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now〃； but in a very short time I find you in the same difficulty
again。 Now； this can only happen by some defect in your conduct。
What that defect is； I think I know。 You are not lazy； and still
you are an idler。 I doubt whether； since I saw you； you have
done a good whole day's work in any one day。 You do not very
much dislike to work； and still you do not work much merely
because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it。
This habit of uselessly wasting time is the whole difficulty； it
is vastly important to you； and still more so to your children；
that you should break the habit。 It is more important to them；
because they have longer to live； and can keep out of an idle
habit before they are in it； easier than they can get out after
they are in。
You are now in need of some money； and what I propose is； that
you shall go to work； 〃tooth and nail；〃 for somebody who will
give you money for it。 Let father and your boys take charge of
your things at home； prepare for a crop； and make the crop； and
you go to work for the best money wages； or in discharge of any
debt you owe； that you can get； and； to secure you a fair reward
for your labor； I now promise you； that for every dollar you
will； between this and the first of May； get for your own labor；
either in money or as your own indebtedness； I will then give you
one other dollar。 By this； if you hire yourself at ten dollars a
month； from me you will get ten more； making twenty dollars a
month for your work。 In this I do not mean you shall go off to
St。 Louis； or the lead mines； or the gold mines in California；
but I mean for you to go at it for the best wages you can get
close to home in Coles County。 Now； if you will do this； you
will be soon out of debt； and； what is better； you will have a
habit that will keep you from getting in debt again。 But； if I
should now clear you out of debt； next year you would be just as
deep in as ever。 You say you would almost give your place in
heaven for seventy or eighty dollars。 Then you value your place
in heaven very cheap； for I am sure you can； with the offer I
make； get the seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months'
work。 You say if I will furnish you the money you will deed me
the land； and； if you don't pay the money back； you will deliver
possession。 Nonsense！ If you can't now live with the land； how
will you then live without it？ You have always been kind to me；
and I do not mean to be unkind to you。 On the contrary； if you
will but follow my advice； you will find it worth more than
eighty times eighty dollars to you。
Affectionately your brother；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO C。 HOYT。
SPRINGFIELD； Jan。 11； 1851。
C。 HOYT； ESQ。
MY DEAR SIR：Our case is decided against us。 The decision was
announced this morning。 Very sorry； but there is no help。 The
history of the case since it came here is this。 On Friday
morning last； Mr。 Joy filed his papers； and entered his motion
for a mandamus； and urged me to take up the motion as soon as
possible。 I already had the points and authority sent me by you
and by Mr。 Goodrich； but had not studied them。 I began preparing
as fast as possible。
The evening of the same day I was again urged to take up the
case。 I refused on the ground that I was not ready； and on which
plea I also got off over Saturday。 But on Monday （the 14th） I
had to go into it。 We occupied the whole day； I using the large
part。 I made every point and used every authority sent me by
yourself and by Mr。 Goodrich； and in addition all the points I
could think of and all the authorities I could find myself。 When
I closed the argument on my part； a large package was handed me；
which proved to be the plat you sent me。
The court received it of me； but it was not different from the
plat already on the record。 I do not think I could ever have
argued the case better than I did。 I did nothing else； but
prepare to argue and argue this case； from Friday morning till
Monday evening。 Very sorry for the result； but I do not think it
could have been prevented。
Your friend； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN D。 JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD； January 12； 1851
DEAR BROTHER：On the day before yesterday I received a letter
from Harriet； written at Greenup。 She says she has just returned
from your house； and that father is very low and will hardly
recover。 She also says you have written me two letters； and
that； although you do not expect me to come now； you wonder that
I do not write。
I received both your letters； and although I have not answered
them it is not because I have forgotten them； or been
uninterested about them； but because it appeared to me that I
could write nothing which would do any good。 You already know I
desire that neither father nor mother shall be in want of any
comfort； either in health or sickness； while they live； and I
feel sure you have not failed to use my name； if necessary； to
procure a doctor； or anything else for father in his present
sickness。 My business is such that I could hardly leave home
now； if it was not as it is； that my own wife is sick abed。 （It
is a case of baby…sickness； and I suppose is not dangerous。） I
sincerely hope father may recover his health； but at all events；
tell him to remember to call upon and confide in our great and
good and merciful Maker； who will not turn away from him in any
extremity。 He notes the fall of a sparrow； and numbers the hairs
of our heads； and He will not forget the dying man who puts his
trust in Him。 Say to him that if we could meet now it is
doubtful whether it would not be more painful than pleasant； but
that if it be his lot to go now； he will soon have a joyous
meeting with many loved ones gone before； and where the rest of
us； through the help of God； hope ere long to join them。
Write to me again when you receive this。
Affectionately；
A。 LINCOLN。
PETITION ON BEHALF OF ONE JOSHUA GIPSON
TO THE JUDGE OF THE SANGAMON COUNTY COURT；
MAY 13； 1851。
TO THE HONORABLE； THE JUDGE OF THE COUNTY COURT IN AND FOR THE
COUNTY OF SANGAMON AND STATE OF ILLINOIS：
Your Petitioner； Joshua Gipson； respectfully represents that on
or about the 21st day of December； 1850； a judgment was rendered
against your Petitioner for costs； by J。 C。 Spugg； one of the
Justices of the Peace in and for said County of Sangamon； in a
suit wherein your Petitioner was plaintiff and James L。 and C。
B。 Gerard were defendants； that said judgment was not the result
of negligence on the part of your Petitioner； that said judgment；
in his opinion； is unjust and erroneous in this； that the
defendants were at that time and are indebted to this Petitioner
in the full amount of the principal and interest of the note sued
on； the principal being； as affiant remembers and believes；
thirty…one dollars and eighty two cents；