finishing what he commenced.


* * * * *


"NO HEAPING COALS OF FIRE ON THAT HEAD."

The wantonly cruel experiment of testing the sensitiveness in reptiles
armored, passed into a proverb out West in pioneer times. Besides
carving initials and dates on the shell of land tortoises, boys would
fling the creatures against tree or rock to see it perish with its
exposed and lacerated body, or literally place burning coals on the
back. In such cases Lincoln, a boy in his teens, but a redoubtable
young giant, would not only interfere vocally, but with his arms,
if needed.

"Don't terrapins have feelings?" he inquired.

The torturer did not know the right answer, and, persisting in the
treatment, had the shingle wrenched from his hand and the cinders
stamped out, while the sufferer was allowed to go away.

"Well, feelings or none, he won't be burned any more while I am
around!"

He did not always have to resort to force in his corrections, as he
obtained the title of "Peacemaker" by other means, and the spell in
his tongue, at that age.