Abraham Lincoln — The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln-VOL. II Chap. 13.1

Request For A Railway Pass To R. P. Morgan Springfield, February 13, 1856 R. P. MORGAN, ESQ.: Says Tom to John, "Here's your old rotten wheelbarrow. I've broke it usin' on it. I wish you would mend it, 'case I shall want to borrow it this arternoon." Acting on this as a precedent, I say, "Here's your old 'chalked hat,—I wish you would take it and send me a new one, 'case I shall want to use it the first of March." Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. (A 'chalked hat' was the common term, at that time, for a railroad pass.)