went into business again. It was at this stage of his career that he adopted a plan of improvement worthy of notice. As usual, he devoted all his spare moments to reading, and now he adopted the plan of writing out a synopsis of each book he read. This would fix the contents of the volume in his mind, and prove far more profitable, There can be no doubt that this exercise exerted a most beneficial influence upon his habits of thought and study. It is a practice that the young generally ought to adopt, as necessary to the highest improve

ment.

Within a few months, however, he sold out to his partner, believing that they could not make the enterprise profitable.

He had but just relinquished the store business, when he unexpectedly met John Calhoun of Springfield. Since that time, Calhoun has been notorious for his efforts to enslave Kansas. He was President of the Lecompton Constitutional Convention. But when he met Abraham, at the time mentioned, he was engaged in a more legitimate and honorable business, that of Surveyor for Sangamon County. "Try your hand at surveying," said Calhoun. "I know nothing about it."

"Learn then."

"How can I do that."

"Easy enough, if you want to do it."

"I do want to do it. I think I should like the

business, if I could qualify myself for it."

"You can, and in a few weeks, too. I will loan you Flint and Gibson, the authors you will want to study, and you can provide yourself with a compass and chain, and I will render you any assistance I

"You are very kind, Mr. Calhoun, and I will do the best I can. Your generous offer shall not come to nothing for the want of my trying."

"You'll make a good surveyor, I'm sure of that, and find plenty of business. And, what is more, I will depute to you that portion of my field contiguous to New Salem."

"It is more than I could expect of you," said Lincoln. “I could not ask so great a favor."

"Take it without asking," said Calhoun, in a jolly way. "I have much more than I can do, and I am glad to give you a portion of the county. The great influx of immigrants, and the consequent entry of government lands, has given me more than my hands full."

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"I shall be glad to accept your offer as soon as I am qualified for the business."

"The bargain is closed, then, and in four weeks you can be surveying, if you 're a mind to," said Calhoun.

"I shall have a mind to, if that is all," replied. Lincoln; "and with a thousand thanks, too, for your assistance. It is worth all the more to me now, because I am thrown out of business.'

وو

“Well, this will make business enough for you, and it needs a long-legged, tough, wiry fellow like you to do it well. This is a great country for surveyors."

"But shall I not need to take some lessons of you in the field?"

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'If you please. It will be a capital idea, and you are welcome to all I can aid you any time you will come where I am. It will give you a sweat to keep up with me."

"Perhaps so," replied Lincoln, looking very much as if he did not believe it. The actual experiment proved that the sweat was given to the other party.

Lincoln sat down to this new study with a keen relish, and, in a short time, having been some with Mr. Calhoun in the field, he was prepared to set up the business of a surveyor. With his usual thoroughness and energy, he engaged in the business, and proved himself a workman that needeth not be ashamed.

Now he had an employment, and a plenty to do. The prospect was, that he might follow this pursuit through life, and probably his old friend Greene. concluded that an end was put to his becoming a lawyer.

For more than a year he continued to survey without interruption, and won quite a reputation in the business. A circumstance, narrated in the next chapter, brought an unexpected change.

XXIII.

SUCCESS AND ITS RESULTS.

T was the summer of 1834, two years after

I'

was

Lincoln was candidate for the Legislature. In Illinois, representatives were elected every two years, so that another election was close by. August was the month for it.

Lincoln was not forgotten. Since the last election he had become well known in the county. He had been to war, and distinguished himself. He was the first to enlist and the last to leave. A degree of military glory was attached to his name. Then he was a successful surveyor. No one in that line of business was more correct than he. In this regard, his prospects were very much better than they were two years before.

"We shall make a sure thing of it this time, Abe," said his associate, Greene.

"Whether you do or not is not of much consequence to me," he replied. "I have a good business now, and am satisfied."

"You've been consulted, I s'pose, before this about it?"

"Yes, some time ago." "Consented, of course?"

"Yes."

"Enough said. That's all we want of you:

we can do the rest.'

"So you thought before."

"There's more reason to think so now." "How so?"

"You've been to war," said Greene, with a significant glance of the eye: "You know they make great men out of military heroes."

"You mean those of them who possess something to make greatness out of it."

"Just as you please. But don't you want the office, Abe?"

"I am not particular about it. I do not want it enough to work for it. If my friends see fit to give it to me, I shall accept it, and do the best I can.”

"I didn't expect you would ever make a politician, Abe; there's not cheat enough about you for that. But, really now, I should think you would jump at the chance?"

"Chance of what? the chance of getting beat?" "No; the chance of becoming a legislator." "Time enough to jump at that when I get it." "It's as certain as the rule of three, Abe." "We can settle that point after election.”

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"Well, when you get there, remember that I am a Clay man' as well as yourself."