“Only tollable, Abe.”
“He’s been a neighbor of yours for a long time, hasn’t he?”
“Nigh on to fifteen year.”
“Part of the time you get along all right, don’t you?”
“I reckon we do, Abe.”
“Well, now, Uncle Tommy, you see this horse of mine? He isn’t as good a horse as I could straddle, and I sometimes get out of patience with him, but I know his faults. He does fairly well as horses go, and it might take me a long time to get used to some other horse’s faults. For all horses have faults. You and Uncle Jimmy must put up with each other as I and my horse do with one another.”
“I reckon, Abe,” said Uncle Tommy, as he bit off about four ounces of Missouri plug. “I reckon you’re about right.”
And Abe Lincoln, with a smile on his gaunt face, rode on toward Lewistown.