They found the latter flat on his back on a cellar door reading a newspaper.

Greene introduced the two, and thus began the acquaintance between the future War-Governor of Illinois and the future President.
Lincoln was from boyhood an adept at expedients for avoiding any unpleasant predicament, and one of his modes of getting rid of troublesome friends, as well as troublesome enemies, was by telling a story.

He began these tactics early in life, and he grew to be wonderfully adept in them.

If a man broached a subject which he did not wish to discuss, he told a story which changed the direction of the conversation.

If he was called upon to answer a question, he answered it by telling a story.