"Is it founded on fact?" he asked.
"No," Herndon answered.
Lincoln scratched his head thoughtfully and asked:
"Billy, hadn't we better withdraw that plea? You know it's a sham and generally that's another name for a lie. Don't let it go on record. The cursed thing may come staring us in the face long after this suit has been forgotten."
On the whole he was not so communicative as he had been in his young manhood. He suffered days of depression when he said little. Often, in good company, be seemed to be thinking of things in no way connected with the talk. Many called him a rather "shut-mouthed man."
Herndon used to say that the only thing he had against Lincoln was his habit of coming in mornings and sprawling on the lounge and reading aloud from the newspaper.
The people of the town loved him. One day as we were walking along the street together we came upon a girl dressed up and crying in front of her father's door.
"What's the matter?" Lincoln asked.
"I want to take the train and the wagon hasn't come for my trunk," said she.
Lincoln went in and got the trunk and carried it to the station on his back, with people laughing and throwing jokes at him as he strode along. When I think of him his chivalry and kindness come first to mind.