The Snowflake herald., 1921-12-02

drawing carriages that ShOne 80 you
could see your face in them," to quote
from Abe again, were on it's streets.
The two New Salem men stopped
and studied big sign in front of a
large store on which this announce
ment had been lettered:
"Cloths, cassinettes, cassimeres, vel
vet silks, satins, Marseilles waistcoat-
ing, fine, calf boots, seal and morocco
pumps for gentlemen, crepe lisse, lace
wells. Thibet shawls, fine prunella
Shoes"
Reads like a foreign language to
me-" said Abe. "How would you like
little Marseilles waistcoating?"
Suddenly a man touched his shoul-
der with a hearty "Howdy, Abe?"
1t was Eli, "the Wandering Jew"
as he had been wont to call himself
in the days when he carried pack
on the road through Peters Bluff and
Clary's Grove and New Salem to
Beardstown and back.
dis is my store" said Eli.
Your store!" Abe exclaimed.
q, look at Qe sign.
The Jew pointed to his sign-board,
some fifty feet long under the cornice,
on which they read the legend:
ELI Fredenbergs Emporium"
Abe looked him over from head to
foot and exclaimed:
"My conscience! You look as if you
had been fixed up to be sold to the
highest bidder"
The hairy, dusty, bOw-legged. thread
bare peddler had been touched by
some miraculous hand. The lavish
hand of the West had showered her
favors on him. They resembled in
some degree the barbaric pearl and
gold of the East. He glowed with
prosperity. Diamonds and ruffied lin
en- and Scotch plaid and red silk on
his neck and blue band on his hat
and smooth-shOrn face and perfum-
cry were the glittering details that
surrounded the person Of Eli.
Come in," urged the genial pro-
prietor of the Emporium. II would like
to show you my goots and introduce
you to my brudder."
In the mems department after much
thoughtful discussion they decided up
on suit of blue jeans-that being
the only goods which, in view Of the
amount of cloth required, came with
in the appropriation. Eli advised
against it.
you are like Eli already" he said.
You haf got de pack off your back.
Look at me. Don't you hear my clothes
say somet'ing?"
They are very eloquent" said Abe.
"Vell, dey make speech. Dey say
Eli Fredenberg he is no more a poor
devil. You cannot sneeZe at him once
again. Nefer. He has climb de lad
der up Now you let me sell you
something vat makes a good speech
for you"
''If you let me dictate the speech
I'll agree" said Abe
"Vell-vat is it?' Eli asked.
II would like my clothes to say in
low tone of voice: This is humble
Abraham Lincoln, about the same
length and breadth that l am. He
don't want to scare or astonish any
body. He don't want to look like a
beggar or a millionaire. Just put him
down for hard-working man of good
intentions who is badly in debt"
That ended all argument The suit
Of blue jeans was ordered and the
measures taken. AS they were about
to go Eli said:
II forgot to tell you dot I haf seen
BIN Kelso de odder day In st. Louis.
l haf seen her on de street. She has
been like queen so grand! De hat
and gown from Paris and she walk so
proud But she look not so happy
like she usit to be. / speak to her.
Oh my, she vas glad and so surprised
She tolt me dot she would like to come
for visit but her husband he does
not want her to go dere-nefer again.
My jobber haf tolt me dot Mr.. Biggs
is git drunk efery day. BIN she t'ink
de place no good"
"POor child" said Abe. 'Tm afraid
she's in trouble. Her parents have be-
gun to suspect that something Is
wrong. They have never been invited
| to go down there and visit the girl.
/ reckon we'd better say nothing to
any one of what we have heard, at
present"
They reached New Salem in the
middle of the night and went into Rut-
ledge's barn and lay down on the
| haymOW between two buffalo hides un-
til morning
(TO BE CONTINUED)