The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1898-06-30
FARMER PHILLIPS
PATRIOTISM.

The little brick church in the hollow
was q very unpretentious building as
was also the parsonage in the adjoining
lot but certainly the new minister was
far from unpretentious; at least so de-
termined the congregation of the little
brick church.
He wears mighty fine coat fer a
country preacher, said Farmer Phil
lips, land heered he got deal o. his
sohoolin in foreign parts, "
"Yes," explained Miss Fannie Nor
ris, the daughter of the rich miller. "he
is highly educated. They say he writes
essays and things and that he asked as
favor to be assigned to q country
church 3"
His hands is powerful white fer a
man, F." said Mrs. Phillips
II don't see how he is going to live
on the limited salary paid the minister
of the brick church and the collectlonsl"
cried Miss Morris.
"Oh, he'll manage fer to live, said
Farmer Phillips dryly
His hands is powerful white fer a
man." repeated Mrs, Phillips.
week later Farmer Phillips brought
the following bit Of news to his house
hold:
Miss Fannie has settled that matter
O. the new preachers wages. She's
maxim arrangements fer big festival
over yander in the woods"
"a woods festival fer the brick
church, exclaimed Mrs. Phillips.
Farmer Phillips chuokled. "It's to
take place on the Fourth O. July" he
said.
SIS the new preacher in fer it," ask
ed Mrs. Phillips.
miss Fannie's in fer it, and that
means the business is goin to be carried
through" continued Farmer Phillips.
'The preachers young, and he don't
know but what the folks is used to hold
in woods festivals fer the benefit o. the
brick church Miss Fannie is explainin
right and left how sech goin s on is COM
mon in the city; she'll be around here
this evenin -"
Are you in fer it?' asked Mrs Phil
lips.
well. l dunno as l see any partic lar
wrong ia it." said Farmer Phillips.
81 IN always in fer celebratin the
Fourth. He looked his wife straight
in the face. Eyes, am in fer it, sis, I"
he said. ~ low that celebratin fer the
country and oelebratin fer the brick
church might as we'll go hand in hand.
Miss Fannie s been out in the world and
she's smart gal. F."
But it took Miss Fannie's own per-
suasive eloquence to induce Mrs Phil
lips not only to believe that there would
be no harm in celebrating for the coun-
try and the church ON the same day,
but to promise to lend her help by the
preparation of a plentiful basket for the
festival.
1.-The new minister is fluent speak
or, said Miss Morris. 1--WE ought to
be delighted 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
we have festival and fair, conducted
satisfactorily, we re all right.
The excitement caused by the word
intense, but Miss Fannie's arguments
were forcible and times were hard. AL
though more than one 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 glori-
GUS Fourth.
I'm feered," said Mrs. Phillips,
smiling pleasantly, that we are goin
to have the biggest kind O. show over
yander in the woods I'm givin 'em
these ohiny figures that have been layin
in the bureau drawer fer seven year"
Even old Mrs. Phillips was excited
over the prospect of the woods festival
Early on the morning of the Fourth the
old lady's chair was placed at the front
parlor window and Farmer Phillips
himself directed her gaze to that point
in the road where she could catch
glimpse of the passing show.
"Sakes alivei'' cried the old lady.
William. do come here and tell me
what it is. -
Its some O. Miss Fannie's fixin's, "
6Apldlueu IdrLuST TDllllph, putiiotio
smile lighting his face at the sight Of
the pony from the mill drawing a wag
on in which was displayed set of
poles wrapped in bunting and profuse-
" decorated with flags.
Don't tell me that thing is fer the
brick church festival" screamed the
old lady.
cts the Fourth O. July, mother,
said Farmer Phillips in modifying
voice. There amt notbin wrong in
oelebratin fer the country and the
church on the same day"
81 s'pose it's all right If you say so,
William" said the old lady. Miss
Fannie's good gal, I'm sure. and the
new preacher didn't stop it when it
drove a-past the parsonage.
When Farmer Phillips turned the
two gray horses into the pike, he said
to Mrs. Phillips: Eyes, SIS, I'm In fer