The Philipsburg mail., 1899-07-14

ward, while Newton was waiting for train
to carry him to Charlotte, 20 miles west,
where he was booked to deliver Fourth of
July Grafton that afternoon.
''I'm almost crazy, Cemons," said the lat
ter, after announcing his mission. II ex-
pect to make dead failure, but couldn't
refuse the invitation, since | am an appli.
cant for the position of principal Of the
Charlotte schools"
"You ought to have written out your
speech"
II did, for I can't extemporize, but /
haven't committed it to memory" and Nor
dyke produced manuscript.
"Let me see it. Here, glance over my ar.
ticle on the Twelve Lost Comets of Herschel.
! hope to break into magazine with it..
Why, this is all right" Clemons continued
a moment later. "The little stream of blood
that began to trickle down the sides of the
future great and puissant nation rolled on
until it became a mighty think deluge
would be better than flood. That's great
stuff It will carry them off their feet and
win you the appointment. Brace mp, old
man. Give the speech fair show and you re
winner There's your train. Good BY"
At the Charlotte depot Nordyke was met
by an enthusiastic delegation, headed by
Squire Hawkins, guiding spirit of the school
trustees, and, escorted by throng of yell.
ing boys and barking dogs, was driven,
through fire and smoke, to the fair grounds
From his chair upon the improvised
platform Nordyke, surrounded by the lead
ing men of the county, looked nervously
over the vast audience. His trepidation
increased with the opening prayer, doubled
as the declaration of independence was
drawlingly read and reached its climax
when the band ceased playing "Hail Colum-
bia" and all eyes were turned upon him.
81 have now the pleasure" announced
ITO introduce the orator of the day, Mr.
Newton Nordyke, patriotic American and
rising young scholar, who will address you"
He paused and looked at the manuscript
that Newton was unfolding-"on the
Twelve Lost Comets of Herschel"
"Horrors!" calculated the young man as
he realized that he had exchanged papers
with Clemons.
The preliminary applause was subsiding;
what was he to do? The trustful, inspiring
face of his widowed mother seemed to rise
before him and he formed sudden resolu-
ton.
"Fellow citizens" he began, "you are all
patriots; you all know the past history and
promising future of our glorious nation.
Pardon, then, the innovation if, to-day, ap-
peal from your splendid brass band to the
music of the spheres, from gunpowder and
rockets to the pyrotechnical display set in
the boundless armament by the father Of
nations and liberty"
In excellent voice and with fine elocu-
tionary effects the late terrified, and still
desperate, young man proceeded to read his
friends powerful paper. He was listened
to with almost breathless interest and took
his seat amid loud applause.
"The greatest speech ever made in Ben.
ton county," said Squire Hawkins as he
grasped the orators hand. knowledge
combined with patriotism. Consider your
self engaged as principal at salary Of
$l,2oo."
Newton Nordyke's mother must have
thought her son daft when she received
that evening the following telegram:
"Sell the horse and COW and begin pack
ing at once I'm engaged. The Twelve Lost
Comets Of Herschel did 'he business
Newton" ~