Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-08-26
THIS CERTIFICATE
entities the holder toa
SHARE
in the patriotic influences of the
SCHOOL FLAG.

The ten cent pieces were gathered to-
gether and a splendid bunting flag of
ample size was ordered. Then half a
dozen of the older boys selected a straight
young tree for pole, cut it down,
trimmed off the branches and in short
time the flagstaff, properly fitted with
halyards, was raised.
1t was decided to raise the flag on Oct
II, the twenty-ifth anniversary of the
admission of their state into the Union.
The boys and girls worked like beavers
during the days that interviewed to ar
range a demonstration which would be
a credit to Columbia Corners.
The eventful day came at last, and it
seemed as though everybody in the
county was on hand to see the flag
raised. Cheer after cheer went up
when its stars and stripes were thrown
to the breeze. The band swelled
the chorus with the "Star Spangled
Banner" Then came the presenta-
ton, the address of acceptance and the
pledge of allegiance. The closing num-
Der on the programme was the recita-
ton Of Mr.. Butterworth's poem, Rails
ing the School House Flag" by Willie
Piper, the school joining in the refrain:
Flag of the sun that glows for all,
Flag of the breeze that blows for all,
Flag of the sea that flows for all,
Flag of the school that stands for all,
Flag Of the people, one and all.
But the flag and staff which had cost
so much effort were not long allowed to
grace the school undisturbed. One
morning about week after the raising
the staff was found cut off level with
the ground. One of the school windows
had been forced open and the flag was
gone. An impudent note in miserable
scrawl fastened to the stump of the staff
bore testimony to the spirit of vandal-
ism which had inspired the act. 1t
closed with the words, "We'll cut down
your poles and lug off your flags as fast
as you hist EN-"
For the moment the young teacher
was stunned. She was not only thor
oughly indignant, but she felt the keen
est disappointment. This latter feeling
was due not so much to the loss of the
flag and the destruction of the pole, but
rather to the realization that there We're
wanton characters in that community
who would disregard the national en-
blem. She knew that a second flag
would probably share a similar fate.
The school Hiding was too far removed
from the viilage to permit its being kept
under very close guard. Nevertheless
she was determined that a flag should
| fly over her school.
The news travelled through the vii
lage. Ii was on every ones tongue.
The local paper, in highly colored half
column article, recounted every detail of
the occurrence. The state papers noted
the episode, berated the miscreants and
warmly commended Miss Fenton's an
nounced determination to raise a second
flag and protect it herself.
The pupils We're now thoroughly in
earnest, and not many days elapsed be-
| fore their accumulated savings were suf-
6cient to buy flag exactly like the first
| one.
During these days taller and straight
er tree than the first was transformed
into a staff and occupied the old place
! Of honor in front of the school. When
the flag arrived it was promptly raised
and the Columbia Corners school was
again Swallowed by the national colors,
The local paper chronicled the fact
that another flag had been raised, and
indiscreetly added that the miscreants
who carried off the first one would
scarcely have the nerve to carry out the
threat to serve other flags which might
be raised over that school after like
fashion.
1t was not, however, generally known
that Miss Fenton was well prepared to
defend the flag from molestation during
school hours. Only few were aware
that Winchester rife was locked in heI
small closet III the entry. These friends
knew the resolute spirit which Miss Fen
ton possessed, and not one doubted that
If occasion required, she would make use
Of it.
For over week following the arrival
Of the new flag the routine of school