"Come in," urged the genial proprietor of the Emporium. "I vould like to
show you my goots and introduce you to my brudder."

They went in and met his brother and had their curiosity satisfied as to
the look and feel of cassinettes and waistcoatings and seal and morocco
pumps and prunella shoes.

In the men's department after much thoughtful discussion they decided
upon a suit of blue jeans--that being the only goods which, in view of
the amount of cloth required, came within 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 a speech. Dey say 'Eli Fredenberg he is no more a poor
devil. You can not sneeze at him once again. Nefer. He has climb de
ladder up.' Now you let me sell you somet'ing vat makes a good speech for
you."

"If you'll let me dictate the speech I'll agree," said Abe.

"Vell-vat is it?" Eli asked.

"I would like my clothes to say in a low tone of voice: 'This is humble
Abraham Lincoln about the same length and breadth that I am. He don't
want to scare or astonish anybody. He don't want to look like a beggar
or a millionaire. Just put him down for a 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:

"I forgot to tell you dot I haf seen Bim Kelso de odder day in St. Louis.
I haf seen her on de street. She has been like a queen so grand! De hat
and gown from Paris and she valk so proud! But she look not so happy like
she usit to be. I speak to her. Oh my, she vas glad and so surprised! She
tolt me dot she vould like to come home for a visit but her husband he
does not vant her to go dere--nefer again. My jobber haf tolt me dot Mr.
Biggs is git drunk efery day. Bim she t'ink de place no good. She haf
tolt me dey treat de niggers awful. She haf cry ven she tolt me dot."

"Poor child!" said Abe. "I'm afraid she's in trouble."

"I've been thinking for some time that I'd go down there and try to see
her," said Harry as they were leaving the store. "Now, I'll have to go."

"Maybe I'll go with you," said Abe.

They got a ride part of the way back and had a long tramp again under the
starlight.

"I don't believe you had better go down to St. Louis," Abe remarked as
they walked along. "It might m