[Footnote 1: William D. Kelley, in "Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln."
Edited by Allen Thorndike Rice, 1886.]
[Footnote 2: This incident was told by Lincoln to Mr. A.J. Conant, the
artist, who in 1860 painted his portrait in Springfield. Mr. Conant,
in order to keep Mr. Lincoln's pleasant expression, had engaged him in
conversation, and had questioned him about his early life; and it was
in the course of their conversation that this incident came out. It
is to be found in a delightful and suggestive article entitled, "My
Acquaintance with Abraham Lincoln," contributed by Mr. Conant to the
"Liber Scriptorum," and by his permission quoted here.]
[Footnote 3: With one exception the biographers of Lincoln have given
him the first place on the ticket in 1834. He really stood second
in order, Herndon gives the correct vote, although he is in error in
saying that the chief authority he quotes--a document owned by Dr.
A.W. French of Springfield, Ill.--is an "official return." It is
a copy of the official return made out in Lincoln's writing and
certified to by the county clerk. The official return is on file in
the Springfield court-house.]
[Footnote 4: "Get books and read and study them carefully. Begin with
Blackstone's Commentaries, and after reading carefully through, say
twice, take up Chitty's Pleadings, Greenleaf's Evidence, and Story's
Equity in succession. Work, work, work, is the main thing."