The old home sold

Colby's Arrival—His Proposition—It Awakens Surprise—The Farm Sold for Whiskey—Not Singular then—Preparations to Move—Settlement—Starting on Flat-boat—On the Ohio—Upset in the River—Saved—Recovery of Part of Goods—Thompson's Ferry—Moved by Posey to Interior—Gave Boat for Moving—Spot Selected—Going Back for Family—Heroism of Western Females then—Indians—Seven Days on the Journey.

About the middle of October (1816) a stranger appeared at the cabin. It was Colby.

“You want to sell your place, I hear,” he remarked, after introducing himself.

“I’m thinkin’ on’t,” answered Mr. Lincoln. “Gallaher told me that you would come to see me about it. So we’ve been expectin’ you, and rather makin’ arrangements to sell the farm. This is about what you would like?”

“Yes, from Mr. Gallaher’s description of it. I can’t handle much of a place; I’m too poor for that.”

“In the same boat with the rest of us, then,” suggested Mr. Lincoln. “Not much money in these diggin’s. How much money can you put into a place?”

“Not much, just now. I must make a barter trade if I buy now. What’s the damage for such a place as this?”

“Three hundred dollars,” answered Mr. Lincoln, Promptly. “That is the price I’ve settled on.”

“Cash?” “Yes; that’s what I’ve been expectin’, though I might take something else for part of the pay.”

“Well, I haven’t much money,” continued Mr. Colby; “but I have what is as good as money in the market.” “What is it?” “You see I’ve been specilatin’ a little since I gave you a call in the summer. I used up my grain for whiskey, and I bought some, too, thinkin’ that I should make a spec out of it; but I hain’t sold but a trifle on’t yet. Now, if I could pay you mostly in whiskey I would strike the bargain at once; and may be that over in Indiana you’ll find a ready market for it.”

“I hadn’t thought of takin’ pay in such an article,” answered Mr. Lincoln; “and I don’t know as I could ever sell it. I’m going to strike right into the wilderness.”

“That may be; but you’ll have neighbours within a few miles; and over there they hain’t got the knack of manufacturin’ it, I s’pose, and this would make it easier to sell it.”

“It’s awkward stuff to carry on such a trip, though I expect to move on a flat-boat.”

“Just the easiest thing in the world to carry this; you can carry it as well as not on a boat. You won’t have half a load of other stuff. And it will bring you double there what it will here, I’m thinkin’.”

“That’s all guess work.” “But don’t it stand to reason that whiskey would bring more where they can’t make it, as they can here?”

“Yes, I admit that it may probably bring more there, and it ought to bring more to pay for the trouble of taking it there. But can’t you turn it into money some way?”

“I don’t see how I can; I’ve done the best I could about it. The fact is, the folks in this part of kentucky have laid in largely for whiskey. I can sell it in time, I have no doubt, at a stiff price, but that won’t help me just now.”

“Of course not; but this is unexpected, though I’m determined to sell out at some rate. You look over the place; it’s all in a stone’s throw, and I will talk with my wife, and see what we can do.”