Lincoln was a frequent visitor to the Kelso cabin; he and Jack often sat around the table and by the cheerful glow of the fireplace, read and discussed Shakespeare, Blackstone and Burns. It was Jack Kelso who introduced Lincoln to the classics of literature.
Joshua Miller’s blacksmith shop was the busiest place in town. The ring of his anvil was heard from morning until night throughout the village as he shaped metal into oxen shoes, horseshoes and farm implements.
Lincoln, seeking an occupation that would afford him a better living than odd jobs, considered becoming a blacksmith. For a time his strong arms grappled with the chore, but he preferred lighter work which allowed him more time for studying. He also had thoughts of becoming a merchant.
The limbs of the great oak tree still cast their shadows across the Lincoln-Berry store. In fair weather, when housewives were busy and sales were restricted to an occasional pound of sugar or a piece of beeswax, Lincoln, barefoot, lay stretched out under the oak tree, lost in a book.
The Rutledge Tavern, where Lincoln courted Ann Rutledge, stood across the road from the Lincoln-Berry store. While waiting on a customer, or studying under the oak tree, he often paused to watch her as she moved about the yard of the tavern.