St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-07-05

Knucks, and Knucks hoped over to
where Mr.. Hallett was and whs-
pered 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 a great
cattle ranch out in Colorado" an
swered Mr.. Hallett. "He can afford
this"
1--WE didn't know" said Knucks.
His pepper an salt suit looks kinder
well, we've didn't know"
And when Mr.. Halett told the
man from Colorado what Knucks
had said Mr.. Joplin laughed big,
hearty, "Haw! Haw!" and then he
looked himself over, and then he
laughed again"
When they had all eaten and were
we'll filled, Mr.. Joplin stood up at
the head of the mighty breakfast
table in his seedy pepper and salt,
and he said rather wardly:
II asked Mr.. Hallet to make you
speech, but he says I've got to do it.
| haven't much to say. This is the
Fourth of July. It's the proper thing
to read the Declare ton of Independ.
ence on the Fourth of July, but the
only Declaration of independence
we're goin to have here is that we're
goin to do jest exactly as we please
all day long.
Were goin to yell as much and as
loud as we please. There are two
big boxes of firecrackers over there,
and we're going to help ourselves to
all we want and shoot till they re
gone.
Were goin to eat again at 1
O'Clock and again at o'clock. and
we've got to keep busy in the mean
time, or we won't have good appe-
tites.
After dinner the ice cream freezers
will be opened, and every teller will
grab spoon. There are four or FIVE
barrels of red apples. The heads
will be knocked in pretty soon, and
we'll fill our pockets and hats.
This is my potlatch, understand,
and everybody takes all he wants
and does what he pleases with it.
Fall into the brook if you want to,
or eat yourselves sick, or break your
arms; it's all right. A doctor goes
with the rest of the potlatch if you
need him. We
"Oh, John, that is not the way to
talk to them" interrupted Mr.. Hal.
lett.
I'D like to know why it amt"
answered Mr.. Joplin. "A potlatch
that amt a free pitch in amt no
potlatch at all. Well, then, I'll make
this condition: No boy shall take
advantage OF any smaller boy. If
he does, I'll thrash him."
$50 will wei" yelled the boys.
II think ought to add something
to what Mr.. Joplin has said" spoke
Mr.. Hallett. I'm the first place, l
presume you are puzzled to know
what d potlatch really is. l was
myself till Mr.. Joplin explained.
Away out west among certain
tribes of Indians, when savage
aspires to stand high among his TEL
lows he saves up blankets and all
sorts of desirable articles till he has
as great store of them as possible.
Then he invites his tribe to a feast
anG gives away all the accumula-
ton.
ut makes beggar of him for
long time, but he has won the esteem
OF his tribe as long as he lives. Mr..
Joplin has given you potlatch of
happiness, and | think he has won
more than the giver of an Indian
potlatch ever won"
"Hurrah! Yes, sir-eep whooped
the boys.
Tell 'em what made me give it."
said the man from the west.
And Mr.. Hallett told in a few sim
pie words the story of the unsel6sh-
ness OF Jimmy and Knucks. And the
boys, being boys, only whooped, but
their whoops meant a great deal.
And not once during the whole In
day did one of them i'm
pose upon another, nor break any
thing, nor commit any act that
could make the giver of the potlatch
regret in the slightest degree what he
had done.
During the afternoon Mr.. Joplin ar.
ranged with various families in the
village to take care of such boys as
needed more than day OF the coun-
try air as long as they might require
it, and the next day Knucks and
Jimmy found that it was all settled
that they should live in the country
for year at Mr.. Joplins expense.
At night, after the fire works had
been shot off and it was time to be.
gin to march for the train, the boys
cheered tor Mr.. Joplin till they could
have been heard nearlv mile, and
when they stopped Mr.. Joplin said:
THANK we, fellars. 1T. P. Nor
gan in Boston Herald.