Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-07-01

this when l saw Webster and heard
him speak at Plymouth
"What kind of a looking man is
he2" Abe asked.
"a big erect, splendid figure OF a
man. He walked like ram at the
head of his flock"
Abe who since his story had sat
with a sad face looking into the fire
now leaned forward, his elbows on his
knees. and shook his head with inter-
est while his gray eyes took on a
look of animation. The diary speaks
often of the well of sadness" on his
face.
"He is a very great man." Abe ex-
claimed.
Have you learned that last noble
fight of his in the reply to Haynes,
as you promsed?" Kelso asked.
Il have" said Abe. "and the other
day when | was tramping back from
EowIin' Green's came across a drove
of cattle and stopped and gave ii to
them. They all let go of the grass
and stood looking"
Good Now stand up and let US see
how you initiate the great chef Of
the Wing clan" said Kelso.
The lank and awkward youth rose
and began to speak the lines in a high
pitched voice that tremblcl with ex-
element. It lowered and steadied
and rang out like noble music on a
weII-pIayed trumpet as the channel
of his spirit filed with the mighty
current of the orators passion. Then,
indeed, the words fell from his lips
like the winter SHOWS"
They shook our hearts as the wind
shakes the branches of a tree" Sam
son writes in his diary. THE lean,
bony body of the boy was TRANSPORTED
and as looked at his face in the fire
light l thought it was handsome.
mot a word was spoken for min
pte after he sat down. l had got
my first look at Lincoln. | had seen
his soul. I think it was then began
to realize that a man was being made
among us more precious than fine
gold; even a man more precious than
the golden wedge of Ophir.'"
The Doctor gazed in silence at the
boy. Kelso sat with both hands in
his pockets and his chin upon his
breast looking solemnly into the fire.
Thank you, Abe" he said in a low
voice. Something unusual has hap
pened and Tn just little scared"
"Why?" Abe asked.
For fear somebody will spoil it
with another hog story. I'm a little
afraid OF anything l can say. l would
venture this, that the man Webster
is prophet. In his Plymouth address
he hears receding into never-returning
distance the clank of chains and all
the din of slavery Ii will come true"
do you. think ss2" Abe asked
''Surely-there are so many OF US
who hate it These Yankees hate it
and they and their children are scat
tering all over the midlands. Their
spirit will guide the West. The love
of liberty is the salt of their blood and
the marrow of their bones. Liberty
means freedom for ALL Wait until |
these babies, coming out here by the |
have grown to manhood. |
Slavery will have to reckon with /
hem"
81 hate it, too said Abe. ~If live
I'm going to hit that thing on the
read some day"
do you still want to be a lawyer?"
<elso asked.
Eyes, but sometimes think I'd
make a better blacksmith" said Abe.
I'm trying to make up my mind
that's best for me-
mo, you're trying to decide what
5 best for your friends and your
Ountry and for the reign of law and
lstice and liberty"
But l think every man acts from
slfsh motives" Abe insisted.
Doctor Allen demurred as follows: +.
THE other night you happened TO
,member that you had overcharged
rs. Peters for jug of mOlasses and
ter you had closed the store you /,
alked three miles TO return the moo
which belonged to her. Why die ;
u do III" :
"For a selfish motive" said Abe. :
believe honesty IS the best policy" q
"Then you took that long walk just
advertise your honesty-to induce i,
ople TO call you Honest Abe as they ;,
We begun to doY =,
II wouldn't want TO put it that n,
"" said Abe. -.
But that's the only way out" the
ctor insisted. "and we knowing ones -,
uld have to call you 'Sordid Abe" q,
There's a hidden Abe and you
rent got acquainted with him yet"
Iso interposed. 1--WE have all caught
glimpse of him tonight He's the an
2 that loves honor and justice and an
nanity and their great temple Of so
sdom that is growing up here in an
new world He loves them better W
n fame or fortune or life itself. he
link il must have been that Abe tb;
.-,f1o e,,,,,Io.f Nh =. !