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THE

XVII.

STILL A CLERK.

HERE was a "gang" of young and middle-aged men in New Salem, called the " Clary Grove Boys," who had become a terror to the people. They were never more flourishing than they were when Abraham became a citizen of the town. They prided themselves upon their strength and courage, and had an established custom of "initiating" new comers of the male sex by giving them a flogging. Perhaps they were no more malicious than a class of college students who perform similar operations upon Freshmen, though they were rougher and more immoral. Such "gangs' existed in different parts of the West at that time, a coalition of ignorance, rowdyism, and brute force. One writer says of the "Clary Grove Boys":

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'Although there never was under the sun a more generous parcel of ruffians, a stranger's introduction was likely to be the most unpleasant part of his acquaintance with them. In fact, one of the objects of their association was to 'initiate or naturalize newcomers,' as they termed the amiable proceedings which they took by way of welcoming any one ambitious of admittance to the society of New Salem, They first bantered the gentleman to run a foot-race, jump, pitch the mall, or wrestle; and if none of these propositions seemed agreeable to him, they would request to know what he would do in case another gen

tleman should pull his nose or squirt tobacco-juice in his face. If he did not seem entirely decided in his views as to what should properly be done in such a contingency, perhaps he would be nailed in a hogshead and rolled down New Salem hill; perhaps his ideas would be brightened by a brief ducking in the Sangamon; or perhaps he would be scoffed, kicked, and cuffed by a number of persons in concert, until he reached the confines of the village, and then turned adrift as being unfit company for the people of that settlement. If, however, the stranger consented to engage in a tussle with one of his persecutors, it was usually arranged that there should be 'foul play,' with nameless impositions and insults, which would inevitably change the affair into a fight; and then if the subject of all these practices proved to be a man of mettle, he would be promptly received into their society, and in all probability would never have better friends on earth than the roystering fellows who had contrived his torments."

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some reason. Perhaps a wholesome recollection of his strength, courage, and tact in engineering the boat over Rutledge's dam, or the extravagant statements of Offutt concerning his marvellous achievements, had restrained. them. At any rate they did not molest him, until one day, when Bill Clary had a dispute with Offutt in his store, and both became exasperated. Bill exclaimed,—

"Jack Armstrong can lick Abe easy as a boy knows his father." Jack was the strongest man of the "gang," and perhaps the most ignorant.

"You don't know what you are talking about, Bill," retorted Offutt; "he could duck the whole Clary Grove crew in the Sangamon, before Jack Armstrong could get up after he'd laid him on his back."

"I'll bet ten dollars on that!" shouted Bill. "The fact is, Abe wouldn't dare to risk a fight with Jack." "The whole of you are blowers and cowards," responded Offutt, angrily. "There's more in Abe's little finger than the whole of you have got in your soul and body."

The knowledge of this hot interview spread like wildfire, and the "Clary Grove Boys" would not consent to peace any longer. "Jack Armstrong must wrestle with Abe," and settle the vital question with "ruffians." They proposed all sorts of bets, staking money, whiskey, and what not upon the issue.

Soon the proposition from the "Clary Grove Boys" came direct to Abraham, and he answered,

"I must decline such a trial with Jack."

"Then you are not the man to live in New Salem longer," shouted one.

Perhaps not," replied Abraham, with a quizzical look, as if he meant to say, "that is none of your business."

"We'll duck you in the Sangamon," exclaimed another.

"Whether you do or not," answered Abe, "I tell you that I never tussle and scuffle, and that I will not. I don't like this woolling and pulling."

"Don't, hey!" shouted one of the number, at the same time pulling Abe's nose.

"Be careful not too familiar," said Abraham in a warning manner.

Thus the provocations were multiplied, until Abraham, seeing that the only way of settling the difficulty was to lay Jack upon his back, consented to wrestling. They took side holds, and presently Abraham, having the advantage by reason of his long legs and arms, lifted Jack completely from the ground, and swinging him

about, thought to lay him on his back, but Jack came down upon his feet squarely and firmly.

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Now, Jack," said Abraham, “let's quit; I can't throw you, and you can't throw me."

"No, Jack, don't give up," shouted Bill Clary; "Abe's begging for quarter now." Bill supposed that Abraham's courage was failing him, or else it was the plan of the gang to play foul. Be this as it may, Jack at once broke his hold and adopted the unfair method of "legging," whereupon Abraham seized him by the throat, and lifting him from the ground, and holding him at arm's length, shook him like a child. The astonished ruffians saw that their champion was worsted, and they cried,"Fight, Jack, fight!"

No doubt all of them would have attacked Abraham had Jack led off. But the latter saw little encouragement in continuing a contest with a man who could hold him out at arm's length by the throat; and the moment Abraham relinquished his hold, Jack grasped his hand in friendship, and declared that "Abe was the best feller that ever broke into their settlement." Their friendship became almost like that of David and Jonathan; and from that moment the sway of the "Clary Grove Boys" was broken in New Salem. Abraham did not hesitate to denounce their acts publicly; and others soon joined him in his hostility to such ruffianism. The result

was that the gang gradually faded out, and quite a number of them became respectable citizens. Abraham's great strength and kindness of heart did more to reform the scoundrels than a missionary from New England could have done.

Everybody now became as enthusiastic over Abraham as Offutt was.

"I told you so," said the latter. "I've seen somethin' of the world, and I tell you his like I never saw."

There was no one to dispute Offutt now.

There was an end to all riotous proceedings; for Abraham declared that such ruffianly conduct should be stopped, and some of the citizens were bold enough to back him. Even Jack Armstrong promised him assistance. Abraham's influence became regnant in New Salem. He was even appealed to by neighbours to settle difficulties, so that he wore the honours of "peacemaker" in Illinois as he did in Indiana.

It was in New Salem that Abraham won the soubriquet "Honest Abe," which he carried through life. The public confidence in his integrity and fairmindedness was such that he was usually chosen for umpire in all games and trials where two sides enlisted. And, finally, he became in so great demand in this line, that both sides, in those friendly contests, made him judge.

An incident illustrates how strong a friend Jack Armstrong became to Abraham. A stranger came into town, and he proved to be a kind of bully, and got into a difficulty with Jack.

"You are a coward and a liar!" said Jack.

"You'll find out whether I am or not," exclaimed the stranger.

"You're a coward and a liar, I say!" shouted Jack, more loudly and defiantly, while the stranger backed towards a wood-pile as Jack advanced.

Before Jack perceived the purpose of the stranger, the latter seized a stick of wood, and struck him such a blow as to bring him to the ground. Jack recovered himself in a moment, and was about to leap upon his antagonist, when Abraham, who was near, interfered, saying,

"I wouldn't, Jack; it won't do you any good." "I'll thrash the skunk," retorted Jack with wrath. "No, Jack; we've done with that kind of business in New Salem, you know," Abraham continued.

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