About two years before Lincoln was nominated for the Presidency he
went to Bloomington, Illinois, to try a case of some importance. His
opponent--who afterward reached a high place in his profession--was a
young man of ability, sensible but sensitive, and one to whom the loss
of a case was a great blow. He therefore studied hard and made much
preparation.
This particular case was submitted to the jury late at night, and,
although anticipating a favorable verdict, the young attorney spent a
sleepless night in anxiety. Early next morning he learned, to his great
chagrin, that he had lost the case.
Lincoln met him at the court-house some time after the jury had come in,
and asked him what had become of his case.
With lugubrious countenance and in a melancholy tone the young man
replied, “It’s gone to hell.”
“Oh, well,” replied Lincoln, “then you will see it again.”