River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-02-14


To me. that was not flying the national
colors from window or roof. was un-
able to account for This until the land
lord Of the tavern relieved my curiosity
by reminding me that it was the 22d Of
February. and assuring me that the
people of PoSey Bend were intensely
patriotic.
"Washington's birthday is purity
nigh as big day as the Fourth Of
July with MS" said the landlord. with
a ring of pride in his voice. Eff you're
thinkin' bout stayin' over night it'll
be with yer while, ] reckon. to see
the celebration were guin to have in
the town hall"
There was no question about my
staying over night. An exasperating
wRshout ON the railroad had com
PEELED me. much against my viii, to
EtOp at this little crosS-road village,
with no chance If being able to con
tinue my Journey for twenty-four
hours. at least. The prospect was not
a cheerful one aud ] caught eagerly at
4he suggestion that the exercises in
honor Of Washington's birthday might
afford the means Of killing time. al
though under other circumstances i
probably would nave regarded il as
something To be rcligiously avoided
For the UI esent the good-natured
gossip of min, host was sufficiently dI-
verting. had found him quit, alone
IL the office" Of his tumhl,.-duwn old
tavern. and apparently not averse
10 passing the time IN converSa-
q I I. i
was Mai Thompson. lie WAS a long.
lank specimen. and as he sat with his
chair tilted hael- against the wall, and
one thiI. leg DIR -iin" over the other.
he had almost [. appearance Of a slxel-
eton.
we aIlus celebrate Wa>hington's
Dir Llay," hc sa;t. as Ice SEMI q stream
of tobacco juce toward the s.Jve
"Sling out the flags an have ne sort
doins appropert - the 'casion. !
reck 'lect when We was satisfied with a
Kpellip' match. ur house-warmin. or
"A barn dance. but hyer lately the young
folks has Ter tuck hold an now we
have Entertainments IN the town hall
with eg'lar music an singin and dec
lamations an dialogue an sich. Thcy's
two Of EN- to-day"
Two WHAT"
Entertainments. Norations an
music this afternoon. an SORT If ex-
hibition- tahloze. or ever what You call
'em-tO-night. 'Safternoon ledge Gan
derbuck's goin' to norate. Been max
in the same speech for twenty old
year. Its a good un. too. specially
where he brings in bout the Father Of
his Countrv Elm the first in war first
in peace. =. first in the hearts Of his
cOuntrymen. an where he ser this
broad land a. liberty i the proud her
itage OF Of somethln' or other. fer
get jes' what. But the biggest time'Il
be tonight. ! reckon. The Young
folks i goin' IN dress mp in clothes like
they ulster wear a hundred wear ago.
representa- GEORGE Washington an
Marthy Washington. an continental
soldiers. an Briti>hers. an all them
revolutionary people. An at the end
Of il all they goin' TO he a weddin'.
~ wedding"
"A rail out-and-out weddin'. Yes.
Stree
"Do yen mean that a couple ~ your
town people Will actually he married.
shores you'r, foot high chucl5led
Maj. Thompson. evidently enjoying my
show Of interest The bridegroom.
old Ezrv Bunker. the richest man il
the gas-belt. an the bride Is Bessie
Powell Squire PowelTs youngest girl
They're To be married in the hall. an
after that have n sort of reception at
the 'sqUire'> house. Ezry Bunker'S old
enough "a he the girls father. too.
Seems like burnin' shame. cause they
say BESSIE keers heap more fer LATE
Clayton's little finger than she i 3ss
fer Ezry Bunker an his million. I.afe's
a likely young fcller. an owns the hest
farm IN the county. But Fry he's got
the money. an the 'sqUirc'> got hi> eve
on IL, an / wouldn't be bit s'pris,.d IF
the girls pap's je>' uatcherIy forciu her
Ia marry the old mouey-hagS. That's
why / say hello broke of the major.
as he glanced out II the window. liver
comes LATE this minute
The. door opened. and four or FIVE
heavily-boOted men came stamping in.
The foremost was a tail. athletic Young
man. with a red but rather handsome
face. sandy mustache AMI pair OF
frank blue eyes that twinlsled with
good humOr-
''Howdy, major" exclaimed the
young man, breezily.
''Howdy, Late returned the ma or.
rising. "HOwdy. boys" ne added TO the
other members of the party