He never, under any circumstances, used trust funds." When Lincoln was about twenty-three years of age, some time in 1832, he began studying law, using an old copy of Blackstone's Commentaries which he had bought at auction in Springfield.

This work was soon mastered, and then the young man looked about him for more.

His friend of the Black Hawk War, Major John T.Stuart, had a considerable law library for those days, and to him Lincoln applied in his extremity.

The library was placed at his disposal, and thenceforth he was engrossed in the acquisition of its contents.

But the books were in Springfield, where their owner resided; and New Salem was some fourteen miles distant.