The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-07
PIKE COUNTY DOINGS.
Abe Shorter Tells Colonel Harper
About His Chances.

(CQpYr1Rnr, 1915, Dy -. y. AcWtSJ
1t was a hot day. and Abe Shorter
sat on a chair under the AWNING OF
SINNERS grocery, with his feet on the
head of a barrel and his head noddlng
with drowsiness. Colonel HARPER. who
had come into town and left his mule
hitched in front of the postoffice, came
along on his way to the drug store and
halted to saw:
"That yo. Abe? I declar' to good
ness. but didn't know yo' at fSrst
sight. Powerful hot day in town.
BLESS me, Kurnel-bless me!' ex-
claimed Abe in reply, as he slowly
lowered his legs to give the Colonel the
beneat of the barrel. Il was jest a.
thinking about yo', Kurnel-iest a.
thinking and a-pondering- How's con
a-gitting on this weather."
Fought to be little mo- rain, mebbe,
but con isn't looking tall bad"
to consider"
Jest about hold their own. Abe
jest about"
THAT'S good. KurneI If I can't hold
my own I'm still glad to see other folks
do 1t. Things are locking up a bit for
me, however. These yere Pike county
scandalizers seem to have got tired of
throwing me down and jumpin on my
body, and mebbe I'll get a chance to
draw a long breath. Dawg gone folks
who amt willing for other folks to get
alonE!"
"Scandalizing amt right" said the
COLONEL. DIS ne removed MS nat 10 mop
his forehead.
"Of co'se it ain't-of co'se not. Can't
make a man better by scandalizing
him-can't possibly do it. Can't put
ambition into a mans soul by throwing
him down every week or two. He's got
to be Encouraged if yo' want him to do
his best. Have I been encouraged in
this town. Kurnel? Has Pike county
ever extended her hand to help me
climb up?"
not
mo. suh-no. sub. 'cept by one soli-
tary human being. whose name is
Kurnel Harper. Yo' run to con and
nevis, an yo' work twenty-five men
on yor plantation the year round, but
that don't prevent yo' from seeing and
realizing all sorts of situations. First
ly. 1 went into the late wah as a pri-
vate soldier. I came out the same
thing Drat their pesky hides, but they
were making captains and majahs and
kurnels while l was pouring out my
blood for love of country. That is. l
was willing to pour. which is the same
thing. l take it."
Bout the same, Abe paternally re-
piled the Colonel Except that the
bullets don't hit yo'."
when the wah ended l run for office,
same as all the rest, They owed me an
Office for having laid down my lise for
my country, but what was my rewardy
Kurnel Harper, / reckon yo' can re-
member that was knocked out-histed
twenty IeeI nlgn-SnOWed under It'll yo'
couldn't see the top of my hat That's
the way Pike County encouraged me to
grab hold with both hands and climb to
the too!"
Yes. I remember about that" unused
the Colonel, as he watched a dog rolling
over and over in the dusty street.
Then 1 turned to law" continued
Abe, as he hitched his chair over to get
a brace for his feet on a post of the
veranda. "Kurnel Harper, nobody on
the face of this big earth will ever know
how Dinched and saved and starved
and worked to get that law business
down to a fine point. Did anybody en-
courage me2 Not a critter Not a
pesky varnint had a kind word for me-
If I'd known yo' during them strug-
Cling times yo'd have been the man to
open yo'r wallet and hand me out $50
or SO, and tell me to pay it back in my
own good time. Yes. that would have
been you, Kurne1.''