The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-10

grove a long, long table was SET, IL
most staggering under its load OF de-
licous eatables.
1.-The first thing" said Mr.. Joplin's
! big voice, sis to eat. Some OF us
didn't have as much breakfast as we
wanted, an mebby some OF US didn't
have any at all. So, eat now, feilers'
an talk later on.
All those urchins fell upon that long
table almost like as many ravenous
wolves. And then in moment Jimmy
whispered something to Knucks, ano
Knucks hoped over to where Mr.
Hallett was and whispered to him:
"Mebby we oughtn't to eat too
much, sir. 1t costs lots of money an
perhaps Mr.. Joplin"
''Mr. Joplin is the owner of great
cattle ranch out in Colorado" an
swered Mr.. Hallett. "He can afford
this"
eve didn't know" said Knucks.
"His pepper an salt suit looks kinder
well, we've didn't know"
And, when Mr.. Hallett told the
man from Colorado what Knucks had
said, Mr.. Joplin laughed a big, hearty
"Haw-haw !" and then he looked him
self over, and then he colored, anc
then he laughed again.
When they had all eaten and were
filed, Mr.. Joplin stood up at the head
of the mighty breakfast table in hiE
seedy pepper and salt and said rather
awkwardly:
81 asked Mr.. Hallett to make you
speech, but he says I've got to do it.
I haven't much to say. This is tht
Fourth of July. It's the proper thing
to read the Declaration of Independ
ence on the Fourth of July, but tht
only Declaration of Independence
we're going to have here is that we're
going to do jest exactly as we please
all day long. We're goin' to yell a.
much an as loud as we please. There
are two big boxes OF frecrackers ovel
there, an we're goin' toh help ourselve
to all we want an shoot till they're
all gone. We're goin' to eat again a.
l o'clock. on again at 6 o'clock, an
we've got to keep busy in the mean
time or we won't have good eppetites
After dinner the ice cream freezer
will be opened, an every feller viii
grab spoon. There are four or fv
barrels of red apples-the heads vii
be knocked in pretty soon, an wei
fill our pockets an hats. This is m,
potIatch, understand, an everybod.
takes all he wants an does what h
pleases with it. Fall into the brool
if you want to, or eat yourselves sick
or break your arms; it's all right. 4
doctor goes with the rest of the pot
latch if we need him. We"
"Oh, John, that is not the way te
talk to them," interrupted Mr.. Hal
lett.
I'D like to know why it ain't?'
answered Mr.. Joplin. ga potlatcl
that amt a free pitch-in amt NJ
potlatch at all. Well, then, I'll make
this condition: No boy shall take ad
vantage of any smaller boy-if h'
does I'll thrash him."
$50 will we," yelled the boys.
81 think I ought to add something
to what Mr.. Joplin has said," spok'
Mr.. Hallett. 'tIn the first place,
presume you are puzzled to know
what potlatch really is. I was my
self till Mr.. Joplin explained. AVA.
out West, among certain tribes OF In
dians, when savage aspires to stant
high among his fellows he saves VI
blankets and all sorts of desirable ar
ticles till he has as great store o.
them as possible. Then he invites hi!
tribe to feast and gives away all tn
accumulation. It makes him begga
for long time, but he has won tn
esteem Of his tribe as long as he lives
Mr.. Joplin has given you potlatch o
happiness, and I think he has VOL
more than the giver of any lndia'
potlatch ever won."
"Hurrah! Yes, street." whoopet
the boys.
The day was one long day of unal
loyed happiness. They ate, shot fire
crackers and swung and raced AM
chased, and the band played ever.
time it was requested.
During the afternoon Mr.. Joplin
arranged with various families in tn
village to take care of such boys a
needed more than a day of the coun
try air as long as they might requir
it; and the next week Knucks ant
Jimmy found that it was all settle'
that they should live in the countr.
for year at Mr.. Joplin's expense.
At night, after the fireworks ha'
been shot off and it was time to begil
the march for the train, the boys
cheered for Mr.. Joplin till they coult
have been heard nearly a mile, ane
when they stopped Mr.. Joplin said.
THANK ye, fellers New Yorl