The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-11-18
her! How'd you get your training as 8
surgeon? Who paid for it? Your ia

her! How'd you get your training as :
surgeon? Who paid for it? -FOUR ia
ther2""
Jason REDEEMED. even, no; father
was q poor Methodist preacher. Mother
raised the money. though I worked for
Yes. how'd she raise the money!,
Jason's lips were stiff. Selling
things. Mr.. President"
"Wha did she sell?.
Fathers watch-the old silver tea
pot-the mahogany hat box-the ST.
bartholomew candlestick. Old things
mostly; beyond use except in muse
ums."
Again silence In the room, while q
look Of contempt gathered in Abraham
Lincoln's eyes that scared Jason's cool
young soul till it scorched within him.
you poor fool!" said Lincoln. You
poor. worm! Her household treasures
one by ne-for you Useless things
fit for museums!' Oh, you fool"
Jason flushed angrily and bit his
lips. Suddenly the president rose and
pointed a long, bony finger at his desk.
Come here and sit down and write q
letter to your mother!"
Jason stalked obediently over and
sat down in the presidents seat. Ang-
er and modification were i'll inspira-
lions for letter writing, but under Lin
coins burning eyes Jason seized a pen
Vim " gAilo q ~ llOlS,1
Lincoln paced the floor, pausing now
and again to look over Jason's should
er.
Address 1t and give 1t to me,'' said
the president. TN see h a 1t gets to
her" Then his stern voice rising
a little: And now, Jason Wilkins, as
Ion as you are in he army, you write
to your mother onec a week. II I hav
reason to correct you on the matter
again. I'll have you courtmartialed."
Jason rose and handed the letter to
the president, then stood, angry and
silent, awaiting further orders. Abra-
ham Lincoln took another turn or two
up n dow the room. Then he paused
before the window and looked from it
a long, long time. Finally he turned
to Jason.
my boy,'' he said gently. there is
no finer quality in the world than
gratitude. There is nothing a man can
have in his heart so mean, SO low as in
gratitude. Even a dog appreciates a
kindness, never forgets a soft word, OF
a bone. To my mind, the noblest holt
day in the world is Thanksgiving. And,
next the Creator, there is no one the
holiday should be dedicated to as much
as to mothers"
Again Lincoln paused, and looked
from the boyiSh face of the young sur
geon out of the window at the bleak
November skies, n Lincoln said to
CSOll, WILL " hlloWS Wilil CdSGQy VI
memory in his lonely heart:
freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky;
Thou dost not bite so nigh
AS benefits forgot"
Another pause. You may go, my
| boy" And Lincoln shook n with
| Jason. who stumbled from the room,
his mind a chaos of resentment and
anger. He made his way down Penn
sylvania avenue, pausing as two army
officers rode up to a hotel and dis
mounted, leaving their horses. Some
thing about the big graz that one OF
! the officers rode seemed vaguely IA
miliar to the doctor. The gray
turned his small, intelligent head to-
ward Jason, then with a sudden soft
whinny, laid his head on Jason's
shoulder and nuzZled his cheek gently.
Jason looked at the right fore shoulder.
A ~three-cornered scar was there. Jason
and Old Pilgrim never had met but
than a boy. Suddenly he threw his
arms around Old Pilgrims neck, and
sobbed into the silky name. Passers-
by glanced curiously and then went on
l-Washington was full Of tears those
days.
Pilgrim whinnied and waited pa.
tiently. Finally Jason wiped his eyes
It'll buy you back from Captain Win.
ston, Pilgrim. I'll get a furlough, II
/ have to ask the president himself
Well get home to mother for Thanks.
giving, Pilgrim. We will, if God will
let my unworthy hulk live that long"
And Pilgrim, with a scar on his RICH,
fore shoulder, and Jason with the seal
IN his soul that only remorse imprints
there. started that evening for Greer
Valley.