Lincoln’s Removal to Springfield—­A Lawyer without Clients or Money—­Early Discouragements—­Proposes to Become a Carpenter—­“Stuart & Lincoln, Attorneys at Law”—­“Riding the Circuit”—­Incidents of a Trip Round the Circuit—­Pen Pictures of Lincoln—­Humane Traits—­Kindness to Animals—­Defending Fugitive Slaves—­Incidents in Lincoln’s Life as a Lawyer—­His Fondness for Jokes and Stories.

Lincoln’s removal from New Salem to Springfield, where his more active life as a lawyer began, occurred in April, 1837, soon after the completion of his survey work at Petersburg.  The event was closely connected with the removal of the State capital from Vandalia to Springfield, the law for which was passed at the legislative session of 1836-7.  As has been stated, Lincoln was a member of that Legislature and was active in procuring the passage of the bill.  The citizens of Springfield were very desirous of the removal of the capital to their town, and many of them were present at the session when the measure was up for discussion.  They had thus become acquainted with Lincoln; they were favorably impressed as to his abilities and character, and pleased with his efforts in the matter in which they were so greatly interested.  Through their influence and encouragement he chose Springfield as his future home.

Lincoln’s first interview, after his arrival in Springfield, was with Mr. Joshua F. Speed, with whom he already had a slight acquaintance, and who details the circumstances of their meeting.  “He had ridden into town,” says Mr. Speed, “on a borrowed horse, with no earthly property save a pair of saddle-bags containing a few clothes.  I was a merchant at Springfield, and kept a large country store, embracing dry goods, groceries, hardware, books, medicines, bed-clothes, mattresses,—­in fact, everything that country people needed.  Lincoln came into the store with his saddle-bags on his arm, and said he wanted to buy the fixings for a single bed.  The mattresses, blankets, sheets, coverlid, and pillow, according to the figures made by me, would cost seventeen dollars.  He said that was perhaps cheap enough, but small as the sum was he was unable to pay it.  But if I would credit him till Christmas and his experiment as a lawyer was a success, he would pay then; adding, in the saddest tone, ’If I fail in this, I do not know that I can ever pay you.’  As I looked up at him I thought then, and think now, that I never saw a sadder face.  I said to him, ’You seem to be so much pained at contracting so small a debt, I think I can suggest a plan by which you can avoid the debt and at the same time attain your end.  I have a large room with a double bed up-stairs which you are very welcome to share with me.’  ‘Where is your room?’ said he.  ‘Up-stairs,’ said I, pointing to a pair of winding stairs which led from the store to my room.  He took his saddle-bags on his arm, went up-stairs, set them down on the floor, and came down with the most changed countenance.  Beaming with pleasure, he exclaimed, ‘Well, Speed, I’m moved!’ Lincoln was then twenty-eight years old.  He was a lawyer without a client, with no money, all his earthly wealth consisting of the clothes he wore and the contents of his saddle-bags.”