The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-08-08

q
Brown, thrusting brawny fist right
under the school-master' nose.
eyes, r-o-w-dy," answered Godfrey;
but, thanks to the hardness of Dawes
mental processes, other villagers had in
terfered before the bitter retort had been
fairly felt. The Dodd faction retired,
but only to mediate vengeance.
Middleburg on the Fourth of July
poured itself out in two streams, one set
ting toward the store, the other toward
the school-house.
The processions-well they were
something to see as by different roads
they started for Clapp's Hill. The Dodd
party led by the great brass band, .. e.,
one French horn blowing OIL Yankee
Doodle in style, while the drum now
and then struck in with an ObHgdto.
Behind the music rode the orator of the
day-Slocum, the shoemaker, mounted
on farmer Days old white mare, which,
although o patient creature at the pillow,
was not friendly to a drum; so Slocum,
being a careful man, kept one hand
twisted in her name. The orator wore
cooked hat, which was viciOusly in
clined to settle upon the top OF his nose;
he wore also an Odd-Fellow's scarf of
gorgeous design, and the oration--an
enormous roll-stuck out of his breast
pocket Next strobe Ed Tully and
Rube Applegate, arrayed in the blue
badges improvised in paper-muslin, but
of generous proportions. Then came
the ice-cream wagon and, as guard
to it, Dave Browns slouching strength,
made CONSPICUOUS by grand sash of
the national colors. Behind him fell in
hundred of the village people two by
two, old and young, hallooing boys and
toddling babies, pretty girls and stocky,
low-browed farmers.
At certain cross-road the Holloway
procession came up and struck into the
turnpike. As neither party would give
way, the two marched along side by
side, scarcely a burrows width between
them.
Little Mabel Worth, carrying blue
silk banner, headed the Holloway party.
She was dressed in white frOck, and
although the wreath in her hair was de-
signed by the village milliner, SO stub
bornly lovely is childhood that the small
creature, wide-eyed and serious with the
Importance of the occasion, looked like
some holy martyr child stepped out from
an old picture. Even the Oddities re-
marked her beauty, and Ed. Tully, in
pure jealousy, directed the horn-blower;
foot up now, tirst-class
But the Holloway merry makers had a
surprise in reserve. A dozen gayly-
dressed girls, and dozen young fellows
with knots of ribbon in their hats, struck
up the "Red, White, and Blue School
master Godfrey whippedlout flute, g
boy welded an accordion powerfully
end stalwart youth beat a large tin
: kettle with superb effect
, Dave Brown, of the opposition, turned
purple with rage, and yelled down the
line of his command: "Sing, yer fools
why don't yer singP" But as this hac
not been laid down in the programme
| people only looked at each other sheep
| ishly, and nobody liked to begin. Tht
[ whole Holloway line was now one grea
7 choir. Everybody sang at the top of hi
/ lungs. Godfrey, mounted aStride tn,
barrel of root-beer, which was made fas
upon a blackboard wagon, led off tn
D tunes with his shrill flute, while tn,
7 colors Of freedom streamed from his hat
< and his heart rose high in triumph ant
q pride.
: On went the two armies, exactl
abreast until, just before reachin!
= Clapp's River, that white mare took
notion to show her mettle So tn
S Dodd procession was delayed, and full
: dozen yards ahead of its van littl
e Mabel put her foot upon the first plan
2 of Clapp's Bridge. Over this bridg
was the only way of reaching Clapp'
Il Hill, and the structure was hardly wild
e enough TO take in the rival column
e abreast. Finding his party so Far in ad
G vance, Godfrey, from his perch on til
o beer barrel, yelled; "We've got tn
right of way. Hurrahw
e mo yer hain't," answered Day
d Brown, urging his friends forward.
;, "Sayn shouted Cooley, as the ex
cited enemy neared him, "keep bach
h won't youP l don't believe in tn
:. bridge much"
"Yahr' howled Brown in fur,
J. "Yah! No you DON'T" and encourage
J. his army with: Don't let Holloway
folks beat u.s." Don't give in, BOYS,
N and other battle-cries.
keep back!' cried Goodfrey agai
"The old bridge is rotten"
''Think we're green, don't yer?
v. Dave flung the defiant answer, and wi
b, squirt the tagging company can
lt' alongside. The white mare kicked ar
er trampled bravely, the horn blared, Il
young men of the opposing tactic
o. elbowed each other, the girls exchange
"Oh, you horrid thingr' and such fer
'e. mime small-shot. The blackboard al
e, barrel had reached the center of t
nj bridge; the ice-cream cart struggle
70 along to the same point, and desperate
g. tried to pass; the wheels of the two vel
IN cles became locked. Godfrey shoute
e, Brown jeered, the people pressed mad
forward, and suddenly-hark! stran
1 4 IL i