lincoln’s pig

The story goes that Abraham Lincoln, at the time an Illinois attorney, once glanced through the window of his carriage to catch sight of a piglet wallowing helplessly in the mire.  He called to the driver to stop, then waded out into the mud to extricate the unfortunate animal. 

When asked why he had put himself to such inconvenience for a pig, Mr. Lincoln answered that, had he not acted, he "should have had no peace of mind all day."