The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-02-11
Meek Little Simeon Mix

"Who was the meckest man." asks the
catechism, and promptly answers itself
by saying, "Moses."
The catochism is wrong. 1t is proba-
bly, eNcusable, however, for the man who
wrote it was doubtless unacquaintcd with
little Simeon Mix. If this should come
to the eye of the author of that cheerful
specimen of orthodox literature, | hope
he will revise his work in this respect.
The information as to mcekness should
be given thus
Question-Who was the mcekest man.
Answcr-Littlc Simeon Mix.
Because there never could have been a
man quite as meek as little Simeon was.
His name was at the head of the Grass
vile Beacon Light as editor, publisher
and proprietor, and so he was; but he
had no more to say about the way things
should be run in the establishment than
the tinker's apprentice next door had.
Mr.. Joshua Boggs, the foreman Of the
Office, was the Beacon Lights dictator.
Nobody ever thought of going to little
Simeon to have anything put in Or left
out of the paper, because they knew that
Mr.. Boggs would more than likely kill the
one and put in the other; so they always
asked Mr.. Boggs if so and so could be
noticed, or if such and such a, thing
couldn't be passed over. Little Simeon
never put his copy on the hook with any
thought that it would go in as he wanted
it, if it went in at ALL and he never vent
ured to put copy out if Mr.. Boggs was
looking. He moved about his establish
ment as If he were an interloper, liable to
be ordered out at any moment He al
ways spoke to and of his foreman as ''Mr.
Boggs," but the foreman was never more
respectful to little Simeon than to call
him "Sim," He generally addressed
him as "You sap-head." Mr.. Boggs
ruled the dcstinies of the Beacon Light
with an iron hand, and little Simeon per-
formed the functions of editor publisher
nd proprietor with fear and trembling.
The publication day of the Beacon
Light was Tuesday, and it was little Sim
cons wcll-known desire to have the pa
per printed on Monday night. Consc-
quently, Mr.. Boggs issued the paper
promptly on Wednesday afterno ons. A
paper dated on Tuesday, and not coming
out until Wednesday, did not strike little
Simeon as being good journalism, but, of
course, he could not think of spss2sscsting
such thing to Mr.. Boggs. One night
an idea struck little Simeon, after he had
gone to bed. 1t was such bold ono
that it scared him. Why not change the
date of the paper to Wednesday, That
was the idea But to carry 1t into cxer-
cution was what required the nerve II
would never do to let Mr.. Boggs know
of it. Little Simeon rolled and tossed
for hours on his couch, so burdened was
he with his idea. Finally he crept out
of bed, dressed himself, stole from the
house, and went by round about way,
through dark back streets, to the office
of the Beacon Light. He unlocked tho
door, and, with trembling limbs, tip-toed
into the office. 1t was his own office
but he felt like thief. The forms fol
the paper were made up and on the stonc
ready to go to press the next day, which
was Wednesday. Little Simeon struck ;
match, and crept up to the stone.
claw" said he, "Mr. Boggs knew thi
he'd be mad enough to kill mel I've
notion not to do it, now"
But he did He lifted out the wore
"Tuesday" and the date, and PLACED
"wednesday" and the corresponding
date in their place. Then he left tn
office as stealthily as he had entered, ant
flew back home as if the terrible Mr.
Boggs was in close pursuit. Little Sim
con slept not wink that night, and hal
dressed himself twice with the intention
of going back to the office and undoin.
the bold work he had done. The mex
morning he had no courage to go to tn
office, and sent word to Mr. Boggs tina
he, was i'll. The paper come out all right
dated Wednesday. On Thursday littl
Simeon went to the Office with fear ant
trembling. He expected blast fror
Mr.. Boggs, and admitted himself that h
deserved it. But he nearly tainted whe
Mr.. Boggs greeted him with pleasan
SMILE and said
"Ah! Good morning. Simmy!"
Little Simeon was filed with remorse
"Mr. Boggs hasn't found me out yet,
said he. It'll come by and by"
But it didn't, Nothing was said b
any one about the change in the Bcaco
Lights publication day. Little Since
began to feel better and look upon HI
little moonlight coup as master strok
!. of genius. The next week the Beaco
Lights new publication day came round
but no Beacon Light appeared. Nj
Boggs had resented the unheard {
effrontery of little Simeon Mix in inte
fering with the management of the pape
He brought the Beacon Light out G
Thursday, and on Thursday it came Of
thereafter, dated Wednesday
Mr.. Bogg's disapproval of his emplo.
er's ideas in journalism was so univers
j. that little Simeon was at last forced
use subterfuge and strategcm to NAL
$ his personality felt in the conduct of Il
: Beacon Light. This was suggested
him, however, by Billy Puterbaugh, Il
| daviI of tho eStnhlishmant Riily "