New stories of Lincoln

the long version

Two stories about Abraham Lincoln told by "Major J.B. Merwin, of Middlefield, Conn., founder of the Journal of Education. The first appears in the N.Y. Evening Sun, and in it Major Merwin tells why Lincoln refused a $10,000 salary when his law practice was bringing him in but $1,000 a year. The offer was made by Erastus Corning, president of The N.Y. Central Railroad, who was a cousin of Merwin's." The second story was published previously in the Century and was told to Merwin by Lincoln. The second story involves a confrontation with Peter Cartwright when running against him in the 1846 congressional election.