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thirty…one dollars and eighty two cents； and that； as affiant is
informed and believes； the defendants succeeded in the trial of
said cause by proving old claims against your petitioner； in set…
off against said note； which claims had been settled； adjusted
and paid before said note was executed。 Your Petitioner further
states that the reasons of his not being present at said trial；
as he was not； and of its not being in his power to take an
appeal in the ordinary way； as it was not； were that your
Petitioner then resided in Edgar County about one hundred and
twenty miles from where defendants resided； that a very short
time before the suit was commenced your Petitioner was in
Sangamon County for the purpose of collecting debts due him； and
with the rest； the note in question； which note had then been
given more than a year； that your Petitioner then saw the
defendant J。 L。 Gerard who is the principal in said note； and
solicited payment of the same； that said defendant then made no
pretense that he did not owe the same； but on the contrary
expressly promised that he would come into Springfield； in a very
few days and either pay the money； or give a new note； payable by
the then next Christmas； that your Petitioner accordingly left
said note with said J。 C。 Spugg； with directions to give
defendant full time to pay the money or give the new note as
above； and if he did neither to sue； and then affiant came home
to Edgar County； not having the slightest suspicion that if suit
should be brought； the defendants would make any defense
whatever； and your Petitioner never did in any way learn that
said suit had been commenced until more than twenty days after it
had been decided against him。 He therefore prays for a writ of
Certiorari。
HIS
JOSHUA x GIPSON
MARK
TO J。 D。 JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD； Aug。 31； 1851
DEAR BROTHER：
Inclosed is the deed for the land。 We are all well； and have
nothing in the way of news。 We have had no Cholera here for
about two weeks。
Give my love to all； and especially to Mother。
Yours as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO J。 D。 JOHNSTON。
SHELBYVILLE； Nov。 4； 1851
DEAR BROTHER：
When I came into Charleston day before yesterday I learned that
you are anxious to sell the land where you live； and move to
Missouri。 I have been thinking of this ever since； and cannot
but think such a notion is utterly foolish。 What can you do in
Missouri better than here？ Is the land richer？ Can you there；
any more than here； raise corn and wheat and oats without work？
Will anybody there； any more than here； do your work for you？ If
you intend to go to work； there is no better place than right
where you are； if you do not intend to go to work you cannot get
along anywhere。 Squirming and crawling about from place to place
can do no good。 You have raised no crop this year； and what you
really want is to sell the land； get the money and spend it。
Part with the land you have； and； my life upon it； you will never
after own a spot big enough to bury you in。 Half you will get
for the land you spend in moving to Missouri； and the other half
you will eat and drink and wear out； and no foot of land will be
bought。 Now I feel it is my duty to have no hand in such a piece
of foolery。 I feel that it is so even on your own account； and
particularly on Mother's account。 The eastern forty acres I
intend to keep for Mother while she lives； if you will not
cultivate it； it will rent for enough to support her； at least it
will rent for something。 Her dower in the other two forties she
can let you have； and no thanks to me。
Now do not misunderstand this letter。 I do not write it in any
unkindness。 I write it in order； if possible； to get you to face
the truth； which truth is； you are destitute because you have
idled away all your time。 Your thousand pretenses for not
getting along better are all nonsense； they deceive nobody but
yourself。 Go to work is the only cure for your case。
A word for Mother： Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live
with him。 If I were you I would try it awhile。 If you get tired
of it （as I think you will not） you can return to your own home。
Chapman feels very kindly to you； and I have no doubt he will
make your situation very pleasant。
Sincerely yours；
A。 LINCOLN。
Nov。 4； 1851
DEAR MOTHER：
Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live with him。 If I were
you I would try it awhile。 If you get tired of it （as I think
you will not） you can return to your own home。 Chapman feels
very kindly to you； and I have no doubt he will make your
situation very pleasant。
Sincerely your son；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN D。 JOHNSTON。
SHELBYVILLE； November 9； 1851
DEAR BROTHER ：…When I wrote you before； I had not received your
letter。 I still think as I did； but if the land can be sold so
that I get three hundred dollars to put to interest for Mother； I
will not object； if she does not。 But before I will make a deed；
the money must be had； or secured beyond all doubt； at ten per
cent。
As to Abram； I do not want him； on my own account； but I
understand he wants to live with me； so that he can go to school
and get a fair start in the world； which I very much wish him to
have。 When I reach home； if I can make it convenient to take； I
will take him； provided there is no mistake between us as to the
object and terms of my taking him。 In haste； as ever；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO JOHN D。 JOHNSTON。
SPRINGFIELD； November 25； 1851。
DEAR BROTHER：Your letter of the 22d is just received。 Your
proposal about selling the east forty acres of land is all that I
want or could claim for myself； but I am not satisfied with it on
Mother's accountI want her to have her living； and I feel that
it is my duty； to some extent； to see that she is not wronged。
She had a right of dower （that is； the use of one…third for life）
in the other two forties； but； it seems； she has already let you
take that； hook and line。 She now has the use of the whole of
the east forty； as long as she lives； and if it be sold； of
course she is entitled to the interest on all the money it
brings； as long as she lives； but you propose to sell it for
three hundred dollars； take one hundred away with you； and leave
her two hundred at 8 per cent。； making her the enormous sum of 16
dollars a year。 Now； if you are satisfied with treating her in
that way； I am not。 It is true that you are to have that forty
for two hundred dollars； at Mother's death； but you are not to
have it before。 I am confident that land can be made to produce
for Mother at least 30 a year； and I can not； to oblige any
living person； consent that she shall be put on an allowance of
sixteen dollars a year。
Yours； etc。；
A。 LINCOLN。
1852