The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-12-06
Lincoln No.
By GRANT LESTER.
Copyright. 1907. by Mary McKeon.

For good many years people had
raid that Farmer Johnson's wife was
head of his house and that he was q
great incumbrance to her. They had a
farm just outside thriving town. and
had 1t been left TO the wife there were
many promising speculations she would
have entered into. She was allowed to
boss things around the farm, but when
1t came to outside matters the hus-
band would take no risks. When his
death finally took place, people looked
to see Aunt Betty, as she was called.
though only forty years old, carry OUT
some Of her ideas and make things
hum. They were not disappointed.
She went into strawberries and made
money: she went into the dairy busi-
ness and made money; she went into
poultry and made money. II was said
that there were not half a dozen men
In the county who had her business
sense.
Aunt Betty had a daughter nineteen
years old, by name Prue. Prue did not
run to business. She was simply
sweet tempered and lovable girl, who
attended school ip town In the winter
and helped about the Homework in
summer. Up to the time of the IA
TIERS death the mother had not "suf.
,fered aspirations" regarding Prue's flu
ture. 1t was tacitly understood that
she would marry some young farmer
and settle down TO the humdrum life.
But after the mother had become a
business woman there were other plans
for the girl. She was to be educated
in music and other arts and made a
lady of.
Just how Prue johnson and Darius
Livingstone first met is OF no great
consequence. He was twenty-five and
had graduated as a lawyer and settled
In the town. He was a slab sided
young mana tall and angular and I'M
calmly. There were a few people who
said thar he might know more than he
showed. but the majority were Of the
opinion that he didn't know whether
potatoes grew in the ground or ON
trees. II prue held with the majority
II was rather singular that the Young
lawyer should have come driving out
to The farm one June day to inquire
for her. She was upstairs al the
time, and II was her mother who re-
ceiyed him. At the first glance she
thought him the 'homellest young man
she had ever seen. After the second
she took hin Tor some peddler of mu-
sic and want upstairs and said 20
Prue:
"There's bean pole down stairs ask-
ing for you. I never saw such gawk.
He says his name Is Livingstone. hes
enough To scare n setting hen OF the
nest. Did YOU ever hear OF any such
'feller?'
Why. ma. he's a lawyer In town.
and We have met three or four times"
replied Erue as her face flushed scar
let.
"a lawyer- humrh, II you was to
put club III his hand he wouldn't
know enough TO pound sand. What's
he herr SorT'
"Why-why. he sid he might call
some day. don't see why you call
him homcly. I've heard lots of folks
say thaisne re.alndea them Of Abraham
Lincoln
The mother unifie3 her contempt and
turned away. rIIe went down and re-
cei~ed her cai'er. and. though Mrs.
Johnson was .aihc- busy around the
house au1 ya"t. size saw and heard
enough t. nifty her that the young
man was "iR.c;es:Aii." lie remained
for "a hnrr or So and tlcn left. and
while his fgch was yet In sight Prue
was Trope:Tr wurirE.
IL shall have to have 4 son-in.iaw
some day" raced fhe mother. "bu:
want one W.. lnrEs wont sour ali
the milk ~! ho knows cabbage
bead from - ND saad2r. Lawyer!
Lawyer: why, the poorest lawyer
we've got in sa Va world make you
youmg man lcns Ike 4 bohiailcI wood.
chuck II thn% 49, q case IN court"
Prr" ran away without talking back.
and things q'irtcd Gosyn for a week.
Then thu mother cane home from
town one afternoon 10 h!'.rt ont:
"Do .Tou know what heard this aft.
erno0n! 81 least half dozen people
told me Nat yuB and tjlat scarecrow
young lawyer wer I'm love"
"Oh. mamma"
"Inu needn't ON, maunna" me. II
you've fa'Icu In love with any such
man. I'm ashamed nf You Why. that
red headed. cross eyed sOe williams
wouldn't look az hir ="
1--WE ate not In lCve." sNutly pro.
tested Prize.
i"Thcn what arr you looking so red
for?"
observation-disclosures We nrc simply
friends. That f.. res nwfuily smart
when you come TO trlk with him. I've
tccn reading the lie Of Lincoln. and |
it's wonderful how much alike They
are"
Wonderful hrsh! Abe Lincoln vas
u whip as . lawyer"
"rut nartus Is going TO be II no ever
gets ease"
Ever gets easel I'd IKE 90 knoE
who'd trust him With n case.'
The young imam called again In about
n week, ostrn*ihiy 60 make inquiries
-. -.