The Boy that Hungered for Knowledge
From “Anecdotes of Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln’s Stories.”
In his eagerness to acquire knowledge, young Lincoln had borrowed of Mr. Crawford, a neighboring farmer, a copy of Weems’ Life of Washington—the only one known to be in existence in that section of country. Before he had finished reading the book, it had been left, by a not unnatural oversight, in a window. Meantime, a rain storm came on, and the book was so thoroughly wet as to make it nearly worthless. This mishap caused him much pain; but he went, in all honesty, to Mr. Crawford with the ruined book, explained the calamity that had happened through his neglect, and offered, not having sufficient money, to “work out” the value of the book.
“Well, Abe,” said Mr. Crawford, after due deliberation, “as it’s you, I won’t be hard on you. Just come over and pull fodder for me for two days, and we will call our accounts even.”
The offer was readily accepted, and the engagement literally fulfilled. As a boy, no less than since, Abraham Lincoln had an honorable conscientiousness, integrity, industry, and an ardent love of knowledge.