Mr. Lincoln, on one occasion narrated to Hon. Mr. Odell and others, with
much zest, the following story about young Daniel Webster:
When quite young, at school, Daniel was one day guilty of a gross
violation of the rules. He was detected in the act, and called up by the
teacher for punishment. This was to be the old-fashioned “feruling” of
the hand. His hands happened to be very dirty. Knowing this, on his way
to the teacher’s desk, he spit upon the palm of his right hand, wiping it
off upon the side of his pantaloons.
“Give me your hand, sir,” said the teacher, very sternly.
Out went the right hand, partly cleaned. The teacher looked at it a
moment and said:
“Daniel! if you will find another hand in this school-room as filthy as
that, I will let you off this time!”
Instantly from behind his back came the left hand. “Here it is, sir,” was
the ready reply.
“That will do,” said the teacher, “for this time; you can take your seat,
sir.”--From Lincoln’s Stories, by J. B. McClure.