Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-02-10
Meek Little Simeon Mix

"Who was the mcckcst man." asks the
catcchism, and promptly answers itself
by saying, "Moscs."
The catcchism is wrong. 1t is proba-
bly, cXcusablc, however, for the man who
wrote it was doubtless unocquaintcd 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 mcckncss should
be given thus:
Qucston-Who was the mcckcst man
AnsWcr-Lttlc 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 tinkcr'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 fso and so could be
noticed or if such and such 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
urcd to put copy out if Mr.. Boggs was
looking. lie moved about his establish
mcnt as If he were an intcrloper liable to
be ordered out at any moment. He al
ways spoke to and of his foreman as "Nlr.
Boggs," but the foreman was never more
respectful to little Simeon than to call
him "Sm." He generally addressed
him as "You sap-hcad' Mr.. Boggs
ruled the dcstnics 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 aftcmo )ns. 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 suggesting
such thing to Mr.. Boggs. One night
an idea struck little Simeon, after he had
gone to bed 1t was such bold one
that it scared him. Why not change the
date of the paper to Wednesday! That
was the idea. But to carry II into cXcr-
cution was what required the nerve. 1t
would never do to let Mr.. Boggs know
Of it. Little Simeon rolled and tossed
for hours on his couch, so burdcned was
he with his idea. Finally he crcpt 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 the
door, and, with trembling limbs, tip-tocd
into the office 1t was his own office,
but he felt like thief. The forms for
the paper were made up and on the stone
ready to 90 to press the next day, which
was Wednesday. Little Simeon struck a
match, and crcpt up to the stone.
"Law!" said he, "NIr. Boggs knew this
he'd be mad enough to kill me! I've a
notion not to do it, now.'
But he did. He lifted out the word
"Tucsday" and the date, and placed
"Wednesday" and the corresponding
date in their place. Then he left the
Office as steathily as he had entered, and
flew back home as if the terrible Mr..
Boggs was in close pursuit. Little Sim
con slept not wink that night, and half
dressed himself twice with the intention
of going back to the Office and undoing
the bold work he had DONE The next
morning he had no courage to go to the
Office, and sent word to Mr.. Boggs that
he was i'll. The paper como out all right,
dated Wednesday. On Thursday little
Simeon went to the office with fear and
trembling. He expected blast from
Mr.. Boggs, and admitted himself that he
deserved it. But he nearly tainted when
Mr.. Boggs greeted him with pleasant
smile, and said:
"Ah! Good morning Simmy"
Littlo Simeon was filled with rcmorsc.
"NIr. Boggs hasn't found me out yet"
said he. It'll come by and by"
But it didn't, Nothing was said by
any one about the change in the Beacon
Lights publication day. Little Simeon
began to feel better and look upon hi.
little moonlight coup as master stroke
of genius The next week the Beacon
Lights new publication day came round,
but no Beacon Light appeared. Mr..
Boggs had resented the unheard OF
effrontery of little Simeon Mix in inter
fering with the management of the paper
He brought the Beacon Light out OF
Thursday, and on Thursday it came ou
thereafter, dated Wednesday
Mr.. Bogg's disapproval of his employ
er's ideas in journalism was so univcrsa
that little Simeon was at last forced t.
use subtcrfuge and strategcm to MAKE
his personality felt in the conduct of TIN
Beacon Light. This was suggested t.
him, however, by Billy Puterbaugh, th'