The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-08-31

without givin his secret away. There
was a great deal Of curiosity durin the
day. Some thought the squar had a
balloon ascension in view in order to
attract public attention to our new
cooper shop, and others had 1t that he
had found a way to dodge the state
tax, but it was all guesswork. There
was tremendous crowd on hand
when evenin came, and the squar went
around rubin his hands together and
smilin all over his face. When he had
got the crowd worked up to the pitch
where everybody wanted to die fur
liberty, he called the meetin to order
and said:
"Feller freemen Of Jericho, we hev
here beautiful town, salubrious eli
mate and populashun to be proud Of.
We hev the best Of water, the lowest
Of taxes and skassly any use fur doc
tors. We hev the telephone, electric
doorbells and town pump. A stran-
ger would look around him and say we
needed nuthin else. But we do, and
that is why / hev called you together
here tonight. We need jest one thing
more to put Jericho on the pinnacle.
and that is brass band"
"By John, but he's made a p'intw
said Deacon Spoonsr as hs whaeked on
the counter with his cnne. -Yes, str,
Jericho needs a brass band to boost
her, and Pm with the squar. Let us
hear what Moses Hopkins has to say
about it,
"As l take It," said Moses, "a brass
band plays tunes, and I'd like to know
in advance what sort of tunes this
band is goin to play. If it's goin to
play The Sweet BY and By then I'm
in fur band. If it's goin to play hi
diddle-diddle tunes, then I'm ag'in it,"
That's pint as fur as it goes" said
the deacon, "but it don't go fur huff.
Enos Williams, you was In the hog
buyin bizness fur 20 years, and you
ought to know about brass bands.
What d'you think of the idea?
THAT depends" said Enos. 81 don't
go much on a brass band that toots its
wind all over town and wastes 1t on
the air. IF we had band that would
come down to the depot to meet ne as
I come in from Tarrytown. l think I'd
kind of like it."
by John. but he's right. and he's
made q pint shouted the deacon.
81 don't see the pint" said Squar
Johnson as he colored up. "Why should
our brass band go down to the depot to
welcome man who hain't never done
anything in particular fur Jericho ?
E1os Is a good huff man in his way,
but did tn. outside world ever hear Of
him? Was he consulted about buildin
the new sewer or paintin the town
hall? Has he ever laid awake nights
thinkin how this town could be boosted
to the top?'
"Enos. he's knocked your pint out
and made one ag'in you," said the dea-
con, "but well hear from some Of the
rest. How is it with you, Jabez Fow-
lerT
II can't exactly say till know what
the band is goin to do" replied Jabez.
my old woman is mighty fond of
brass band tunes which lift up the
heels, and If the bandit come over to
my house three times a week and give
US sunthln lively I'll chip in"
"Mebbe I'm mistaken In this crowd"
said the squar as he looked around In
q serious way. .:NIebbe this is a crowd
composed Of freeborn Americans whose
forefathers fought at Bunker Hill, and
mebbe It's made up of men who'd steal
the statue Of Liberty and sell 1t fur old
Junk. To say that l am astonished
does not hale express my feelin's."
"That sellin tile statue of Liberty Is
pint, and strong one" said the
deacon, "but what we want Is free
expreshun Of opinion. Jube Hornbeck-
er looks as IL he wanted to say sun
thin"
nd like to ask the squar," said Jube