It was not at home that he most enjoyed seeing company.

He preferred to meet his friends abroad,--on a street-corner, in an office, at the court-house, or sitting on nail-kegs in a country store." Mrs.Lincoln experienced great difficulty in securing the punctual attendance of her husband at the family meals.

Dr.Bateman has repeatedly seen two of the boys pulling with all their might at his coat-tails, and a third pushing in front, while _paterfamilias_ stood upon the street cordially shaking the hand of an old acquaintance.
After his breakfast-hour, says Mr.Lamon, he would appear at his office and go about the labors of the day with all his might, displaying prodigious industry and capacity for continuous application, although he never was a fast worker.

Sometimes it happened that he came without his breakfast; and then he would have in his hands a piece of cheese or bologna sausage, and a few crackers, bought by the way.

At such times he did not speak to his partner, or his friends if any happened to be present; the tears perhaps struggling into his eyes, while his pride was struggling to keep them back.