The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-07-05
FARMER PHILLIPS
PATRIOTISM.

PATRIOTISM. |
The little brick church in the hollow
was 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
schoolin in foreign parts. F"
Eyes," 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
a favor to be assigned to a country
church"
His hands is powerful white fer a
man" said Mrs. Phillips.
81 don't see how he is going to live
on the limited salary paid the minister
of the brick church and the collectionsP
cried Miss Morris.
"Oh, he'll manage fer to live" said
Farmer Phillips dryly.
His hands is powerful white fer a
man, j." repeated Mrs. Phillips.
A 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. %
ga woods festival fer the brick
church '' exclaimed Mrs Phillips.
Farmer Phillips chuckled. cts to
take place on the Fourth o. july" he
said
"Is 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 expIainin
right and left how sech goin s on is COM
mon in the city; she'll be around here
this evenin.''
care you in fer it?'' asked Mrs Phil.
lips
'Well, dunno as see any partic lal
wrong in it," said Farmer Phillips.
"I'm always in fer celebratin the
Fourth. He looked his wife straight
in the face. Eyes, 1 am in fer it, sis, u
he said 81 low that celebratin fer the
country and celebratin fer the brick
church might as we'll go hand in hand.
Miss Fannie been out in the world and
she's smart gal. y
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 plentiful basket for the
festival.
"The new minister is fluent speak
er, said Miss Morris. "We ought tc
be delighted to have such a scholar al
the brick church, but we cannot afford
to double the collections. If Mr.. Peytor
can't live, why, he's going to leave. Il
we have festival and a fair, conducted
satisfactorily, we're all right.
The excitement caused by the WORD
fair added to the woods festival was
intense, but Miss Fannie's arguments
were forcible and times were hard. AL
though more than one member of the
congregation expressed mild doubt il
regard to the right of the question il
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 goir
to have the biggest kind o. show ovel
yander in the woods. I'm givin 'en
these chiny figures that have been layir
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 thu
old lady chair was placed at the from
parlor window and Farmer Phillips
himself directed her gaze to that poin
in the road where she could catch {
glimpse of the passing show.
"Sakes alivel'' cried the old lady
William, do come here and tell MI
what it is y
''It's some O. Miss Fannie's flxin's ,
explained Farmer Phillips, patriot,
smile lighting his face at the sight O
the pony from the mill drawing wag
on in which was displayed set o
poles wrapped in bunting and profuse
ly decorated with flags
"Don't tell me that thing is fer tn,
nrlck church FESTIVAL" screamed tn
old lady.
cts the Fourth o. July, mother,
said Farmer Phillips in modifying
voice. "There amt nothin wrong il
celebratin fer the country and th
church On the same day"
81 s'pose it's all right if you say so
William said the old lady. "Mis
Fannie's good gal, Pm sure, and tn
new preacher didn't stop it when
drove a-past the parsonage.
When Farmer Phillips turned tn
two gray horses into the pike, he sal
to Mrs. Phillips: Eyes, sis I'm in fe
oelebratin the Fourth O. July. Nothil
amt too good fer the Fourth o. July
and it ain ii bad idea at all fer to he'll
the new preacher along while we'r
celebratin. 4"
Law" cried Mrs. Phillips blissful
ly, "I'm feered on my soul the wood
looks like circus"
The woods were, indeed, gay in tn
extreme. Strips of bunting were festoon
ed from tree to tree. Everywhere Their
were brilliant paper lanterns, and every
where there were flags.
"A man feels good on the Fourth
july" said Farmer Phillips, smilin
about him. "I'm glad, sis, that 20
fixed up fine basket fer the preacher.
1t is impossible to remember all tn
wonderful things that Miss Fannie's il
genuity managed to gather together 6
the woods festival, but it is no mistak
to assert that the principal attraotio
on the grounds was at Miss Fannie
own table. Walking up and down tt
fancy table with careful deliberatio
was diminutive clown.
The clowns gay little legs, his bri
liant headdress, his hideous false fac
were all in turn attractive, but it VIZ
the clowns witty tongue that brougf