The brevity of his speech was the fruit of his modesty, which did not fail to captivate his hearers. He made several other speeches, and issued an address also, of considerable length and real merit, to the voters of the county. In closing that address he said:—

“Considering the great degree of modesty that should always attend youth, it is probable that I have been more presuming than becomes me. However, upon the subjects of which I have treated I have spoken as I have thought. … Every man is said to have his peculiar ambition. Whether it be true or not, I can say, for one, that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow-men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.”

His opponents made fun of his appearance wherever he spoke; and it must be confessed that there was some occasion for it, judging from the description of his dress furnished by his friend, Mr. A. B. Ellis, who accompanied him during a part of the campaign. He says: “He wore a mixed jeans coat, claw-hammer style, short in the sleeves, and bobtail,—in fact, it was so short in the tail he could not sit on it,—flax and tow linen pantaloons, and a straw hat. I think he wore a vest, but do not remember how it looked. He then wore pot-metal boots.”

Thoughtful, substantial citizens regarded Abraham’s mode of dress rather complimentary. It denoted the absence of pride and vanity to them more than an absence of taste. “Abe’s no dandy,” remarked one of his most enthusiastic admirers, designing to pay him a high compliment.

When the labour and excitement of the campaign were over, Abraham’s pocket was empty. He was, therefore, under the necessity of finding “something to do.” The vote of New Salem convinced him that he had plenty of friends there. A citizen remarked, referring to his poverty, “Abe has nothing except plenty of friends.” But he must have work, also.

“You must stay here,” said his friend Green, very earnestly.

“There is no must about it, if there’s no work for me,” answered Lincoln.

“There’ll be enough that you can do, only take time for it; the world wasn’t made in a minute.”

“No; I suppose it took about six days, and if I can find employment in that time I shall be satisfied.”

“I’ll tell you what to do, Abe,—Study Law: you’re just the man for it.”

“Whew! I should laugh to see myself trying to make a lawyer.”

“Why not be one, I should like to know?”

“For the very good reason that I haven’t brains enough.”

“Just what I thought you would say. You are altogether too sparing of good opinions of yourself. You’ve more brains than half the lawyers in Illinois.”

“Perhaps that isn’t saying much,” replied Abraham, laughing; “although it is a pretty handsome compliment on your part. Much obliged.”

“Well, compliment or not, I have heard a good many people say that you ought to be a lawyer.”

“And I have heard one propose that I should be a blacksmith, as I told you; and I suppose I could swing a sledge-hammer equal to any of them.”

“And throw away your talents? Any fool could be a blacksmith.”