This story is about a bartender. A good man to be sure, but a licensed bartender nonetheless. Now I know that a whole bunch of people don’t agree with the use of alcohol in any form, and that’s understandable. Others are more moderate about it. But the fact is, we can’t tell this little story without mentioning that he was a bartender. He was!

It was often after a long day at his regular job that he would sometimes come down to the pub and give his partner a break. And no one was happier than the customers when he did. They seemed to love this particular bartender.

It has been well known for centuries that a person can take his troubles down to the local pub and there’s usually a sympathetic barkeep down there who is willing to let you bend his ear. And you can’t walk into any establishment even today without running into the usual chatter. What kind of job is the president doing, who’s going to win the pennant in baseball - that kind of thing.

But most say this was different. Actually word would spread rather quickly that he was in the pub, and business would take off. Not only did this particular bartender seem to be a good listener but, when asked, he often had some very clever and poignant things to say. At the Berry, as it was called, people often gathered to visit of course, but many times because the night bartender would talk to the crowd.

And when he talked a different world would open for the patrons. It was a world of ideas and concepts that sometimes were not as popular as others. Sometimes they were fraught with controversy. But not usually. No. Usually they were ideas of how people could better accomplish the great goals. He would talk of ideals and concepts that would fascinate people for hours on end. That seemed to be a great talent of this bartender.

Someone would ask if there was going to be war and he would say, probably, but there is no real cause for one. And that would start up a heated discussion. And when asked why he thought the way he did, he always surprised the men in the place with answers that were both logical and forthright.

It was a popular place and he was one of the big reasons for its popularity. We know that it didn’t do as well after he left and went east. But he had to go. Duty called. You see, it’s all true, the tale of this bartender who would captivate the minds of men for hours on end.

All true because It’s a Little Known Fact that he was once a licensed bartender. Oh, he had to be. He was half owner in the pub. That is, until he became president. Yes, president. And lawyer. And licensed bartender. And owner of the Berry and Lincoln Saloon. It’s just one more aspect of the fascinating life of Abraham Lincoln.