Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House

[111] out of the pillows, and said, “What is your name?” “They call me Lincoln at home,” was the reply. “Lincoln!” repeated the stranger; “any connection of our Illinois Abraham?” “No,” replied Mr. L., “I fear not.” “Well,” said the old man, “I will let any man by the name of ‘Lincoln’ sleep with me, just for the sake of the name. You have heard of Abe?” he inquired. “Oh yes, very often,” replied Mr. Lincoln. “No man could travel far in this State without hearing of him, and I would be very glad to claim connection, if I could do so honestly.” “Well,” said the old gentleman, “my name is Simmons. ‘Abe’ and I used to live and work together when we were young men. Many a job of wood-cutting arid rail-splitting have I done up with him. Abe Lincoln,” said he with emphasis, “was the likeliest boy in God's world. He would work all day as hard as any of us — and study by firelight in the log-house half the night; and in this way he made himself a thorough practical surveyor. Once, during those days, I was in the upper part of the State, and I met General Ewing, whom President Jackson had sent to the Northwest to make surveys. I told him about Abe Lincoln, what a student he was, and that I wanted he should give him a job. He looked over his memoranda, and, pulling out a paper, said: ‘There is — county must be surveyed; if your friend can do the work properly, I shall be glad to have him undertake it — the compensation ’”