Lincoln Story Book, The

<h3>THE ABUTMENT WAS DUBERSOME.</h3> <p>President Lincoln was told that the Northern and Southern Democrats had at last accomplished a fusion.</p> <p>"Well, I believe you, of course," said he to the informant, "but I have my doubts of the foundation, like my friend Brown. Brown is a sound church member. He was member, too, of a township committee, having to receive bids for building a bridge over a deep and rapid river. The contractors did not seem to like the proposition, so Brown called in an architectural acquaintance, named--we will say, Jones. At the question 'Can you build this bridge?' he was overbold, and replied: 'Yes, sir, or any other. I could build a bridge from Sodom to Gomorrah with abutment below.' The committee being good and select men were shocked at the strong language, and Brown was called upon to defend his prot�g�.</p> <p>"'I know Jones well enough,' he rejoined, 'and he is so honest a man and good a builder, that if he states positively that he can build a bridge from Sodom to Gomorrah, why, I believe him! But--I feel bound to state that I am in some doubt as to the abutment on the other side!'</p> <p>"My friend, I reassert I have my doubts about the abutment!" <br/> <br/> <br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />