The result of the election was that Lincoln was chosen to represent the Sangamon district.  When the Legislature convened at the opening session, he was in his place in the lower house; but he bore himself quietly in his new position.  He had much to learn in his novel situation as one of the lawmakers of the State, and as a co-worker with an assembly comprising the most talented and prominent men gathered from all parts of Illinois.  He was keenly watchful of the proceedings of the House, weighing every measure with scrutinizing sagacity, but except in the announcement of his vote his voice was seldom heard.  At the previous session, Mr. G.S.  Hubbard, afterwards a well-known citizen of Chicago, had exerted himself to procure the passage of an act for the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal.  His effort was defeated; but he continued, as a lobbyist, to push the measure during several winters, until it was finally adopted.  Lincoln lent him efficient aid in the accomplishment of his object.  “Indeed,” remarks Mr. Hubbard, “I very much doubt if the bill could have passed as easily as it did without his valuable help.”  “We were thrown much together,” continues Mr. Hubbard, “our intimacy increasing.  I never had a friend to whom I was more warmly attached.  His character was almost faultless; possessing a warm and generous heart, genial, affable, honest, courteous to his opponents, persevering, industrious in research, never losing sight of the principal point under discussion, aptly illustrating by his stories which were always brought into good effect.  He was free from political trickery or denunciation of the personal character of his opponents.  In debate he was firm and collected.  ’With malice toward none, with charity for all,’ he won the confidence of the public, even his political opponents.”

Of all the stories of Lincoln’s boyhood and youth, the most profoundly touching is that of his love for Anne Rutledge.  The existence of this romance was brief, but it is believed by many that it was the memory of it which threw over Lincoln that indescribable melancholy which seemed to shadow his whole life.  The Rutledges from whom Anne was descended were an eminent family of the Carolinas.  She was about nineteen years old when Lincoln knew her first.  It was shortly after the Black Hawk War.  She was a winsome girl, with fair hair and blue eyes, and Lincoln’s heart was captivated by her sweet face and gentle manners.  So attractive a girl was not, of course, without suitors, and Anne had been wooed by one James McNeill, a young man who had come to New Salem soon after the founding of the town.  He had been more than ordinarily successful, and had bought a large farm a few miles north of the village.  He was unmarried—­at least he so represented himself—­and paid devoted attention to Anne.  They were engaged, although both had acquiesced in the wishes of Anne’s parents that they should not be married until she was older.