The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-03-14
JOE M MISTAKE,
BY J. J. FULLER.

washington was buster and more bust.
ling than usual. Something was Ger
tainly going to happen.
1t was a pretty place, this Washing,
ton, and was just in the zenith of it's
glory. This glory and in fact it ex
lstence itself was due to an accident.
Some years previous to the date of
this story George Washington Red
field went into a western State or a
prospecting tour to find an eligible site
for the erection of a factory.
What this enterprise was cuts but
little figure in this story. It is suf1-
Gent to know that theland upon which
Washington was afterward built suited
him, and the busy, lively, thriving
town was the result.
The city owed its name to a series of
peculiar events. 1t was on February
% Mr.. Redfeld first came upon the
site. 1t took him just a yearto acquire
from the owners the land he desired
and it was on February % the first
bargain was made. These condolences
pointing SO directly to Washington's
birthday and the fact that his own
name was George Washington, led him
to call the place as he did.
These things all impressed the citi-
zens of Washington with the signifi
canoe of the date, and, it being already
a national holiday, it became for that
town the chief holiday of the year
The Fourth of July was nothing as
compared to Washington's birthday,
and Christmas and Thanksgiving day
were not mentioned in the same breath
by these patriotic townspeople.
If there was anyone thing more than
another that the citizens of Washing
ton were proud of, it was its band, Its
organization had been the result of an
accident. The Washington's birthday
celebrations had come to be great
affairs. They always had a parade in
the afternoon ending finally in the
courthouse square, where Maj. Conger
had a chance to air his Oratory. Judge
Marsh, too, was always ready with a
eulogy upon the father of his country,
and Schoolmaster Perkins was never
denied the privilege of adding a patri
otto lessonfor the benefit of his scholars
to those he gave every five days in the
week.
But the Washington band was tie
pride and delight of the citizens, and
its music was the great feature Of the
day, as it was the great featdre Of the
night when after a display Of fireworks
it furnished the measure to which gal
liant youth and maiden fair tripped
until the hand of the clock in the town
hall pointed ~warningly to the small
figures upon it's dial.
1t was on the night of one Of these
balls when the city. was but five years
old that the music engaged from the
neighboring town of Charlton had
failed to arrive. In the disappOint-
ment which ensued the idea of a band
of their w was born. The idea grew
and waxed strong. The citizens freely
subscribed money for the instruments
and uniforms, and Joe Harmon was
unanimously elected drum major. The
hustle and activity noted at the begin
ming of this story indicated a celebra-
ton. 1t was the morning of Washing
ton'sannualfete. 1t was the anniversary
Of Gen. George W~ashington's birth
day Of this little city of Washington.
IF Joe Harmon was only here again
to lead the band" said many people
that morning.
Judge Marsh and his family were
among the early settlers in the new
town. His daughter julie, but fourteen
years old when she came to live in
Washington, was SOON a great favorite
with all her new acquaintance. The
girls all loved her and the lads all, with
barely an exception, laid their fresh
hearts at her feet.
Joe Harmon was her first friend. He
CHANGED to render her father a valuable
service on the day Of the arrival at
Washington, and Jules look of graft
tude and her thanks made the young
man a slave.
Joe Harmon was considered almost
as a part of the town. He had come
with Mr.. RedfeId, but after that gen
tleman's death, which occurred just as
the new enterprise had become an
assured success, Joe drifted from the
factory and sought other employment
The coming OF Judge Marsh made a
change in the young mans prospects
He developed a taste for the law and
the opportunity being given he began
reading for that profession in the