Abraham Lincoln Settles a Debt
Sri Harold Klemp once told a story about Abraham Lincoln, when he was a lawyer, a rich man wanted to hire him to reclaim a sum of money. Upon hearing and learning that the debtor was a poor man, owing the um of $2.50 to the rich man, Lincoln advised that the debt be forgotten.
If you don't take the case, I'll go to someone who will," the rich man retorted. Abraham Lincoln was thoughtful. He knew the poor man could be in for a terrible mess. "All right," he said, "I'll take the case under one condition." What's that?" the rich man asked. "That you pay me my fee upfront," Lincoln said. How much?" "Ten dollars."
The rich man gladly paid Lincoln the ten dollars to represent him. Lincoln put the ten dollars into his pockets and went off to find the debtor. When he found him, he gave the man five dollars with specific instructions.
Be in court tomorrow," Lincoln said. "Pay the rich man the $2.50 you owe him and keep the other $2.50 for yourself,"
The next day at the court, the poor man paid the rich man the $2.50 he owed him in front of the judge and the case was dismissed. Everybody was happy. The rich man got his money back. The poor man paid his debt and had $2.50 left over, and Lincoln earned $5.00 for himself