made the remainder of the journey in safety. Lincoln returned by
steamer from New Orleans to St. Louis, and from there made his
way to New Salem on foot. He expected to find Offut already
established in the new store, but neither he nor his goods had
arrived. While "loafing about," as the citizens of New Salem
expressed it, waiting for him, the newcomer had a chance to
exhibit another of his accomplishments. An election was to be
held, but one of the clerks, being taken suddenly ill, could not
be present. Penmen were not plenty in the little town, and Mentor
Graham, the other election clerk, looking around in perplexity
for some one to fill the vacant place, asked young Lincoln if he
knew how to write. Lincoln answered, in the lazy speech of the
country, that he "could make a few rabbit tracks," and that being
deemed quite sufficient, was immediately sworn in, and set about
discharging the duties of his first office. The way he performed
these not only gave general satisfaction, but greatly interested
Mentor Graham, who was the village schoolmaster, and from that
time on proved a most helpful friend to him.

Offut finally arrived with a miscellaneous lot of goods, which
Lincoln opened and put in order, and the storekeeping began.
Trade does not seem to have been brisk, for Offut soon increased
his venture by renting the Rutledge and Cameron mill, on whose
historic dam the flatboat had come to grief. For a while the care
of this mill was added to Lincoln's other duties. He made himself
generally useful besides, his old implement, the ax, not being
entirely discarded. We are told that he cut down trees and split
rails enough to make a large hogpen adjoining the mill, a
performance not at all surprising when it is remembered that up
to this time the greater part of his life had been spent in the