The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1898-06-29

SANo~ e~S- s~o
old lady.
"It's tho Fourth o. July. mother"
said Farmer Phillips in modifying
vpice. There amt nothin wrong in
celebratin fer the country and the
church on the same day"
II spose it's all right if you say 80.
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
celebratin the Fourth o. July. Nothin
amt too good fer the Fourth o. July,
and it ain TIA bad idea at all fer to help
the new preacher along while we're
celebratin.
Law" cried Mrs. Phillips blissful-
ly, "I'm feered on my soul the woods
looks like circus.
The woods were, indeed, gay in the
extreme. Strips of bunting were festoon-
ed from tree to tree. Everywhere there
were brilliant paper lanterns, and every
where there were flags.
"A man feels good on the Fourth o.
July" said Farmer Phillips, smiling
about him. I'm glad, sis, that you
fixed up fine basket fer the preacher. "
1t is impossible TO remember all the
wonderful things that Miss Fannie's in
genuity managed to gather together at
the woods festival, but il is no mistake
to assert that the principal attraction
on the grounds was at Hiss Fannies
own table, Walking up and down the
fancy table with careful deliberation
was diminutive clown.
The clowns gay little legs, his bril-
liant headdress, his hideous false face,
were MI in turn attractive, but it was
the clowns witty tongna that brought
the crowd and the pennies TO the fancy
table.
"Now he's a-pertendin he's old
hayseed, " explained an admirer Of the
diminutive clown. Hes a.markin jim
Harley, who jest backed out the crowd.
Now he's city gentleman Look how
straight he's holdin nisself. Lord, if
he ain I markin the new preacher.
Miss Fannie wasn't countin on
that, ;" said another admirer of the
clown, laughing heartily as Miss Nor
ris put her hand over the little fellows
mouth and spoke to him sharply.
Then the clown auctioned off cake,
mimicking the man who in another part
of the grounds was auctioning a barrel
of corn, and the people roared in hearty
approval.
But the greatest admirer of Willie,
the clown, was Mrs. Phillips.
William" she said excitedly to her
husband, "hev you ben here till the
candles is lighted and amt seen the
CLOWN" She had overcome every YES
tige of scruple that Fourth Of July
festival ought not TO be held in the in
terests of the brick church in her admi-
ration and JOY of Willie. the clown. II
declare to goodness, she went on,
you've missed the best part o. the
show if you ain I seen the little clown. !"
Farmer Phillips followed his wife to
the fancy table, and the crowd wedged
in between them as he stood looking at
Willie, the clown. Was this bit Of bril-
liant color little human child? The
eyes Of Farmer Phillips strayed TO the
children in the crowd and fingered up
on their round innocent faces before re-
turning TO the hideous false face of the
clown. Could it be true that the witty
sayings, the raillery, the mimicry pro-
ceeded from almost baby lips? The fool
ish people were clapping vociferously.
"Give US the hayseed az in, little
Teller" demanded voice in the crowd.
Farmer Phillips turned and walked
away. his hands deep in his pockets.
The good humor and jollity had vanish
ed from his face and frown establish
ed itself instead. He was thinking pro.
foundly when he discovered that he was
on the outskirts of the woods, be and
some other man, the new minister of
the brick church.
"Sir," said Farmer Phillips sternly,
"I've bsen back there to the fancy table,
lookin at that there clown"
$50 have l., said the new minister.
"It's cryin shame, roared Farmer
Phillips. 1--WE are collectin fer the
brick church today, sir; we are cele-
bratn the Fourth o. July today, sir"
Eyes, J." said the new minister, land
l say also that it's crying shame.
Then Farmer Phillips took good
long look at the minister. He was
young, very young; he was a scholar
and gentleman; he was new to the
brick church neighborhood. Perhaps he
was new also to woods festivals and
fairs The majority of the people were
hugely enjoying the antics of the little
clown; his wife was enjoying them,
and she was good woman Miss Fan
ME Morris was good girl and smart
girl. 1t would not do for the new
preacher to administer public reproof
TO his almost unknown flock, above all
to Miss Fannie Morris, whose heart and
soul were in the work of keeping him
among them. The Indignation died in
the breast of Farmer Phillips, and he
held out his hand.
The new minister grasped it warmly.
You and think alike ON one sub
ject, anyway, and / reckon, maybe, as