Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-03
THE PATRIOTISM OF FARMER
PHILLIPS.
Written Exclusively for Tie Evening star.


unpretentioIs. at least so determined the
congregation of the little brick huron.
He wears mighty fine coat fer a coun-
Try preacher" said Farmer Phillips land
i heefed he got A deal of his sc.looiin' in
foreign parts
Yes" explained Miss Fannie Morris, the
daughter Of the rich miller. he is highly
educated They say he writes essays and
things. and that he asked favor to he
assgned to a country church,
His hands is powerful white fer a man."
said Mrs. Phillips.
Il don't see how he is going to live on
the limited salary paid the minister of the
brick church and the collect;ons" cried
Miss Morris.
"oh. te'll manage fer to live" said
Farmer Phillips uryly
His hands is powerful white fer man"
repeated Mrs. Phillips.
week later Farmer Phillips brought the
following hi of rows to his household:
Miss Fannie has settled that matter O.
the new preachers wages. Sha's maxim
arrangements fer big festival over wander
in the woods
"A woods festival fer the brick church,
exclaimed Mrs. Phillips
Farmer Phillips chucked. It's to take
place on the Fourth o July lie said.
Is the new preacher IN fer .t?' asked
Mrs. Phillips
Miss Fannie's in fer it. and that means
n.
continued Farmer Phillips. 7 lie preach
er's young. and he don't know lut wrat
the folks is used to holdin' woods festivals
fer the benefit o the BRICK church Miss
Fannie is tNplainin right ami left how sech
CONS on Il common in the city; she'll be
around here this cvenin'.'
Are You in fer it,? asked Mrs. Phillips.
We'll, / dunno l see any parttclar
wrong in it,. said Farmer Phillips I'm
always in fer celebratin the Fourth He
locked his wife straight in the face. Yes.
IN fer
cei@hratin fer the country and celebratin'
fer the brick church might as well go hand
in hand. Miss Fanne's been out in the
weird and she's smart gal
But il took Miss Fannic's OWN persuasive
eloIuence to induce Mrs. Phillips not only
to believe that there would he harm in
celebrating for the country and the church
on the same day. but to promise to lena
her hcl? by the preparation of plentiful
basket for the festival.
The new minister is a fluent speaker.
said Miss Morris. We ought TO be de
lighted to have such scholar at the brick
church. but We cannot afford to double the
collections If Mr. Peyton can't live. why
he's going to leave If have Il festival
and q fair. conducted satisfactorily, were
all right.
The. excitement caused by the word .fair''
added 10 the woods festival was intense,
hut Miss Fanaics arguments were forcihle
anu times were hard Although more than
enc member of the congregation expressed
mild doubt in regard to the right of the
question, it was amicably decided To mix
the church affairs and the celebration of
the glorious Fourth.
Il III feere,i. said Mrs. Phillips. smiling
pleasantly. that We are Gunno have the
biggest Kind of Il show over yanGier in the
wCe.Is. I'm sivin' en- these chiny figures
that have been layin i'll the bureau drawer
fer seven year.
Even old Mrs. Phillips excited over
the prospect of the woods festival Early
on The morning of the Fourth the old
iady's chair was placed at the front par
lor window ana Farmer Phillips himself
Girc7tcf her ~azr 10 that point In the road
where she could catch q glimpse of the
passing show
-'ssaf.s alive cried the old lady. Will
liam. do como here and tell me what ii is
It's some o Miss Fannies fxin's. eX
plaine,l Farmer Phillips. 2 patriotic smile
lighting, his face at tho sight OF the pony
fro:a the mill drawing a wagon in which
displayed set of poles wrapped in
bunting and profuseiy decorated with
flags.
Don't tell me that thing is fer the brick
church festival screamed the Old lady
It's the Fourth o July. mother. said
There amt nottiH wrong in celebratin
fer the country and the church On the same
day.
Il s'pose its all right if you say so. VII
liam said the oil. LAZY. Miss Fannie's
a COOL gal. I'm sure. and the new preach,
.r ~ mt stop it when ii drove a-past the
parse mage
When Farmer Phillips turned the two
gray horses into the pike he said 20 Mrs.
Phillips: Yes. Sis. I'm in fer celehrat:I.'
the Fourth q July, nGthin' amt too good
fer the Fourth O July. and ii amt L had
idea all fer to help the rev preacher
along while We're celebratin.
Law cried Mrs Phillips. bIissfuly.
I'm feered my soul the woods looks
like circus.
The woods were. indeed. gay in the ex-
tremt. strips of bunting Were festoored
fire. n tree to tree. everywhere there
brilliant paper lanterns and everywhere
there We're flags
"A man feels good on the Fourth o July"
sad Farmer Phillips. smiling about him.
I'm glad, Sis. that you fixed up d fine
basket fer the preacher
II is Impossible 10 remember all
tie wonderful things that Miss Fan
MES ingenuity managed to gather
together at the woods festival. but
II is no mistake 10 assert that the princ.-
pa attraction on the grounds was at Miss
FafAies Own table Walking up and dowa
TIE fancy table with careful deli5eration
d G1nIit.IJive clown
The clowns gay little legs. his brilliant
head dress. his hideous false face, were
ali III turn attractive. but IL was the
clowns witty tongue that brought the
crowd -in'i the ieI ries TO the fancy table
Now he's a pertendin' he's Il Old hay
seed explained adrnirer CT the di.lirl-
tive clown Hes a-narkin' Jim Harley
WHO jest lacked cut the crowd Now ne's
lily gentlemen: look how straight he's
The new preacher"
Mss Fannie wasn't countiIl' on that
sal! tHo'her &im!rer OF the clowns laugh
i:S heartily as Miss Morris put her hand
oFrf TIE H,tle fellows mouth ard spoke
to him sharply
TteE me clown auctiored off a cake.
MINI kiiss Tie man " 10 IN another part of
TIE grounds was au-tioniES a barrel Of
corr. and the people roared In hearty APP
prevail up
Ia; ne greatest aGmirer Of Willie, the
ciy%n. wsS Mrs Phillips.
4ilaih sh-. said exeite.!ly to her bus
bard "hev you hen here till tn. candles
Is .-Sltei an! ANT sen the clown Sh,.
h1,i overcome every Vcs.tSe Of scrup!e that
a Fourth OF July festival ought rot 10 he
REID II the interests Of the brick church
IL aeF admiration ard joy OF Willie. the
Gown / declare 10 goodness SIN. went
on you've missed the best part % The,
sn@" =! You ANT seen the Iittie clo2rr''
Farmer Phillips followed his wife TO The
IanrE Table and the crowd wedge! in To-
tween them as he stood looking 4. Willie.
thS Gov IL Was thi5 lit Of brilliant color
little human child: The eyes @. Farmer
IhAiiI'S strayei 10 the children in the
cCNI ana fingered u.JH their round limo
cent i"c's before :, turning to the hideo,,s
IaIse lace o: the clown Could I, he true