rules they have been over at school. At least, he made such progress that he was prepared to become master of all the rules he had studied by devoting his leisure moments to them thereafter.

We must stop here to relate another incident of those school-days, because it illustrates a trait of character for which Abraham was well known in his youth. We often find the key to a boy’s character by observing his intercourse with companions at school.

It was near the end of his term of school at Crawford’s. Several boys were on their way home at the close of school in company with Abraham, when a difficulty arose between two of them about spelling a word.

“You didn’t spell it right,” said John.

“Yes, I did spell it right,” replied Daniel. “I spelt it just as Mr. Crawford did.”

“He said you didn’t spell it so.”

“I know he said so, but he didn’t understand me. I spelt it just as he did.”

“I know you didn’t,” continued John.

“And I know I did,” retorted Daniel. “You are a liar if you say so.”

“Don’t call me a liar!” exclaimed John, doubling up his fist. “You’ll get it if you say that again!”

“I stump you to do it, old madpiece!” said Daniel, putting himself in an attitude of defiance.

“Come, Dan, don’t,” said Abraham, throwing one of his arms over his neck.

“Let him come, if he wants to,” said John, in a great rage; “I’ll give it to him: he’s a great coward.”

“What’s the use, John?” interrupted Abraham, throwing his other arm round John’s shoulders, so as to bring himself between the two wrathy boys; “that ain’t worth fighting about.”

“Yes, it is, too,” answered John. “You wouldn’t be called a liar by anybody, I know, and I won’t nuther.” Abraham was now walking along between the two boys, with his arms over their shoulders.

“Yes, I would, too; and I shouldn’t care, neither, if it wasn’t true.”

“Nobody would think of calling you a liar,” added John.

“They wouldn’t call you so, if you didn’t care anything about it,” answered Abraham; and there was much truth in the remark.

By this time the two combatants had cooled off considerably, and Daniel put out the last spark of fire by adding, “I’ll take it back, John.

“That’s a good fellow,” said Abraham, while John was mute. Five minutes thereafter the two vexed boys were on good terms, their difficulties having been adjusted by Abraham, “the peace-maker,” as he was often called. He could not endure to see broils among his companions, and he often taxed all his kind feelings and ingenuity to settle them. This trait of character was prominent through all his life. Last, though not least, we had an exhibition of it when, at the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, he put his arms around the neck of both North and South, and attempted to reconcile them. But his effort proved less successful than it did in the case of John and Daniel; for the southern combatant was fully determined to fight.