s, and had been appointed
Register of the Land Office; and over his house was the only
lightning-rod in the town or country. Lincoln had seen the
lightning-rod for the first time on the day before."

[Illustration: LINCOLN IN 1860.--HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED.

From a carbon enlargement, made by Sherman and McHugh of New York
City, of an ambrotype owned by Mr. A. Montgomery of Columbus, Ohio,
to whose generosity we owe the right of reproduction. This portrait
of Lincoln was made in June, 1860, by Butler, a Springfield (Illinois)
photographer. On July 4th of that year, Mr. Lincoln delivered an
address at Atlanta, Illinois, where he was the guest of Mr. Vester
Strong. Before leaving town he handed Mr. Strong the ambrotype which
we copy here. Mr. Strong valued the picture highly, but as he had no
children to whom to leave it, and as he wished it to be in the care of
one who would appreciate its value, he gave it a few years ago to Mr.
Montgomery.]

This speech has never been forgotten in Springfield, and on my visits
there I have repeatedly had the site of the house on which this
particular lightning-rod was placed pointed out, and one or another of
the many versions which the story has been given, related to me.

It was the practice at that date in Illinois for two rival candidates
to travel over the district together. The custom led to much
good-natured raillery between them; and in such contests Lincoln was
rarely, if ever, worsted. He could even turn the generosity of his
rival to account by his whimsical treatment, as the following shows:
He had driven out from Springfield in company with a political
opponent to engage in joint debate. The carriage, it seems, belonged
to his opponent. In addressing the gathering of farmers that met them,
Lincoln was lavish in praise of the generosity of his friend. "I am
too poor to own a carriage," he said, "but my friend has generously
invited me to ride with him. I want you to vote for me if you will;
but if not, then vote for my opponent, for he is a fine man." His
extravagant and persistent praise of his opponent appealed to the
sense of humor in his farmer audience, to whom Lincoln's inability to
own a carriage was by no means a disqualification.[1]

The election came off in August, and resulted in the choice of a
delegation from Sangamon County famous in the annals of Illinois. The
nine successful candidates were Abraham Lincoln, John Dawson, Daniel
Stone, Ninian W. Edwards, Wi