“Return To New Salem In August, 1831”

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Lincoln’s return to New Salem in August, 1831, was, within a few days, contemporaneous with the reappearance of Offut, who made the gratifying announcement that he had purchased a stock of goods which were to follow him from Beardstown. He had again retained the services of Lincoln to assist him when his merchandise should come to hand. The tall stranger-destined to be a stranger in New Salem no longer-pending the arrival of his employer’s goods, lounged about the village with nothing to do. Leisure never sat heavily on him. To him there was nothing uncongenial in it, and he might very properly have been dubbed at the time a “loafer.” He assured those with whom he came in contact that he was a piece of floating driftwood; that after the winter of deep snow, he had come down the river with the freshet; borne along by the swelling waters, and aimlessly floating about, he had accidentally lodged at New Salem. Looking back over his history we are forced to conclude that Providence or chance, or whatever power is responsible for it, could not have assigned him to a more favorable refuge.


By William H. Herndon,Jesse W. Weik “Herndon’s Lincoln: A True Story of a Great Life” 

One thought on ““Return To New Salem In August, 1831”

    Experiences « Abraham Lincoln said:
    May 4, 2018 at 11:01

    […] Return To New Salem In August, 1831 […]

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