The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-08-15

I'm his humble way. III he expects that
band to meet him nt the depot when
he comes homer
"Bein hold the poslshun I do" an-
swered the squar, "bein I'm referred
TO as the leadln man In Jericho, II the
band wanted TO go down and see me
of or wanted TO bc there to welcome
inc home don't reckon anybody would
find fault"
"But I'd want the same thing" said
Ebcnczcr Scott. ~ amt no Justice of
the peace, but my dairy ls mllkln 20
lows this summer, and ! feel I'm as
big ns anybody. 20 over to Dobbs
Ferry once In two weeks, and should
want that bnnd to toot me Off and toot
me home ag'in."
"rhcre may be a pint" said the dea-
con as he scratched his ear, "but I
don't skassly see It. McbDe the squar
wants to say sunthin further about
liberty and bunker IIlllT
"Tm sayIn," replied the squar ns he
henvcd long sigh, that patriotism
and love OF country seems TO be dead
er'n doornall In these United States.
Mebbe there's a man In this crowd
inside from me who'd be wlllln to shed
his blood that our glorious republic
might be saved from ruin and desola-
shur. but II thar be I can't name him.
You might as well dlspersc b. your
homes and tell your wives anu chill
dren that Jericho is doomed"
"By John. but what n p'int-what a
p'intr whispered the deacon. BE
fore we bust up and go to ruin. how
ever, I'd like to hear from Reuben
white. Reuben's bin as far west as
Detroit. and he ought to know what In
huence n brass band has on a town"
"rhe influence Of brass band IL ac-
cordln to the leader" said Reuben.
'I've seen 'em where they Jumped
town right to the front In four weeks.
and I've seen 'em where they kllled
things dead In two. The leader wants
to be q pecoollar sort OF a man, lie
wants to be born fur the place. same
as Washington was. He wants to be
ready to die at two minits' notice or to
live fur q hundred years"
"And mebbe YOU think you're that
manT" querled the squar as he pound
ed on the counter with his fist,
81 do. I know am. I'm the only
man In Jericho as kin lead band to
success and make the town hump her.
self. I'm self sacriicin critter. as
sou NIL know, and IL this meetin thinks
best
M hn In oh Inn
and It was FIVE minlts before Deacon
Spooner could make his voice heard.
and then he said:
"There's more p'lnts bobbin up here
than you kin shake stick Mt, but we
might rs well hev one more. S'posin
we hear from Lish Billings. He's the
only man I'm Jericho who kin play on
an accordion. What d'you say, Lish?"
"There's mighty little to be said and
nuthin to bust up the country" an
swered Lish. "Do any of you sons of
Bunker Hill know how much wind 1t
takes to blow n brass hornW
Nobody did, and a hush fell upon the
crowd
at takes ten pounds, reckoned by
lung tester" said Llsh. "and you'd
want an extra pound fur walkin up
hill There was a lung tester man In
town two weeks ago, and every son of
us handed over nickel and took a
blow. We blowed aud strained and
blowed, and Rube White was one of
'em who blowed sole OF his boot.
and yit no man reached seven pounds.
Whar you goin to git your wind to
blow them hornsf'
There was painful silence while
you could count n hundred. and then
Deacon Spooner said:
"By John, but I'm goin home and
tell the old woman that | don't know
beans when the bags united. and the
rest of you'd better do the same
thingw NJ. QUAD.