The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-01-16
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4 SPANISH PEGGY |
A STORY OF YOUNG ILLINOIS
BY Mary Hartweii catherwood
Copyright, 1888, by Herbert S. Stone & Co
CHAPTER I.

O1dAC VI SAdf 1ASSo anu DiOSho IlSllSCu
cobwebby beams overhead, clean
slaves and hoop-poles standing around
the wall, the coopers workbench and
tools, the lanls, aguish face of man
who sat on key beside the hearth,
holding book from which the young
student recited. The shop had part of
a log left out in the side, filled,
like all New Salem windows, with
oiled paper instead of glass. Outer
darkness made this blurred oblong
framed by logs.
People knew that the cooper LEI
young Lincoln turn his shop into a
study every evening, and no one be-
fore this night had come picking at the
latch.
sSThe strings pulled in Minter," said
Lincoln, turning his head. as sup
pressed laughter and a shuttle of feet
on the log step disturbed his recitation.
<1Never mind the boys; they'll go way
pretty soon"
Maybe the Grove fellows have come
to town." said the aguish young man
on the key, listening anxiously.
They'd as lief break in the cooper's
paper as not"
Il reckon we'd better hurry, any
way" urged the student, and he con-
tinued repeating as rapidly as he could
the remainder of the lesson.
Presently with a click the door
turned back on it's wooden hinges and
bumped the wall.
81 know you, Sticky" declared the
Interrupted scholar without looking.
Come in. Folks wouldn't give you the
name of Sticky Green if you hadn't a
way of getting what you want" He
scooped a double handful of blocks
and shavings on the blaze, and, warned
by some unusual restraint at the door,
hastily drew up his length before the
fire. 1t showed him slim giant in
blue homespun trousers, which did not
quite cover his ankles, and an open
roundabout hanging loosely from the
shoulders, and betraying the fact that
his vest was buttoned crooked See
ing stranger on the threshold with
the boy he called Sticky, Lincoln ran
his hand through his dark hair, leaving
it tossed in every direction.
GLOW did you know l was home
from college, Abe? Dick and / rode
IL from the farm on purpose to see
you. This is Dick Yates, one of our
boys from the Jacksonville school,
Dick, this is Abe Lincoln"
'How do you do, Dick?" said Abe
Offering his hand.
How do you do, Abe?" said Dick
Selling it.
"And here's our schoolmaster
Minter Grayham," continued Sticky
presenting the pale occupant ofthe key
Minter rose with the dignity of a mar
who often pronounced words of five
syllables. The mounting freight
found rejecting threads in Dick Yates
bright auburn hair. The schoolmastel
thought him beautiful young fellow
with modest manners. His features
perfectly modelled and rosy as a girls
were manly, from full forehead to out.
standing chin. Though of a robust, we'll
knit figure for a lad of is, his head
barely reached Lincolns shoulder a,
the two stood looking at each other.
1--WE been telling Dick SO much
about you, Abe, that he wanted to see
you," said Sticky.
Abe blushed and Dick blushed, with
eager friendliness and recognition o
power.
"Are you studying Blackstone?'
inquired Dick, indicating the huge
Book which Minter Grayham hele
closed.
Eyes. It's mighty interesting read
Sng to me-"
I'm going to study law, too. But i
scares me to death to begin debate
and Sticky says you make fin
speech"
IF ever met you as an opponent
I'D want some advantage. S'pose WI
make a compact to work together OF
our first case?"
"Done!" said Yates. cts as goot
rs Won"
civilian Green!" spoke girls voic
from the humid spring darkness out
side; "have you forgot how bad tn
wolves are in the timber we have t.
ride through"
Come in, girls!" exclaimed the pro
prietor of the rough study. His tuto
echoed the invitation. cts Abe's re
cess. Come in, Nancy and Ann Rut
ledge, and the rest OF you"
Half dozen figures emerged from
the night Of the village street, bearin
Nancy Green company, laughing an
half reluctant; and let themselves b
coaxed into sharing long bench whic
the boys drew up before the fire. l
was like an invasion Of swallows. Alb
1aked up all the shavings and block
and brought them to the hearth.
festive spirit filled the place. Nearl
all the girls were bareheaded, in linse
dresses. They had stepped out q
their homes along the winding roo
for the mere pleasure of being abroa
and free from the tasks at the end c
the day; with the exception of Name
Green, and Martha Bell Clary, who ha
come from Clary's Grove to stay a
night with Mahala Cameron. A sim
Ear group of young people in Frenc
cabin would have cleared the floc
directly for dancing, all the merrie
for having met Unexpectedly. BIZ
these children of serious Massachusett.
Tennessee, Carolina, and Kentuclz
pioneers held experience meeting il
stead. The state was still so youn,
and their knowledge of the wide worl
SO limited, that they and their eide,
took primitive delight in telling owe
their own adventures. The oftener
story was repeated the more dignit