In 1831, Abraham Lincoln, returning from a voyage to New Orleans, paid
the usual filial visit to his father, living in Coles County. A famous
wrestler, one Needham, hearing of the newcomer's prowess in wrestling,
more general than pugilism on the border, called to try their strength.
As the professional was in practise, and as the other, from his amiable
disposition and his forbidding appearance was not so, the latter
declined the honor of a hug and the forced repose of lying on the back.
Nevertheless, taunted into the trial, he met the champion and defeated
him in two goes. The beaten one was chagrined, and vented his vexation
in this defiance:
"You have thrown me twice, Lincoln, but you cannot _whip_ me!"
"I do not want to, and I don't want to get whipped myself," was the
simple reply.
"Well, I 'stump' you to lick me!" went on Needham, thinking he was
gaining ground. "Throwing a man is one thing and licking him another!"
"Look here, Needham," said the badgered man, at last, "if you are not
satisfied that I can throw you every time, and want to be convinced
through a thrashing, I will do that, too, for your sake!"
The man "backed out." But he was ever afterward one of the champion's
warmest friends.
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