LINCOLN, THE POSTMASTER
It was about this time that he began to take an interest in law. He read also Burns
and Shakespeare. Through life, these poets were his favorite reading. He wrote a careful
summary of all the books he read, and treasured the contents in his memory.
Conscientious self-training and familliarity with the Bible and great works of English
literature made his language rich, spiritual and strangely eloquent. He had been earning
his living with odd jobs, but was soon employed as assistant surveyor by John Calhoun
of Springfield, then surveyor of Sangamon County.
With the help of Mentor Graham again Lincoln soon mastered the surveyor's business.
His survey were so accurate that his decisions were accepted as final. once a creditor
seized the horse and the instruments necessary to Abe's work. But his friends bought
the horse and the instruments back for him.
He was poor, but as the votes of New Salem showed, he had plenty of good friends.
In 1833 President Jackson appointed him postmaster of New Salem. The mail were
soinfrequent in those daysthat he sometimes putthe letters in his hat and delivered them
to the people addressed. Thus he " carried the office around in his hat".
Sometimes he read letters for people who could not read. He read all the newspapers
in the office, and frequently read them aloud to unlettered men. In 1834 Lincoln ran for
the legislature again. He was a member of the Whig party then.
"Who is the man Lincoln? Can't the party raise any better man than this?" said Dr. Barret
before his speech. After the speech was over, Dr. Barret declared that the speaker was
better than all the other candidates put together. Lincon received 1,376 votes and was
elected. He was then twenty-five.