Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-06-27

dren in their song His voice was about as
melodious as frozen pumpkin rolling over
barn floor, but there was great deal OF
it. and it distributed sharps and fats in n
manner which seemed quite n revelation
TO the master OF the city band, who had
heard a great deal OF that sort Of thing
during his professional career.
Then there was a buzz OF expectancy, q
stir on the platform; the master Of oere-
monies came forward followed by Swim
gleton and said:
Ladies and gentlemen, our distinguished
fellow-toEnsman, John swingleton, Es-
quire, will now favor us with an address"
The chairman fell back. Swingleton came
10 the front, and little Dennis, pushing
through the crowd, leaned an elbow on the
rail, put his chin in his hand and opened
his mouth and eyes very wide, so that moth
ing should escape him
my friends said swingleton, what l
have 70 say is too little and too simple 10
deserve the name OF an address. / only
want 20 warn you that we, a. a people, are
not half grateful enough for the blessings
we eniOy-blessings such a. have never
come 10 any other nation on the face of the
earth. We've got a splendid country, no
strong or ugly neighbors 10 be afraid OF,
nor any enemies but those that through our
own carelessness we breed among our
selyes It's against this carelessness that
want TO warn you rm the right man 70
do II, for I'm the most guilty in that re-
gard Our great National holiday has for
years been 20 me nothing but a day In
which business was suspended and / could
take a day OF rest OF for special work
I've often regarded 1t as more a nuisance
than any thing else. All the great mem
ories and meanings OF the day have been
as little 10 me, for many years. as II they
belonged to a dead and gone land be-
;ieve most OF the men and women in the
Nation are about as bad In this respect as I.
and want 70 say to you that it's In this lack
OF heart and patriotic impulse, this alb
sepce Of the pride we ought 10 have in
what God has intTusted 10 US, that all pO-
litical plotters and thieves OF high and low
degree find their opportunity. The worst
enemies land ever had were those 1t
reared at home, and we have been rearing
hundreds Of thousands OF that kind. /, for
one, am going TO reform, and beg all OF you
70 Join with me In making this anniversary
day, and all that follow il, full OF warm
feeling and earnest resolve. Let us con-
stantly bear in mind WashingtOn's words,
Eternal vigilance ia the price OF liberty
they mean "A hundred times az much now
as when they were first spoken, for trick
sters and thieves are a hundred times
harder TO watch than open foemen with
guns and swords That Is all wanted 70
say"
The breakfast was so successful that
there was very little appetite for dinner in
the town that day. The giyer Of the feast,
however, had very little opportunity 70
personally partake Of II, for he was con
tlnually interrupted by congratulations on
his speech. and on what one good old
preacher termed his change OF heart He
accepted IL all pleasantly; indeed he was
as cheerful and hearty as new converts
generally are, and seemed 70 need only
night and fireworks 10 ill his cup OF 10y.
Darkness was long IN coming. but when II
did arrive the villagers admitted that IL was
worth having waited for; certainly such a
quantity OF fireworks had never been seen
before. even by those who had lived In the
neighbonng city, BwingletOn lighted them
all himself, except when some small boy
begged the privilege; the solid man seemed
70 enjoy asoaring rocket or whirlin9 pin
wheel as Eeenly us any child ON the
ground But besides these familiar pyro.
technics there were set pieces Htars
anchors, American engles, a portrait OF
Washington, etc. The last Of these was the
RED, White and Blue"-an enormous re-
prodnctioa, In colOred fire, Of our National
flag II oost fifty dollars, and blazed only
two ninu.es by the watch, but swingletOn
aaid he never IN his life had got more salts
faction out OF a ffty-dollar bill And as the
crowd slowly dispersed aud swingleton
strolled 10 the outside OF the throDg b hnd
his own family, little Dennis, whoreverent-
~ followed behind, heard the great mans
voice rumbling and growing and squeak
ing, in hiz attempts At tune:
. Hurrah for the morning OF mornings has
GOMEZ
unfun every banner and beat every orum."
John Habbert0n, in 81 Louis Globe Dem.
ocrat