Jasper remained with Mrs. Duncan for some days, and then formed a small school in the neighborhood, on the road to the town of Springfield, Illinois.
While teaching here he could not but notice the growth of Orfutt's clerk in the confidence of all the people. In all the games, he was chosen umpire or referee; in most cases of dispute he was consulted, and his judgment was followed. Long before he became a lawyer, people were accustomed to say, in a matter of casuistry:
"Take the case to Lincoln. He will give an opinion that will be fair."
Amid this growing reputation for character, a test happened which showed how far this moral education and discipline had gone.
A certain Henry McHenry, a popular man, had planned a horse-race, and applied to young Lincoln to go upon the racing stand as judge.
"The people have confidence in you," he said to Lincoln.
"I must not, and I will not do it," said Lincoln. "This custom of racing is wrong."
The man showed him that he was under a certain obligation to act as judge on this occasion.
"I will do it," he said; "but be it known to all that I will never appear at a horse-race again; and were I to become a lawyer, I would never accept a case into which I could not take an honest conscience, no matter what the inducements might be."
There was a school-master in New Salem who knew more than the honest clerk had been able to learn. This man, whose name was Graham, could teach grammar.