The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-07-10


Jeffrey appeared with pitcher full OF
buttermilk. What 10 you think of the
butter?" he called out.
" Its great success, and I congratu-
late you; and am ever so much oblig-
ed to you, Mr.. Burns" Then she added,
in an under-tone 'And the speech i? y
" 1t could not be improved upon, my
dear Mrs. Jeffrey. You are an orator to
the manner born, upon my word. Allow
me to congratulate and express my
thanks"
They shook handsbv the pitcher OF
butternilk, and laughed like couple OF
happy children. A fhoment after, Judge
Burns, with the Fourh of July Grafton
in his breast pocket drove Puck on to-
ward Pinelake.
The Fourth of July had come, and
proved to be a regular scorcher. There
was noisy crowd 1.-THE village celebra-
tion, and the market place was thickly
strewn with burnt-out firecrackers, pea
nut shells, banana and orange peels.
The speakers platform was ablaze with
bunting, and every window around the
square seemed a frame for pretty faces
and gorgeous millinery.
Mr.. Jeffrey's speech was one of the
FIRST on the progani, but it was by no
means one of the best. He began sol
emuly in voice as leud as a foghorn
Ladies and gentlemen-This memoir
able day" etc. For one minute there
was flow of pompors phrases, carefully
committed to memory-then came a sud-
den stop-another start-another stop.
The tall speaker pulled up his shirt col
lar as if he was choking started anew, got
more and more entangled, wished him
self mile underground, flushed, stam-
mered, and was at last gently reminded
by the president that his time was up.
The last speaker was Judge Burns.
And what wonderful speech he made
There was no end of cheering and clap
ping. The girls waved their handker-
chiefs, after having wiped off their tears.
Wasn't it perfectly lovely?" Just too
lovely for anythingl" The women smil-
ed and the men nodded approval. 9" 1t
was daisy and no mistake" Hurrah
for Judge Burns" "Three cheers tor
TIezekiah Burns!" At an open window
opposite the platform sat the postmas-
ter's wife, and beside her little lady in
a white dress, with pretty flushed face
and a pair of very bright eyes fixed on
the speaker, and turning to the village
clock the moment Judge Burns closed
his Grafton.
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery drove home ear
IL after the celebration. He had moth
ing to say, and and was as cross as bear
after his failure. His wife did not show
any sympathy either-so unlike her,
too She seemed TO have enjoyed her
self thoroughly. Every thing seemed
funny TO her on chs Gay home, where
he could see no fun at all. Her laugh
grated ON his ear for the first time.
Catch me making fool of myselfagain
in public!" he thought, but lie did not
say so.
While he put the horse in the stable
Mrs. Molly got the tea ready, an unusu-
ally good tea, and just the kind of jelly
he liked best. In the evening she actu-
ally struck a match to light his pipe on
the stoop, and laughingly pulled his cur
ly hair
What's the matter with you to-
night, Molly? l don't see what tickles
you"
81 suppose its the celebration that has
gone to my head. 1t is Fourth of July but
once a year"
Yes, thank goodness he muttered,
putting away at his pipe.
Next mornings mail brought couple
Of letters and the local paper This once
the GUIDE seemed the center of attrac-
tion to Mr.. and Mrs. j.
Lets see about the celebration" :"
she said, eagerly do read aloud
Will"
Haven't time. II would take me all
the afternoon. Here are columns, and
columns, but not about me. Oh, yes
sure enough. They are in hopes Mr..
JeArey's corn crop viii turn out greater
success than his uration.' Well, don't
care what they say' He laughed good
naturedly, for he had gotten over his
modification. Here is Judge Burns
speech; nearly all of it, it seems, and
half column of eulogy on it, Just lis
ten what they say: "A perfect jewel of
poetic expression chaste pearl of ora
tory-dewy freshness lightning flash
of patriotic eioquence' Are you choking,
Molly?" She was as red as a berry,
ooughed and laughed alternately "Well,
must say it was first-rate speech, but
no more than might be expected Of law
yer who has the gift of CAB. He is an
old hand at that sort of. thing. Why he
has spoken in public these thirty years.
It's his business to talk, just as it is m inc
TO raise corn and wheat. How did you
ike his speech, Moll?"
can't say 1 thought it so very Won
derful," she said 1t was nice enough,
and short. He was through before his
time was up. noticed that more than
any thing else"
Yon don't mean to say SOL Why, /
thought of you while he spoke-how you
would appreciate him. They were all
wild about that speech, both men and
women. 1t was full of fun and FIRE and
enthusiasm. Choking again, Molly {?
Shall I slap you on your back?" She
shook her head. "Yes, he understands
his business, that's certain. What's that :?
Looks very much Ike Burns handwrit-
ing. What can he have to write about? ,
Mrs. Molly flushed to the very roots of
her wavy hair, while iIr. Jeffrey cut the
envelope with table knife, and fell in a
brown study over his letter. His wife
watched him with roguish twinkle in
her eyes. He looked as if he was read
ing the will of a maiden aunt whose in
heritance he had been sure of, and who
had suddenly died after changing her
will in favor of the Hottentot Mission.
The letter really was from Judge
Burns, and read as follows:
My DEAR Mr.. JEFFREY-Excuse an