Old book that originally belonged to my grandfather. It's a fairly good story about a young boy who knew Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, before he became famous. Interestingly, it was written by Ida Tarbell, the famous "muckraker" (early investigative journalists) who wrote the book on Standard Oil that led to antitrust hearings. ( )

For years my husband has talked about this book which he remembered a Jr. High teaching reading to his class many years ago. Going through some things from his parents’ house I found the book which was published in 1907. It was given to his grandfather by his grandmother on Valentines Day in 1916. His grandmother was a teacher at the school and had lent the book to her friend to share with her classes.

This is a charming story told from the point of view of a young man who knew Lincoln in his hometown because Lincoln used to come to the store where the boy worked to buy quinine water. There was a chair there where Lincoln would sit and they would exchange stories and other townspeople would come in and join them. This short story shows how Lincoln could win the hearts of the people and how they believed in him. It is beautifully illustrated, but no indication who did the drawings. ( )