The Jasper news., 1921-11-10


great tenderness---his foster mother,
the second wife Of Thomas Lincoln,
and Ann Rutledge. Others had been
20 him, mostly, delightful but Inscru-
table beings. The company OF women
and Of dollars had been equally unfa-
miIIar to him. He had said more than
once in his young manhood that he felt
embarrassed In the presence Of either,
and knew not quite how to behave
himselfAan exaggeration In which
there was no small amount of truth.
In 1896 the middle frontier had en-
tered upon a singular phase Of its de-
velopment. Emigrants from the East
and South and from overseas had been
pouring into It, The summer before
the lake and river steamers had been
crowded with them, and their wagons
had come in long professions out of
the East, Chicago had begun its phe-
nomenal growth. A frenzied specula-
tlbn In town lots had been under way
In that community since the autumn
OF 80. Itwas spreading through the
state. Imaginary cities were laid out
on the lonely prairies and all the cor
ner lots sold to eager buyers and paid
for with promises. Millions OF conver-
satlonal, promissory dollars, based
upon the gold at the foot Of the rain
bow, were changing hands day by day.
The legislature, with an empty treas
ury behind 1t, voted twelve millions for
river improvements and imaginary
railroads and canals, for which neither
surveys. nor estimates had been made.
to serve the dream-built cities of the
speculator. If Mr.. Lincoln had had
more experience In the getting and use
Of dollars and more acquaintance with
the shrinking tlmidity OF large sums,
he would have tried to dissipnte these
illusions Of grandeur, But he went
with the crowd. every member of
which had a like lnexperlence.
In the midst Of the session Samson
Traylor arrived in Vandalia on his
visit to Mr.. Lincoln.
II have sold my farm" said Samson
to his old friend the evening of his ar
rival.
"Dld you get good pricer Mr.. Lin
coin asked.
'All that my conscience would allow
me to take" said Samson. "The man
offered me three dollars an acre in
cash and ten dollars In notes. We
compromised on seven dollars, all
cash."
What are you going to do now that
you have sold out7"
II was thinking Of going up to Taze
well county"
why don't you go to the growing
and prosperouS town Of SpringheldT 2
Mr.. Lincoln asked. "The capitol will
be there, and so will /. II is going tC
be big city. Men who are to max!
history viii live In Springfield. Yoi
must come and help. l shall need you
friendship, your wisdom and your sym
pathy. shall want TO sit often By
your fireside. You'll find a good schoo
there for the children. If you'll thInl
of 1t seriously I'll try to get you int
the public service"
I'VE need you plenty" Samson an
swered. 1--WE kind o. think o. you a.
one O. the family. I'll talk 1t over witt
Sarah and see. Never mind the Job
II / keep you behavin' yourself, It'll b,
Job enough. Anyway, guess we cal
manage to get along"
'rve had a talk with Stuart ant
have some good news for Harry ant
Bim," said young Mr.. Lincoln. "Stuar
thinks she can get a divorce under tn
law Of 1927. l suppose they are still
interested In each otherT'
Hes like most OF the Yankees
Once he gets set, It's hard to chang
him. The Kelsos have moved to Chi
cago, and 1 don't know how Bin
stands. II Harry knows, he hasn'
said word to us about It."
'Pm interested In that little re
nance" said the legislator. "It's ou
duty to do what we can to secure tn
happiness of these young lovers. Tel
Harry to come over here. 1 want I
talk with him."