a

Yet he longed for some permanent pursuit, life-vocation. He did not like this going from one thing to another, and he only did it from sheer necessity. He believed that a young man should choose a calling, and stick to it with unwearied devotion, if he would make anything in the world. He wanted to do this; but what should he choose? He was perplexed, troubled, and the more so, because admiring friends advised him to do what he really supposed was beyond his ability. He underrated his talents, (a very good failing,) and all the time thought that others were overrating them. Few youth and young men suffer in this way. They are more apt to injure themselves by too exalted views of their talents. Some of the veriest simpletons esteem themselves as the wisest and greatest men. Ignorance is more likely to be vain and proud than ripe talents and learning. True knowledge is humble. Great talents are marked by humility. And so young Lincoln did not stand so high in his own estimation as he did in the estimation of others. This was the case with Sir Humphrey Davy, Nathaniel Bowditch, Arkwright, Franklin, Washington, and many others. From their youth, they were devoid of that vain self-confidence which many shallow-brained people possess.

Lincoln did not leave town. In company with another man, he bought the store of Offutt, and

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 can."

"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."

"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."

"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?"

"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.

Icon was candidate for the Legislature. In

T was the summer of 1834, two years after

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?"