The fellow answered: “About six acres.”
“Well,” said Mr. Lincoln, “don’t you think that this is an almighty small crop of fight to gather from such a big piece of ground?”
The jury laughed. The Court and District-Attorney and complainant all joined in, and the case was laughed out of court.
“NEVER REGRET WHAT YOU DON’T WRITE.”
A simple remark one of the party might make would remind Mr. Lincoln of an apropos story.
Secretary of the Treasury Chase happened to remark, “Oh, I am so sorry that I did not write a letter to Mr. So-and-so before I left home!”
President Lincoln promptly responded:
“Chase, never regret what you don’t write; it is what you do write that you are often called upon to feel sorry for.”