News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-10-23
TERMS S1.5O.

by cheering crowd was driven tC
Ihe town hall, where the remaining
town hall officials awaited him.
The hall was speedily filled to its
utmost capacity The school chill
dren, the girls dressed in white, the
boys with red, white and blue sash IS
occupied the front seats.
| Everybody arose as the guest came
IN, and the children waved their hand.
kerchiefs and threw flowers upon the
stage, while the people hurrahed un-
til they were hoarse.
Harry had prepared a splendid
speech of welcome. He had rehearsed
1T at home until he was familiar with
every word and every intended ges-
ture. And the people expected a
great display of formality
! The clerk had reached the plat
form, closely followed by the tall fig
ure he was escOrting Harry step
| ped towards them and the clerk said
/ hlr. chairman, l have the honor
and the pleasant privilege of pre-
senting you to our guest, General
Hayward" and then there was an
other Outburst of enthusiasm.
The chairman and the General
drew nearer together with their right
hands extended and the former be-
gan: Honored and gallant sir, we
welcome"-when he stepped back,
gazed earnestly upon the form be-
fore him, and was silent The people
were dumb with amazement. Then
Harry extended both hands, and in
stead of the speech he intended to
make, uttei ed the one word, Joe"
The guest grasped the hand and
almost shouted Harry" 1t took
some time for the people to under
stand what had occurred. but Harry
explained after brief talk with the
General, that their guest was indeed
the missing Joe, who left town so un-
tremendously years before. He told
how the boy had found his way west
ward, been adopted by a wealthy
gentleman, whose name was given to
him; how he had been educated and
later entered the army to achieve the
brilliant career with which they were
partly familiar.
Harry then presented the guest to
the people, without one word of the
great speech he had prepared, and
didn't they cheer?
Joe made Il speech which thrilled
them through and through, which
touched every heart, and more than
justified the report which had reach
ed them of his wonderful elOquence.
lie closed by referring to his exit from
the school-hOuse. saying:
Il was angry, heart-sore and dis
appointed, but, oh, friends and
schOOl-mates, forget it with me.
said | never would come back, but if
you will take me into your friend
ships and your counsels, Joe has
come back to stay"
When the excitement of the day
was over, and Joe was resting in
Harry's home, the latter reproached
his sister for not letting him into the
secret, but she said she wanted him
to be as much surprised as she was
when she found out who the general
really was.
4 feW- days later there WIS II we'd
ding in the church, at which all of
the town, who could get in, was
present. Among the presents was a
little package of books, and on a
fly leaf of each was written, "Joe,
you've waited long, but here is your
prize"
There was a great public rejoicing,
and on the main street there was a
triumphal arch erected, upon which
was the inscription, "Joe did come
ID a e k-h n ptIly Welcome loo -
George Randall, in Sturdy Oak.