'Which is Brower?' he enquired presently.
I came forward more scared than ever I had been before.
'My son,' he said, taking my hand in his, 'why didn't you run?'
'Didn't dare,' I answered. 'I knew it was more dangerous to run
away than to go forward.'
'Reminds me of a story,' said he smiling. 'Years ago there was a
bully in Sangamon County, Illinois, that had the reputation of
running faster and fighting harder than any man there. Everybody
thought he was a terrible fighter. He'd always get a man on the
run; then he'd ketch up and give him a licking. One day he tadded
a lame man. The lame man licked him in a minute.
'"Why didn't ye run?" somebody asked the victor.
'"Didn't dast," said he. "Run once when he tackled me an I've been
lame ever since."
"How did ye manage to lick him?" said the other.
'"Wall," said he, "I hed to, an' I done it easy."
'That's the way it goes,' said the immortal president, 'ye do it easy
if ye have to.
He reminded me in and out of Horace Greeley, although they
looked no more alike than a hawk and a handsaw.
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