in' the Court
House an' I seen a big crowd inside, I went in, too, ter listen a
minute.

"That lawyer Fink, that got up the Kennel Club, an' has the bully dog
team, an' Daly, the feller with the smile that makes you feel like
there's sunshine in the room, was a-talkin' agin each other; an' their
fightin' was so excitin' an' so smooth an' perlite too, that everybody
was a-settin' on the edges o' their chairs a-waitin' fer what was
a-comin' next."

"So you were interested in what the lawyers had to say?"

"Yes, sir. Ever since my mother told me the story about President
Lincoln a while ago, I been wantin' t' be a lawyer when I grow up. He
didn't have no more book-learnin' than me at first, but he wouldn't let
nothin' stop him, an' jest see what he done."

"Lincoln is to be your model, then? Well, you're right to aim high, Ben.
You can practice his simple virtues of being honest and kind and
industrious every day, and anywhere. And the education must be managed
someway," added the Woman thoughtfully.

"After Mother read me that speech o' Mr. Lincoln's at Gettysburg, when
all the people was jest dumb from their feelin's bein' so solemn an'
deep; an' some o' his other speeches that was fine, I begun t' go t'
town whenever there was t' be any good speakin', even when I had t' walk
both ways."

"Shows your determination, as a starter," replied "Scotty"
encouragingly. "And were you always repaid for your tramp?"

"Most allers, Mr. Allan. Last Fourth o' July I heerd Judge Tucker tell
in his pleasant voice 'at sounds like he likes talkin' t' you all that
Virginia's done fer our country, an' I wished I was from Virginia too.
But mebbe some day I'll make some boy wish he was from Alaska by bein'
fine an' smart an' gentle like Judge Tucker."

"Virginia or Alaska, Ben--it's all the same, so long as you're proud of
your state, and give your state a chance to be proud of you."

"Yes, ma'am; that's what Mother says. Then I heerd Tom Gaffney recitin'
Robert Emmett's last speech, on St. Patrick's day, at Eagle Hall, an' I
near cried at the end; an' I don't cry easy. It takes somethin' pretty
bad t' make me cry," and he looked furtively toward Baldy.

"I'm sure it does, sonny; any one can see that you're game, all right;
but that speech always makes me cry too."

The boy regarded "Scotty" appreciatively. Here was a typical Alaskan, a
sturdy trailsman, touched by the tender, pitiful things of life, just
like a little boy that