The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1921-10-20

reckon he s.=,. GO S5nier than the
s-cs:dge run O. men-not blt--sn'.
II he was, don't reckon his bones
orto be throwed At lin every .l:ae
he's spoke to thgs away"
"What can ! do about itT Abe
asked.
i've been hopin' an wishin' some
kind Of decent handle could be put
on to HIS name," said Mrs. Lukins,
With her eye upon knot hole in the
counter. Something with good
sound to 1t. You said that anything
you could do for the New Salem folks
you was goin' to do an thought may
be you could fix It."
Abe smiled and asked: do you
want titleT
III It amt plum owdaclous l wisht
he could be made a colonel"
"I1l see what can be done, but II
he gets that title he'll have to live up
to It,"
"I'll make him walk a chalk line
you see," the good woman promised as
she left the store.
That evening Abe wrote a playful
commission as colonel for Peter Luz
kins, which was signed in due time
by all his friends and neighbors and
presented TO Lukins by committee
Of which Abe was chairman.
Coleman Smoot-a man of some
means who had farm on the road
to Springfleld--was In the village that
evening. Abe showed him the COM
mission and asked him to sign It..
I'll sign on one condition." said
Smoot.
"What is thatf" Abe asked.
"That you'll give me commission.
] want to be your friend"
"You are that now. aren't FOUR
Abe asked.
"Yes, but haven't earned my COM
mission. You haven't given me q
chance yet. What can l do to help
you alongT
Abe was much impressed by these
kindly words.
MY friends do not often ask what
they can do for me-" he said. II sup
pose they haven't thought Of 1t. I'll
think 1t over and let you know"
Three days later he walked out to
Coleman Shoots after supper. As
they sat together by the Preside Abe
said:
1--WE been thinking Of your friendly
question. It's dangerous to talk that
way to a man like me. The fact IS
need two hundred dollars to pay
pressing debts and give me something
In my pocket when l so to Vahdalia
II you can not lend 1t to me / shall
think none the less Of you"
II can and WILL" said Smoot. "rve
been watching you for long time. A
nan who tries ais hard as you do tC
get along deserves to be helped. be
lieve in you. TIL go up to Springfield
and get the money and bring 1t to you
within a week or So"
Abe Lincoln had many friends who
would have done the like for him II
they could, and he knew 1t.
Every one has faith in you" said
Smoot. 1--WE expect much Of you and
we ought to be willing to do what
we can to help"
"Your faith will be my strength. Il
/ have any," said Abe.
On his way home that night HI
thought Of what Jack Relso had SAID
Of democracy and friendship.
On the twenty-second Of November
a letter came to Ann from BIN KeIso
which announced that she was golnl
to New Orleans for the winter will
her husband. Six days later Abe tool
the stage for the capital, at Rutledge'i
door. where all the Inhabitants Of thu
village had assembled to bid him good
by. Ann Rutledge, with a flash OF hel
old playfulness, kissed him when HI
got into the stage. Abe's long arm
was waving In the air as he looked
back at his cheering friends while thu
stage rumbled down the road towart
the great task OF life upon which HI
was presently TO begin In the littl,
village of Vandalia.