Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-12-09

anu OCA1(G
son had gone to the woods to split
rails.
"Any mail?' Sarah asked.
mo mall" he answered.
Sarah went to the window and STOOD
for some minutes looking out at the
plain. It's sere grasses, protrudlng OUT
of the snow, Kissed and bent In the
wind. In its cheerless winter coiors
it was a dreary thing to see.
"How 1 long for homel" she e-
claimed, as she resumed her sewing by
the fire.
Little Joe came and stood by her
knee and gave his oft repeated bless
ing:
"God help us and make His face to
shine upon US"
She kissed him II said: Dear COM
forter! 1t shines upon me every time
1 hear you say those words"
."Would you mind if l called you
motherT' Harry asked.
81 shall be glad to have you do 1t If
1t gives you any comfort, Harry" b
answered
She observed that there were tears
in his eyes.
"We are all very fond Of you" she
said, as she bent to her task.
Then the boy told her the history OF
his morning-the talk with BIN, with
the razor omitted from it.
SWELL, Harry, If she's such a fool
you're lucky to have found 1t out so
soon" said Sarah. "She does little but
ride the pony and play around with a
gun. / don't believe she ever spun d
hank O yarn in her life. She'll get her
teeth cut by and BY"
Then fell q moment of silence. Soon
she said:
There's a bitter wind blowing and
there's no hurry about the rails, l
guess. You sit here by the fire and
read your book this forenoon. Maybe
it will help you to find your work"
So 1t happened that the events OF
Harry's morning found their place In
the diary which Sarah and Samson
kept. Long afterward Harry added the
sentences about the razor.
One evening Sarah and Samson,
with Harry, went to a debate In the
tavern on the issues Of the day, In
which Abe won the praise of all for an
able presentation of the claim Of In
ternal improvements. During that
evening Alexander Ferguson declared
that he would not cut his hair until
Henry Clay became President, the
news of which resolution led to a like
insanity in others and an age Of IN
exampled hairiness on that part of the
border.
For Samson and Sarah the most
notable social event Of the winter was
a chicken dinner at which they and
Mr.. and Mrs. James Rutledge and Ann
and Abe Lincoln and Doctor Allen
were the guests Of the Kelsos. That
night Harry stayed at home with the
children.
Kelso was in his best mood.
Come" he said, when dinner was
ready. life is more than friendship,
1t is partly meat"
sand mostly Kelso," said Doctor
Allen.
"Ah, Doctorl Long life has made
you as smooth as an old shilling and
nimbler than a sixpence," Kelso de-
clared. "And, speaking of life, Arts
totle said that the learned and the un-
learned were as the living and the
dead"
ut is true" Abe interposed. 81 say
it, in spite of the fact that 1t Stays
me-"
you? No! You are alive to your
finger tips" Kelso answered.
But 1 have mastered only eight
books" said Abe.
"And one-the book of common
sense, and that has wised you," KelsC
went on. "Since I came to this coun
try 1 have learned to beware of the
one-book man. There are more living
men in America than In n land
have seen. The man who reads ont
good book thoughtfully Is alive anG
often my master in wit or wisdom
Reading is the gate and thought Is the
pathway Of real life"
II think that most of the men 1 know
have read the Bible" said Abe.
"a wonderful and a saving facti Il
is a sure foundation to build your life
upon"
Kelso paused to pour whisky from
a jug at his side for those who would
take 1t.
Let us drink to our friend Abe anG
his new ambition" he proposed.
"What is it2" Samson asked.
Il am going to try for a seat in the
legislature" said Abe.
The toast was drunk, and by som
in water, after which Abe said:
IF you have the patience to lister
to 1t, I'd like to read my declaration tt
the voters of Sangamon county"
Samson's diary briefly describes this
appeal as follows:
He said that he wanted to win the
confidence and eStpem of his fal1ou