'As big a hog as I ever wanna see' - An Abe Lincoln yarn

 

The village of New Salem was situated along the banks of the Sangamon River in the central part of Illinois. In the early 1830s, New Salem had a population of about a hundred people in a community of twenty log cabins. Despite its tiny size, the town had a blacksmith shop and a general store. 

One cold winter day, a group of Abraham Lincoln's friends and acquaintances were huddled around the fireplace in the general store where he clerked for the owner, Denton Offutt. The talk drifted to the topic of human faults and the subject of greed was raised.

"That reminds me of a story," Lincoln said.

A man in Cortlandt county raised a pig of such unusual size that strangers went out of their way to see it. One of them met the old gentleman who owned the porker and asked about the animal.

 "Waal, yes," the old boy said; "I've got such a critter - mi'ty big un he is too, but I guess I'll have to charge you a half dime for lookin at him."

The surprised stranger stared at the old man for a minute, pulled out the desired coin, handed it to him, and turned to leave. "Hold on," said the old man, "don't you want to see the hog?"

"No," said the stranger. "I've already seen as big a hog as I ever wanna see!" 

While Lincoln never sold much, his yarns and tales always drew a crowd. Who knew this failed merchant was actually practicing to be a president.

This was another story from Abe Lincoln, Storyteller.

Mac