The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1886-07-09
A HERO In PLUMVILLE.
How Dan Proved That Brave Folks
Were Not An Dead.

The village Of Plumville was very
small place. But like many another
little country town it felt its impor-
tance to the very last degree. 1t had a
town hall with a seating capacity of
over FIVE hundred, beautiful new Or
thodox Church, two druggists estab-
lishments-called pharmacies-and con-
sequently everso much better than just
common apOthecaries' stores. There
were also two ministers, two doctors
and a number of lawyers in the place.
And now they were building an obser-
vatory, on a very high hill, from which
there would be a really grand outlook.
The great city, fifteen miles distant,
seeming, on clear day. to be close at
hand; while the intervening towns
and villages formed pretty picture in
the midst of small forests and extensive
fields and meadows. The observatory
was nearly finished, and was to be ded-
icated on the Fourth of July, which
holiday was close at hand.
It was all the people could talk
about, for the affair was to be one of
unusual brilliance. Owing to the ex-
treme heat of the season, the exercises
were to take place at five o'clock in the
afternoon; then there was to be a sort
of general picnic, to which all Plum
vile was invited to send contributions.
Cake, meat, biscuit, lemonade, coffee
every thing good to eat would be cir
culated freely, and the supper would
be served from long tables spread in a
field at the foot of the hill. There
was to be a band of music-a real brass
Nks, 80
would be Just as gay and attractive as
could be. Even the families from the
city who spent the summer at Plum
vile caught the general spirit of en-
thusiasm, and the little knots Of people
congregated about the post-of1ice and
town hall every evening to discuss the
approaching event, now only a week
in the distance;
Mr.. OrsOn, the minister, was to in
vite a cousin of his who was a fine
speaker, to deliver the address, and
Mrs. Orson had with difficulty and for
unusual large pay, induced Aunt
Nabby Nyson, a cOlored nurse, to stay
with her children while she went to
Sky Hill to witness the imposing cere-
mony.
Il was very important that some re-
liable person remain with the children,
as Willie had not been very well, and
the new church with its adjoining par
sonage was in a remote part Of the
village, and a long mile from Sky Hill
in one direction. and half a mile from
the town hall and the pOst-ofiice in an
other. The young girls of the village,
under the superintendence of some
older matrons. were to wait on the
tables, while the older lads were to
serve coffee and lemonade.
It was a Joyous anticipation to all
the young people Of Plumville, but to
none more so than Dan Wycliffe, a lad
in moderate circums' ances indeed, an
orphan boy who lived with an uncle,
and found few spare moments between
the round of duties constantly required
Of him. Dan was tall, red-haired,
freckled lad of fourteen, with look
In his eyes which convinced YOU at
once that he was a boy to be trusted.
His father-dead for more than two
years-had taught him we'll for twelve
years of his life, and his counsels and
Instructions had not been forgotten.
And to-day, with the Fourth" only
= week distant, Dan had performed
several errands for the minister's wife,
and Mr.. Orson, who always had sap
proved" Of Dan, had gained his uncle
consent to allow the boy a half-hol.
lday, so be could be present at the
evenings festivities; and then Mr..
Orson had further delighted Dan by in
forming him that he was to be one OF
the lemonade committee when supper
time should arrive on this most aus.
pioious Fourth.
That evening Is Dan approached tbs