[Sidenote: Cheating]
Miss Hancock, a teacher in the fourth grade of a small town in New York
State, discovered from the results of two papers in arithmetic that one
of her pupils had cheated.
The next morning an opportunity came in the history lesson to emphasize
Lincoln’s honesty.
“He was so honest that when he was keeping a store as a young man in
Illinois, he walked several miles one night to return two pennies to a
woman whom he had overcharged for a purchase.
“It was upon such a characteristic that his whole public life and policy
were founded and the world pays tribute to this quality when it
celebrates his birthday.
“Now I have some quotations on honesty that I shall distribute to each
one. By tomorrow morning when we review Lincoln’s life, you will have
them memorized.”