The Rail Splitter: A Novel by John Cribb

Author:John Cribb
Format: epub

CHAPTER 29

SUMMER 1837

His work in the Illinois House took a good chunk of his time. A massive new statehouse made of yellow-brown limestone began to rise on Springfield’s town square. He watched it take form as he drafted bills, talked with constituents, and did battle with Democrats. Politics put him in touch with the most important men in the state and allowed him to measure himself against them.

When he wasn’t practicing law or politics, he joined a group of young men who used Joshua Speed’s store as a headquarters for discussing politics, poetry, and every subject in between.

“We’re a society for the encouragement of debate and literary efforts,” Speed said. “It’s not a formal association. Fellows drop by in the evening, and we chew the fat.”

The gatherings took place around the big fireplace in the rear of the store, where the cigar smoke grew so thick that whiskey glasses floated toward shining faces unattached to arms and bodies. Abraham declined the whiskey but imbibed the camaraderie with zest. Before long he’d formed a ring of friends—fellows such as the English-born Edward Baker, handsome and eloquent, who had recently been elected to the state legislature; Dr. Anson Henry, a broad-shouldered physician who loved to mix Whig politics and medicine in his practice of life; and young Billy Herndon, son of a local merchant, who was studying to be a lawyer.

When these men and others pulled their chairs up to Speed’s hearth, the place nearly burst with energy. They were strong men of strong opinions who loved the tumult of friendly argument. A room ten times larger than Speed’s store could not have contained their enthusiasm.

When passions grew thick, they counted on Abraham to stir the pot until wit and humor boiled over.

“Did you fellows hear that Doc Henry made a house call on Lizzy Bliss last week?” he drawled.

“Nope. Tell us about it.”

“‘Have you ever been bedridden?’ Dr. Henry asked her. ‘I surely have,’ Lizzy said eagerly, ‘many times, including twice in the back of Jim Matheny’s buggy.’”

Matheny, who worked in the court clerk’s office, accepted the tribute with a guffaw.

“Now, boys, I don’t mean to impugn Lizzy’s good character,” Abraham said. “You know I’m the first to defend the fairer sex. In fact, I’ve made up a little verse of my own to show how I feel about the ladies.”

“Let’s hear it!”

“Don’t be shy, Lincoln.”

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