The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-10
TuckertOwn Troubles.


There was great church bother in Tucker
town last year, but our folks weren't in it
The trouble began in the choir, who couldn't
agree about the tunes. On some SUNDAYS the
organist wouldn't play, and on others the sing
ers wouldn't sing. Once they all stopped
short in the middle Of SGreenland's lev Noun
tains, and it was real exciting in church. for
you never knew what might happen before
you came out; but folks said it was disgrace
ful, and suppose it was. They complained
OF the minister because he didn't put a stop to
1t; so at last he took sides with the organist,
and dismissed the choir, and declared we
would have congregational singing in the fu-
ture. Most everybody thought that would be
the end of the trouble, but, mercy! it was
hardly the beginning! Things grew worse
and worse. To begin with, the Congregation
wouldn't sing. You see they had had a choir
SO long, people were sort of afraid to let out
their voices, and besides, there was Elvira
tucker who had studied music in Boston,
Just ready to make fun of them if they did
for she was one OF the choir, and they were all
as mad as hornets.
In fact, the whole Tucker family were Of
tended. They said folks didn't appreciate
ElFlra, nor what she had done. since she re-
turned from Boston, to raise the standard in
Iuckertown. And of course they were real
mad with the minister, and lots of people took
their side and called 'emselves @Tuckerites"
You see, the fuckers stand very high in
Iuckertown, and other people try to be just as
like them as they can. They were first set
tiers, for one thing, and have the most money.
for another: and they lay down the law gen
orally. The postofice and station are at their
end OF the village They decide when the
sewing societies shall meet, and the fairs take
place, and the strawberry festivals come off
Ii there is to be picnic, they decide when we
shall go and where we shall go, and Just who
shall sit In each wagon. If anybody is sick
Mrs. Tucker visits 'em just as regularly as
the doctor, and she brings grapes and jelly,
and is very kind, though she always scolds the
SICK person for not dieting, or for going with
out her rubbers, or something of that sort If
mother had a hand in this story, not word of
all this Y Juld go down. She says they are
very public spirited people, and that they do
a great deal for Tuckertown l suppose they
do, but I've heard other people say that they
domineer much more than is agreeable
The people on the minister's side were
called Anti Tuckerites;" but, as 1 said, our
folks weren't in the quarrel at all The con-
sequence of being on the fence was that
could not join in the fun on either side, and l
think 1t was real mean. Every now and then
the Tuckerites would plan some lovely picnic
or party, Just so as not to invite the Anti
Tuckerites Then, in turn, they would get
up an excursion, and not invite any of the
Tuckerites. Of course, I wasn't invited to
either, and it was just as provoking as it
could be.
One day, when l went to school, Hound that
Elvira Tucker was going to train choir of
children to take the place of the old choir.
Il went over to call on Elvira last evening, {"
I heard Miss Green tell our school teacher,
and found her at the piano playing for little
Nell to sing. It was Just at dusk, and thew did
dered why we couldn't have a choir of chill
dren instead of the congregational singing.
Elvira said she thought it would be lovely"
Now, l had been to singing-school for two
winters; SO thought 1 ought to belong to the
choir.
to belong" said 'Melia Stone. "And your folks
aren't one thing or another"
l couldn't stand being left out of all the fun
any longer, so l said: "Im as much Tucker
lite as anybody, only our folks don't approve of
making so much trouble about small affair. )"
Il want to know" said Abby Ann Curtiss
well, I'll ask Miss Elvira if you can belong
there"
Mercy me! Ihad jumped from the fence
and found myself Tuckerite L was sure
mother would be real mad if she knew what
had said for | suspected in my heart of hearts
that, if she had jumped from the fence she
would have lit on the minister's side made
up my mind that would not tell her what had
passed, for maybe, after ALL Miss Elvira would
decide that was no real Tuckerite. But the
very next day she sent word to me that she
would like to have me join the choir
told mother that was wanted in the chill
dren's choir because had a good voice, and
never said word about being Tuckerite
"a children's choir" said she. "That's
real good idea-a beautiful idea."
She never suspected how was deceiving
her.
Well, we had real fun practicing. That
week we learned chant and two hymns.
One day Miss Green came in.
"How does she happen to be here?" I heard
her ask Miss Elvira, with a significant look
at me-
@Oh she has real good voice" answered
Miss Elvira, laughing. "Most of the children
who can sing are on the Tuckerite side Be
sides, from something she said to Abby Ann,
think at heart the Halls sympathize with us. ="
What would my folks have said to that?
felt half sick of the whole affair, and went
home and leased mother to let me go and visit
Mary Ann.
never shall forget the Sunday sang in the
choir. Miss Elvira played for us ON the organ,
for when the real Organist heard that only the
Tuckerite children were to belong to it she re-
fused to play. Everybody seemed surprised
10 see me In IL and even Or. Scott looked at
me in mournful sort of way; as if he thought
the Halls had gone over to the enemy What
troubled me most, though, was the look
mother gave me when she first realized that
the choir was formed only of the Tuckerite
children, and that she had not found it out
before.
But, in spite of all this, I enjoyed the sing
ing We sat, a long row of us, in the singers
seats up in the gallery After the hymn was
given out and we stood up, Miss Elyira nodded
to me and whispered: "Now, don't be afraid,
girls Sing as loud as you can"
Mercy! how we did sing! Twice as loud as
the grown-up choir. Luella Howe said after
ward, that we looked as if we were trying to
swallow the meeting house
But never sang but just that once in the
choir.
Otis Tufts and the First Passenger
Elevator.
W. S. Kennedy in Harpers' Magazine.
1t is to the brilliant genius and energy Of
this Boston inventor (now deceased) that the
credit is due of inventing and constructing the
first passenger elevator in the world driven by
steam power His vertical Screw Railway"