getting Lincoln down. At the unfairness of this Lincoln became
suddenly and furiously angry, put forth his entire strength,
lifted the pride of Clary's Grove in his arms like a child, and
holding him high in the air, almost choked the life out of him.
It seemed for a moment as though a general fight must follow; but
even while Lincoln's fierce rage compelled their respect, his
quickly returning self-control won their admiration, and the
crisis was safely passed. Instead of becoming enemies and leaders
in a neighborhood feud, as might have been expected, the two grew
to be warm friends, the affection thus strangely begun lasting
through life. They proved useful to each other in various ways,
and years afterward Lincoln made ample amends for his rough
treatment of the other's throat by saving the neck of Jack
Armstrong's son from the halter in a memorable trial for murder.
The Clary's Grove "boys" voted Lincoln "the cleverest fellow that
had ever broke into the settlement," and thereafter took as much
pride in his peaceableness and book-learning as they did in the
rougher and more questionable accomplishments of their
discomfited leader.

Lincoln himself was not so easily satisfied. His mind as well as
his muscles hungered for work, and he confided to Mentor Graham,
possibly with some diffidence, his "notion to study English
grammar." Instead of laughing at him, Graham heartily encouraged
the idea, saying it was the very best thing he could do. With
quickened zeal Lincoln announced that if he had a grammar he
would begin at once at this the schoolmaster was obliged to
confess that he knew of no such book in New Salem. He thought,
however, that there might be one at Vaner's, six miles away.
Promptly after breakfast the next morning Lincoln set out in