The Republican journal., 1896-08-06

THIS CERTIFICATE
entities the holder to a
SHARE
in the patriotic influence of the
SCHOOL FLAG.
............... Observation-Disclosures.
The ten cent pieces were gathered to-
gether and a splendid bunting flag of
ample size was ordered. Then half
dozen of the older boys selected straight
young tree for a pole, cut it down, trim
med off the branches, and in short time
the flagstaff, properly fitted with halyards,
was raised.
1t was decided to raise the flag on Octo-
Der II, the twenty fifth anniversary of the
admission of their State into the Union.
The boys and girls worked like beavers
during the days that interviewed to arrange
demonstration which would be credit
to Columbia Corners.
The eventtul day came at last, and it
seemed as though everybody in the colln-
ty 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 swelleG the chorus with the
star Spangled Banner Then came the
presentation, the address of acceptance,
and the pledge of allegiance. The closing
number ON the program was the recitation
of Mr.. Butterworth poem .'Raising the
Schoolhouse Flag" by Willie Piper, the
school joining in the refrain:
Flag of the that glow, for ALL
Flag of The breeze that blows for all,
Flag OF the sea that flows for all.
tlag OF the school thar stands for all,
Ia OF the people, one and all.
IL. !
much effort were not long allowed to grace
the school undistulbed. One morning
about a week after the raising the staff
was found cut off level with the ground.
One of the school windows had been
forced, and the flag was gone. An impu-
deAt note in miserable scrawl fastened
Il the stump of the staff bore testimony
To the spirit Of vandalism which had in
splred tie act. 1t closed with Il words,
We Il cut down your poles and lug off
your ildgs as ftsi DIS you hist en-
Fol Tho moment the young teacher was
stunned. She was not only thoroughly
indignant, but She felt the keenest disap-
point. This latter feeling was not due so
much to the loss Of the flag and the des-
friction of the pole, but rather the realiz-
alton that there were wanton characters
IN that community who would disregard
the national emblem. She knew that
second flag would probably share SINH
lar fate. The school building was too far
removed from the village to permit it's
beng Kept under very close guard. Never
theless she was determined that a flag
should fly over her school.
The news travelled through the village.
Ii was on every ones tongue. The local
paper in a highly colored nalf- column
article, recounted every detail of the oc-
cnnence. The State papers noted the
episode, berated the miscreants. and
warmly commended Miss Fenton's an
nounced determination to raise a second
flag ana protect it herself
The pupils were now thoroughly in
earnest, and not many days elapsed be-
lore their accumulated savings were sutfi-
Gent to buy flag exactly like the first
one.
During these days a taller and straight
Ell tree than the first was transformed in
TO staff and occupied the old place of
honor III front OF the school, When the
nag arrived 1t 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 indis-
creetly added that the miscreants who
carried off the first one would scarcely
have 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 we'll prepared to de-
fend the flag from molestation during
school hours. Only a few We're aware
that Winchester rifle was locked in her
small closet in the entry, These friends
L. tl1.,,
ton possessed, and not one doubted that.
if occasion required, she would make use
of it.
For over a week following the arrival of
the new flag the routine of school work
was unbroken. At the opening of school
each morning the flag was raised, the en-
tire school joining in a salute. At the
close of the days work it was lowered
from its lofty position and given into the
Keeping OF its StanCh defender. Then oc-
CURED an incident which proved the de-
termined little teacher equal to the emer-
gency
1t was Friday afternoon, and the school
work tor the week was about over. One
of the boys was listlessly erasing the writ
ten exercises from the blackboard. when.
CHANGING to glance through the window,
he saw something which at once made
him all attention. Two men, whom he
recognized as Pete johnson and Jack
Welsh, were entering the school yard
They were both notorious characters, and
had been. arrested some months before,
charged with having set fire to a barn
There was not sufficient evidence upon
which to hold them, and the sheriff had
reluctantly released them.
They entered the school yard with a
swagger, johnson carrying in his hand an
axe. The purpose of their visit flashed
through the boys mind. In an instant he
was at Miss Fenton's desk. Breathlessly
he told her what he had seen. The color
left the teachers face as she listened, for
johnson and Welsh were we'll known as
reckless and lawless men. For moment
she felt unable to carry out the resolution
she had formed that the flag should not be
disturbed. But it was only for a moment.