They came in by stages and on horseback.

Among them the one whose arrival was looked forward to with the most pleasurable anticipations, and whose possible absence--although he almost never was absent--was feared with the liveliest emotions of anxiety, was 'Uncle Abe,' as he was lovingly called by us all.

Sometimes he might happen to be a day or two late.

Then, as the Bloomington stage came in at sundown, the bench and bar, jurors and citizens, would gather in crowds at the hotel where he always put up, to give him a welcome if, happily, he should arrive, and to experience the keenest feelings of disappointment if he should not.

If he arrived, as he alighted and stretched out both his long arms to shake hands with those nearest to him and with those who approached, his homely face handsome in its broad and sunshiny smile, his voice touching in its kindly and cheerful accents, everyone in his presence felt lighter in heart and more joyous.