Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-09-13
THE PRoDTGAT's RETURN
and the
Phillips County Fair.
BEEW. 80.

ByE. ". serlbneF.
twas the seventeenth day Of September. 1854
I ana the place Was Auburn Heights, the noFsb su-
burb Of Phillips burg, the county seat OF PHILIPPE
county, year before had left the State IN dis
/ gust and had wondered hitheF aad yon. al over
the country seeking some Edsnic spot upon which
might plant my habiCatlOn. there % live In ease
and InzaFy, while the vine and vegetable grew.
But finding none of these, returned, like the
PTOdigai son OF old, to Phillps county.
Il was night when I Feached Auburn Heights
and looked down upon my native town. EveEy.
thing WAS quiet save at the Rock Island railroad
yards, where the little yard engine was busy puF
ing about making trains, while an occasional sx-
ira would come EumbIlng in, take and leave a few
cars and then go on.
While watching these sCeens fell asleep, nor
did awake until the rays Of the morning Gun had
shOne upon my recumbsFing form for more than
an houF. When did awake it Was with g stagt.
I at once realized that some strange PhenOmena
was in progress though at dFst was unable to
discover what it was. The sky wore peculiar
look of spleRdOF, and old Sol was smiling 20 the
extent OF q broad grin.
First instinctiVeIy looked toward the town.
L saw nothing but the massive new blocks which
were completed in my absence, aud preparation
for something. Merchants were just hanging
out their display wares, while hotels restaurant 3.
and livery barns were alive with preparation
But my observations were suddenly cut short
By great. hallOOing and FiOtOus sounds cOnlBg
from every direction. Hooked, and behold, while
/ had been gazing upon the city, great meta
mOFphOsis had taken place about me. From the
North, South, East snd West we're coming great
herds OF cattle, horses, sheep hogs, mules foul
and in fact ali domestic kline OF all ages. and
strains while rolling and tumbling about drag
ging along, all in the direction Of town. we're veg
etabtes, grains and grasses Of all Kinds. They
were coming by twOs and making such cIatter
that was startled and afrighted. Surely thought
l. another food is coming. for see, these kline and
vegetation are coming just as did the herd which
entered NOah's ark. and have heard great &C.
counts Of abundant rains in Kansas since was
away.
All yes, they are all excitement. Oh must ny!
and which way-shail go? Just then my excited
gaze fell upon some newly constructed buildings
OF very queer shape just southeast OF the city.
My heart gave great leap fer joy. Ahi men
tally exclaimed, yOnder is the new ark all ready
for sailing; and away ran to join the fast gath
ering thrOng. created some connection while
cumming through the streets OF Phillipsburg, clad
in the tattcyed remains of a fine suit Of broad
cloth, but no one seemed to know me until
pushed wildly up to the gate at the entrance of
the place where could see the ark all covered
with flags and stEeamers, making Fesdy TO set
eailas soon as the rain began to descend.
AS was about to open the gate and pass through
1 heard voice say "ticket sir" stopped, look.
edup and beheld my old friend A, dressed in a
fine business salt and holding bunch Of tickets
in his hand, while well filled wallet reared half
its pOnder0us dimensions from side pocket.
What ezclaim ed, ''must pay for q ticket
TO enter the ark! When the people Of old enter
ed NOah's ark their qualifications were goodness,
and here find you charging pay" My friend
Looked surprised, and / guess he mistOOk me for
a lunatIc, for he beCkOued toa man with brass
buttons on his coat, whom recognized as my
old friend b, who stood close by, and after
whispered conversation was conducted inside
the grounds and while We were moving along to
a place OF confinement, as he told me- somewhere
dnJOne OF those buildings which had supposed
to be the ark, recognized many OF my old ac-
quaintances in the rapidly collecting crowd inside
the gates gathering in little groups to talk, and
look at piles of produce and stalls OF cattle and
horses, and pens Of sheep and hogs, and display
of culinary and fancy articles at stands along the
way
Suddenly the whole thing dawned upon NE.
had been so ,rudely awakened from my dreams
OF desOlatiOn that my thoughts were easily mis-
led, and had imagined food was coming and
these buildings to be arks. But now, in my re-
gained senses, I saw it all. This was the Phil
lips County Fair.
Continued ne.Ct lU8ek.