the settlement.

Hannah Armstrong, wife of the Clary's Grove bully, whom Abe had to
"lick" to a finish in order to establish himself on a solid basis in New
Salem society, told how friendly their relations became after the
thrashing he gave her husband:

"Abe would come to our house, drink milk, eat mush, cornbread and
butter, bring the children candy and rock the cradle." (This seemed a
strange thing to her.) "He would nurse babies--do anything to
accommodate anybody."

HOW HE REPAID THE ARMSTRONGS' KINDNESS

The Armstrong baby, Willie, grew to be a youth of wrong habits, and was
nicknamed "Duff." He was drawn, one afternoon, into a bad quarrel with
another rough young man, named Metzker, who was brutally beaten. In the
evening a vicious young man, named Morris, joined the row and the lad
was struck on the head and died without telling who had dealt the fatal
blow. The blame was thrown upon "Duff" Armstrong, who was arrested.
Illinois law preventing him from testifying in his own behalf.

When Lawyer Lincoln heard of the case, he wrote as follows:

"SPRINGFIELD, ILL., September, 1857.

"DEAR MRS. ARMSTRONG:

"I have just heard of your deep affliction, and
the arrest of your son for murder.

"I can hardly believe that he can be capable of
the crime alleged against him.

"It does not seem possible. I am anxious that
he should be given a fair trial, at any rate;
and gratitude for your long-continued kindness
to me in adverse circumstances prompts me to
offer my humble services gratuitously in his
behalf.

"It will afford me an opportunity to requite,
in a small degree, the favors I received at
your hand, and that of your lamented husband,
when your roof afforded me a grateful shelter,
without money and without price.

"Yours truly,
"A. LINCOLN."

The feeling in the neighborhood where the crime was committed was so
intense that it was decided that it must be taken over to the next
county to secure a fair trial. Lawyer Lincoln was on hand to defend