The Glenwood post., 1922-02-16
fore as they sat by the latteFs fire.

said ADe. Inc 0OCA uictIiGt VI Wy
person has been without representa-
tion in the legislature of my intellect
up to It's last session. Then we got
bill through for local improvements
and the governor has approved the
appropriation. Suddenly we discov
cred that there was no money in the
treasury. But Samson Traylor has
offered to buy an issue of bonds Of
the amount Of fifteen dollars" -
"I'm glad to hear you declare in
favor of external improvements" said
Kelso "We've all been too much alb
sorbed by internal improvements
You're on the right TRAIL Abe. You've
been thinking Of the public ear and
too little Of the public eye. We must
show some respect for both"
Sometimes I think that coinely
dress ought to go with comely die
tion," said Abe. But that's a thing
you can't learn in books. There's no
grammarian of the language of dress.
Then I'm so big and awkward. It's
a rather hopeless problem"
you're in good company" Kelsn
assured him. Mature guards her best
men with some sort of singularity,
not attractive to others. Often she
makes them odious with conceit or
deformity or dumbness or garrulity.
Dante was such q poor talker that
no one would ever ask him tc dinner.
If 1t had not been so I presume his
muse would have been sadly crippled
by indigestion. II you had been a
good dancer and lady's 1avorite.
wonder If you would have studied
Kirltham and Burns and Shakespeare
and Blackstone and Starkie, and the
science of surveying and been elected
to the legislature. wonder IL you
could even have whipped Jack Arm
strong"
"Or have enjoyed the friendship Of
Bill Berry and acquired national
debt, or have saved my lmperiled
country in the war with BLACK Hawk"
Abe laughed.
In the matter Of dress the postmas-
ter had great confidence in the taste
and knowledge of his young friend,
Harry Needles, whose nea. appear.
ance Abe regarded with serious ad-
miration. So he asked Harry to go
with him on his new mission and help
to choose the goods and direct the
tailoring. for 1t seemed to him a high
ly important enterprise.
"Our appropriation Is only fifteen
dollars" said Abe as they came in
sight of 1.-THE big village" on warm
bright day late in October. "Of course,
/ can't expect to make myself look
like the President Of the United
States with such sum. but want to
look like Z respectable citizen Of the
United States, If that is possible. III
give the old Abe and fifteen dollars
to boot for a new one and We'll see
what comes Of it,
Springfield had been rapidly chang
ing. 1t was still small and crude, but
some Of the best standards of civuiza-
tion had been set up in that commun-
ity. Families Of wealth and culture
in the East had sent their sons and
share of their capital to this little
metropolis Of the land Of plenty to 60
into business. Handsome, well-groomed
horses, In silver-mounted harness.
drawing carriages that shone $50 you
could see your face in them," to quote
from Abe again. were on its streets.
The two New Salem men stopped
and studied big sign In front of .
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
veils Thibet shawls, fine prunella
shoes"
"Reads like = foreign language to
me-" said Abe. "How would you like
little Marseilles waistcoatingT
Suddenly a man touched his shoul-
der with hearty "Howdy. Abel"
II was Ell. 1.-THE Wandering Jew"
as he had been wont to call himself
in the days when he carried a pack
on the road through Peters Bluff. and
Clary's Grove and New Salem T.
Beardstown and back.
dis is my store" said Ell.
"Your storel" Abe exclaimed.
"Ya, look at de sign"
The Jew pointed to his sign-board,
some fifty feet long under the cornice.
on which they read the legend:
"Eli Fredenberg's Emporium"
Abe looked him over from head to
foot and exclaimed:
my conscience! You look as IL 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 ruined lin
en- and Scotch plaid and red silk on
his neck and q blue band on his hat
and n smooth -shOrn face and nerf,,m.