Page:Lives of the presidents in words of one syllable (1903).djvu/108

 wheels, drawn by a small, blind horse, for Green-ville, Tenn. Here, in a brief time, he wed a bright, young girl who taught him to write, and who read to him each day while he sat at work.

The sway in Ten-nes-see in those days was in the hands of men who held large tracts of land. John-son made up his mind to head a clan of poor folks who thought they would like a share in the rule of their own state. These soon got a small post for him, and in a few years gave him the chief place in Green-ville. He knew how to talk and could make a good speech.

In 1843 John-son was sent to Con-gress. He is said to have been proud of his low birth and thought folks should do much for him as he had come up so well. Still, in most things he was thought to have sense and knew how to serve his friends with zeal.

Though John-son did not think it wrong to hold slaves yet he did not like the men who held them. All through his life the class thought was in his mind. When the war broke out, he said he should stand by the Un-ion, come what might. In speech he said hard things and told what he would do to those who went out of the Un-ion, if he had the chance. For words of this sort he was set on by mobs, but he drove them all back by arms.

In March, 1862, Pres-i-dent Lin-coln gave John-son a high place in Ten-nes-see. His rule there was strict, and he made hosts of foes.

When March 4, 1865,(**misplaced comma] came Pres-i-dent Lin-coln took the oath once more as chief. On the same day An-drew John-son took his oath as Vice Pres-i-dent. At that time he spoke in such a way that he made not a few strong foes.