“And it’s about as lucky for us. I tell you how ’tis: that store is now just about the best place to go to that there is anywhere about. Abe is the greatest feller on stories that I ever heard, and many of them are real facts of history. You ought to hear him tell about Washington and Franklin and Clay, as he did the other day. He knows a heap more about such things than anybody about here.”

Two or three incidents in this place will show what reason existed for such discussions as the foregoing concerning Abraham.

One day he sold a bill of goods to Mrs. Duncan, amounting to two dollars and six cents. On running over his account again in the evening, he found that Mrs. Duncan paid him six cents too much. Immediately on closing the store and locking the door for the night he started for Mrs. Duncan’s house, more than two miles away, to carry the six cents to her. He slept better that night for the walk and honesty.

On another occasion a woman came into the store late in the evening, just as he was closing, for half a pound of tea. The tea was weighed and delivered, and he left for the night. On returning in the morning he noticed a four-ounce; and weight was on the scales, instead of an eight-ounce; and he knew at once that he had given the customer a quarter of a pound of tea instead of a half-pound. He weighed another quarter of a pound, closed the store, and delivered the tea to the woman, before commencing the labours of the day. Such acts of uprightness won universal confidence; and they formed the subject of conversation in many social gatherings.

One day a bully entered the store when Abraham was waiting upon two or three female customers. He belched out profanity and vulgarity, regardless of the presence of ladies. Abraham leaned over the counter, and whispered, “Shut up; don’t talk so in the presence of ladies.”

The fellow was too full of whiskey to be suppressed in that way, and he became more profane and vulgar than before.

“I’d like to see the man who’ll stop me from saying what I’m a mind to. I’ve wanted to thrash you for a long time.”

Abraham simply replied, “Wait until these ladies have gone, and I’ll satisfy you.”

The bully was raving, and the ladies soon retired. “Now,” exclaimed Abraham, springing over the counter, “we’ll see whether you’ll talk such stuff in this store before ladies.”

“Come on, long-legs!” the bully shouted.

“If you must be whipped, I may as well do it as any other man,” continued Abraham, as he collared the fellow, and put him out of doors. The bully grappled with him, whereupon Abraham threw him upon his back, and, snatching a handful of smart-weed, rubbed it into his face until the fellow bellowed with pain, and promised to behave. Then Abraham allowed him to get up, and showed his real kindness of heart by getting water and washing his face, to relieve him of his distress. The outcome of this affair was that the bully was a better man himself from that time, and became a fast friend of Abraham, who was as much of a stickler for politeness to ladies as he was for honesty to all.

Minter Graham, the schoolmaster, was very intimate with Abraham. He was in the store one day when Abraham said to him,—

“I want to study English grammar; I never did.”

“You’ve not much time for it, I judge,” replied Graham. “Between mill and store your time is pretty well occupied.”

“Well, I have some leisure moments on some days, and can always find time at night when folks are in bed.”