The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-30
AN EARTHQUAKE OR A BOY.

AN hAhIHQUAkb Oh a BUY.
In the early part of certain summer
the selectmen of a little New England
town determined to erect high pole on
which new flag was to be raised on the
coming Fourth of July. According to
the ordinance which they passed. this
pole was to be set up on the highest
point of land within a 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 ordin-
ance.
The selectmen did not think what
they were about" said Mr. Silas Markle,
the schoolmaster, skyhen they voted to
put the pole on the highest point of land
within mile of the Town Hall. / have
surveyed pretty much all the ground
about here and | know that Mullen Hill,
on old Jimmy Haskins' farm is higher
than any other land in the neighborhood.
The next highest is the hill on Mr.. Up
toms place, but that is at least six feet
lower than the highest part of Mullen
Hill. Now it is my opinion that if the
pole is put up on Jimmy Haskins' prop
srty 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 viii jump at chance like
this to make money"
That's so,n said bystander. 1 be-
lieve 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 Hask-
ms was in one of the stores of the place,
where there were a good many people
collected, when one of his neighbors
asked him plain question. t'Mr. Hask-
ms said he, IF the pole is set up on
your land you IL let everybody go free to
the hill. won't you?" s ~
Old Jimmy Haskins smiled. and did
not Immediately answer. and then he
said: when the fiag-pole is set up on
Mullen Hill | want everybody in this
town and every one within thirty miles
around to attend the celebration, and
they'll all be free to come through my
bio cate and to walk up to the hill, pro
q,ided- 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..
| Has5ins," said his neighbor, that your
hill is the highest point of land in the
neigh borhood.
..Of course | am sure of it," said the
| old man. Il 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"
s.Or bov," said youthful voice
| from the outside of the little group.
This voice was not very loud and few
persons heard it. Certainly Jimmy Hask-
ms did not The youthful voice belonged
| to George Upton, q lad between thirteen
| and fourteen years old. George, as wei
| as the other boys in town, was full 81
| enthusiasm about the flag-pole, and he
/ had had strong hopes that the hill or
| his fathers farm would be found higher
than Mullen Hill. But on talking the
matter over with Mr.. Markle he had beer
/ assured that this would not be. lie hao
thought q great deal upon the subject
| and while listening to Mr.. Hasklns boast
| inc talk in the store, had hit upon a plaI
by which he would try to change TIM
state of affairs which the old man bat
said could be altered only by an earth
quake.
..The pole ought to bee our hill any
/ > / ~ IS Ian
/ and everybody could come in withou
walking through the long, dirty lane
Besides m not going TO stand by an(
see old Jimmy Haskins taking two o.
three cents from every person who goes
to the flag-raising."
IL must be admitted, however, tina
Master Georges plan was prompted ;
good deal BY personal feeling. He woult
be vere proud to have the great pole Sc
up on his fathers land.
Mr. Silas Markle who was the survey
| or of the town as well as the school
/ master, had been informed by the com
1 mittee having the matter in charge tina
on the twentieth of June, which fell OIL
a Saturday. they would employ him t
ascertain the proper point OF land OF
which to erect the Ilag-pole. This CAV
| George but one week to carry out hi
plan, and he therefore set to work Wit
great energy. Having first obtained III
| fsltiler's permission. he called together
| number of his boy friends and announces
to them what he intended to do. |
Mullen Hill was six feet higher than tn
hill on their place he would make tn
latter seven or eight feet higher than
then was, and if the other fellows woul'
hep him, he believed this could be don
without the assistance of an earthquake
| lis plan, as explained, was wildly up
/ proved by the boys, and as this was va
cation time George aud his companion
begaff thor great work early on Monda
morning. N'i.ee bariows, crowbars
sl,ovels and spades were borrowed, an
/ Uuton's Hill soon became scene Q
GREAT activity Every thing was don
finder Georges directions and he bega
ooerations hy wheeling all the larg
stones that could be picked UP in II
field to the top OF the low round hi
These were spread over space Ct iiffee
ov I ,vent.v feet in diameter, and forme