CHAPTER XIV
Moving to Springfield
New Salem could no longer give young Lincoln scope for his growing power and influence. Within a few weeks after the Lincoln-Stone protest, late in March, 1837, after living six years in the little village which held so much of life and sorrow for him, Abe sold his surveying compass, marking-pins, chain and pole, packed all his effects into his saddle-bags, borrowed a horse of his good friend "Squire" Bowling Green, and reluctantly said good-bye to his friends there. It is a strange fact that New Salem ceased to exist within a year from the day "Honest Abe" left it. Even its little post office was discontinued by the Government.
Henry C. Whitney, who was associated with Lincoln in those early days, describes Abe's modest entry into the future State capital, with all his possessions in a pair of saddle-bags, and calling at the store of Joshua F. Speed, overlooking "the square," in the following dialogue:
Speed—"Hello, Abe, just from Salem?"
Lincoln—"Howdy, Speed! Yes, this is my first show-up."
Speed—"So you are to be one of us?"
Lincoln—"I reckon so, if you will let me take pot luck with you."
Speed—"All right, Abe; it's better than Salem."