Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-01-06


and it looks very pleasant, and you,
Ann, are always walking beside me
in it. Before we take another step
1 wish you could give me some hope
to live on-just a little straw of
hope"
"You are a wonderful man, Abe"
said Ann, touched by his appeal. my
father says that you are going to be
a great man."
II can not hold out any such hope
to you" Abe answered. "Tm rather
ignorant and badly in debt, but I
reckon that I a make a good living
and give you a comfortable home.
Don't you think, taking me just as l
am, you could care for me a Hitler
eyes; sometimes I think that /
could love you, Abe" she answered.
"I do not love you yet, but / may
some time. / really want to love you"
'"That is all l can ask now" said
Abe as they went on. do you hear
from BIN KelsoY'
~ have not heard from her since
June"
81 wish you would write to her and
tell her that I am thinking Of going
down to st. Louis and that 1 would
like to go and see her."
"IIl write to her tomorrow" said
Ann.
They had a pleasant visit and while
Ann was playing with the baby she
seemed to have forgotten her troubles.
They stayed to supper, after which
the whole family walked to the tavern
with them. When Ann began to show
WEAKNESS, Abe gently lifted her in
his arms and carried her.
That evening Mrs. Peter Lukins
called upon Abe at Sam HIPS store
where he sat alone, before the fire,
reading with two candles burning on
the end as q dry goods box at his
elbow.
Il wanted to see you private bout
Lukins," she began. There's them
that call him Bony Lukins, but l
reckon he amt no bonner than the
everidge run O. men-not a bit-an',
if he was, l don't reckon his bones
orto be throwed at him every time
he's spoke to that away"
"What can 1 do about it,? Abe
asked.
"Pve been hopin' an wishin' some
kind of a decent handle could be put
en- to his name" said Mrs. Lukins,
with her eye upon a knot hole in the
counter. Something with a good
sound to it. You said that anything
you could do for the New Salem folks
you was goin' to do an l thought may
be you could fix it."
Abe smiled and asked: do you
want a title?"
IF it amt plum owdacious l wisht
ne could be made a colonel"
"IH see what can be done, but If
he gets that title he'll have to live up
10 it,"
"Ill make him walk a chalk line
you see,'' the good promised as
she left tine store.
That evening Abe wrote a playful
commission as colonel for Peter Lu-
kins, which was signed in due time
by all his friends and neighbors and
presented to Lukins by a committee
Of which Abe was chairman.
Coleman Smoot-a man of some
means who had a farm on the road
to Springield-was in the village that
evening. Abe showed him the COM
mission and asked him to sign it.
"I1l sign on one condition." said
Smoot.
"What is that?" Abe asked.
'That you'll give me a commission.
I want to be your friend"
"You are that now, aren't your
Abe asked.
"Yes, but 1 haven't earned my COM
mission. You haven't given me a
chance yet. What can 1 do to help
you along?"
Abe was much impressed by these
kindly words.
my friends do not often ask what
they can do for me-" he said. 81 sup
pose they haven't thought of it. I'll
think it over and let you know"
Three days later he walked out to
Coleman Shoots after supper. AS
they sat together by the ireside Abe
said:
1--WE been thinking of your friendly
question. It's dangerous to talk that
way to a nan like me. The fact is,
l need two hundred dollars to pay
pressing debts and give me something
In my pocket when 1 go to Vandalia.
II you can not lend it to me I shall
think none the less Of you"
II can and WILL" said Smoot. 1--WE
been watching you for a long time. A
man who tries as hard as you do to
get along deserves to be helped. I be-
lieve in you. Til go up to Springfield
and get the money and bring it to you
within a week or So"
Abe Lincoln had many friends who
would have done the like for him If
they could. and he knew it