The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-25

R.CHPSHANS CALENDAR.
BY EDWARD EVERETT HALE.



tauuuan Circles as has been said, and at the
anniversary of the trustees of fund left for
the education of that sub-tribe of Ojibwas
.1hom the first settlers had found fishing on the
point which makes Tamworth sharbor. These
Ojibwas had long since gone where other
Otbwas, I fear, are going but the 1und re-
NAMED as funds will, to curse the descendants
Of the trustees. And the only way which had
been devised to use up the annual interest
was to have the trustees dine together with such
Of their friends as wished to meet them after
they had chosen themselves again into Office at
their annual meeting. At the Chautauquan din
ner, accordingly, Cllpsham went, rather care
fully, into discussion OF the movements of
American emigration and tho forces which have
contributed TO making up American civilization
This was on Friday, and all through the week,
Clipsham had never forgotten the day of the
week. although that mischeveous Gertrude had
thrown him out in the use he made
of the several days as they came. Mean
while his cold grew no better. His deafness
grew upon him, and he sent for the doctor
The doctor told him that he must stay at
home Clipsham said he could well do that,
that for once there was no evening engagement,
and he looked up the serial called my Friend,
the Boss" which he was reading, which was full
Of illusions to his Tamworth friends. Little did
he think, as he discussed the side bone Of the
nice turkey his sister Prue had provided that
the trustees dinner was cooling at that moment
while they waited for his arrival at the Hotel
Jefferson. The truth was that they were emit
81 he fbo bopir
ming Of the week to General Plunkett, and which
Plunkett still had, unread, in the little hand
kerchief pocket of his dress uniform.
But oil the staying at home over Sunday, and
all the glycerine and whisky, and all the cherry
pectoral which could be administered did Clip
sham no good. and on Monday morning he asked
the doctor if change of air would not help him.
The doctor said of course it would. 1t was clear
it could not harm him, for he was past much
harming. He was deaf as a post his nose and
throat and all the passages to them were in
sfamed and red with the Inflammation, his eyes
were dropping with watering, and he said he was
as stupid as an OWL The doctor gave his per-
mission for a journey to Colorado. Clipsham
looked on the calendar, and with his pencil
marked off all the dinner parties, and wrote let
ters Of excuse for the next three weeks. But
there was one engagement he could not manage
80 easily, for here his conscience pricked him.
It was the city election. Clipsham knew, In
his heart OF hearts, that he had not done his
duty in this affair. He had not gone to one
meeting where his friend, Gordon, had sum-
moned him, to obtain competent, non-p partisan
school committee. He was afraid there was a
job at the lms-house, and he had not looked
into that. He distrusted the regning Mayor,
yet he had not lifted finger to dethrone him.
Now, il he went to Colorado he should be away
on the election day. and should not even give one
vote against the rascas-and one in favor of the
honest men.
But Clipsham did so wish to 60 to Colorado!
He had promised his cousin Lucy that he would
visit her there-and she wrote such q pretty
letter.
Clpsham compromised with himself. He
would go to Colorado because he wanted to; and
his cold was so bad. But he saw on the calendar
that on Monday night there was meeting of the
Friends of Good Government at the Mechanics
Hall. He knew who called this meeting, and
that it was in the right interest. John Fisher
call. He would go to that meeting. That would
show which side he was on. He would not start
on the noon train He would stay till the even
ing train, which went at $50. And his presence
there would, in practice, show his colors as well
as if he staid in Tamworth nine whole days.
snee2ing and coughing, to vote at the end of
them.
Indeed, he might be In his coffin if he staid,
and q man cannot vote when he is in his coffin.
So when Monday came, Clipsham sent his
trunk to the train, ordered q carriage for him
self an hour before the train started, and went
down to the Town Hail. The truth was that
the citizens meeting was not to take place till
the next night But Gertrude had changed all
that, and Clipsham, to his surprise. found that
che large hall was not lighted However the
smaller hall was An assiduous gentleman
whom he did not know, whom had been drink
ing more than was good for him, asked
him in, and Clipsham, reeretting that
She friends of order made so poor a
show, entered. As has been said. he was not
used to primary meetings, and he went in. Once
In, it was like all other meetings. though not
very large There were two hundred men there,
or whom ne did not recognize three. The Presi-
dent was man who once tried to sell him a
horse. The Mayor was making . speech, and
Olipsham supposed from this that that officer
had been frightened and was trying to s.get
good" as the children say. But whether he
knew them or not, they knew him. Three OF
four showily-dressed men met him ard led him
TO the front seat and expressed their pleasure al
his presence In moment after. tho Mayors
motion was carried and committee was sent
out-nom;nated from list which had been pre-
pared in his Office that afternoon-to suggest a
ticket for alderman.
Then it was that another man, who had been
also drinking rather more than was good for
him, arose and said that they were honored by
the presence of q gentleman whom they had
often heard in public and who was known TO be
Interested in all public affairs and that he hoped
Mr. Clipsham would address them on the great
issues before them. and all the people shouted