News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-03-30
AN EARTHQUAKE OR A Boy.
[From Our Continent.l


In the early part of certain summer
the selectmen of little New Eualan d
town determined to erect high pole,
on which new flag was to be raised on
the coming Fourth of July. Accordir g
to the ordinance which they passed, this
pole was to be set up on the highest
point of land within mile of the Town
Hall, provided the owner of such land
should consent.
The town people were very glad to
have the pole, and it was expected that
the raising of the new flag, with the at
tendant speeches and other ceremonies,
would be very interesting event, and
would attract not only the town-folk
but many persons from the surrounding
country.
But after the matter had been talked
over for day or two, some of the more
thoughtful of the inhabitants of the
town began to find an objection to the
ordinance.
"The selectmen did not think what
they were about" said Mr.. Silas Markle,
the schoolmaster, ''when they voted to
put the pole on the highest point of land
within mile of the Town Hall. 1 have
surveyed pretty much all the ground
about here and l know that Mullen
Hill, on old Jimmy Haskins's farm, is
higher than any other land in the neigh
borhood. The next highest is the hill
on Mr.. Upton's place, but that is at
least six feet lower than the highest part
of Mullen Hill. Now it is my opinion
thst if that pole is put up on Jimmy
Haskins's property he will levy toll on
everybody who goes to the celebration.
We all know he don't allow people to
walk over his fields, but he will Jump at
chance like this to make money"
"That's So" said a bystander. 81
believe he got the thing passed himself,
just to screw pennies out of his friends
and neighbors. He knows very well
that his hill is higher than any land near
the town"
The day after this Mr.. Jimmy Has
kins was in one of the stores of the
place, where there were a good many
people collected, when one of his neigh
bors asked him plain question. "Mr.
Haskins," said he, eff the pole is set up
on your land you'll let everybody go
free to the hill, won't your
Old Jimmy Haskins smiled and did
not Immediately answer, and then he
said: "When the flag pole is set up on
Mullen Hill want everybody in this
town and everyone within thirty miles
around to attend the celebration, and
they'll all be free to come through my
big gate and to walk up to the hill.
provided And I'll let you all know
the provision when the time comes"
And then he smiled again.
"You seem to feel pretty sure, Mr..
Haskins," said his neighbor, "that
your hill is the highest point of land In
the neighborhood."
"Of course 1 am sure of it, said the
old man. "I know just as well as [
know anything that Mullen Hill is six
feet higher than any other ground in
these parts, and nothing can change
that state of affairs except an earth
quake"
"Or a boy" said a youthful voice
from the outside of the little group.
This voice was not very loud and few
persons heard it. Certainly Jimmy
Haskins did not. The youthful voice
belonged to George Upton, lad be-
tween thirteen and fourteen years old.
George, as well as the other boys in
town. was full OF enthusiasiasm about the
fiag-pole, and he had had strong hopes
that that hill on his fathers farm would
be found higher than Mullen Hill. But
on talking the matter over with Mr..
Markle he had been assured that this
would not be. He had thought great
deal upon the subject, and while listen
ing to Mr.. Haskins' boasting talk in the
store, had hit upon plan by which he
would try and change the state of affairs
which the old man had said could be al
tered only by an earthquake.
"The pole ought to be on our hill
anyway" be thought, 'for it's near
the road and everybody could come in
without walking through long, dirty
lane. Besides I'm not going to stand
by and see old Jimmy Haskins taking
two or three cents from every person
who goes to the flag raising"
1t must be admitted, however, that
Master Georges plan was prompted a