The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1900-11-14

The rooster was an emblem of grit and
independence. He was n bird who
went to bed q; Sundown. got up before
sunrise and was hustlin around all day.
\ rooster on top of that tower would
signify that Jericho could take care OF
herself and didn't bow down TO any
other town in the state. He was out
of breath and had busted suspender
when he sot down, and Deacon Spoon
er raped with cane and said:
limos has not only made a speech
equal to anything Henry Clay ever got
off, but he's made a thUndern Dig
pint in favor of the roosterites. | was
ag'in the rooster when come here. but
I've almost changed my mind. Let US
hear from SiIas Bebee.'
Silas was one who wanted the ptnts
of the compass put up. He was born
in Jericho when the town had but three
houses and had been turned around fur
80 years. The only way be could tell
north from south or east from west
was 10 make a black spot on Uncle Jim
Green's barn door. and he never went
to the back end of his own cornheld
without gittin lost and hevin TO whistle
to his wife. His speech was up to
date. He didn't go back over six
months. He said that what had allus
allied Jericho and what would alluS
keep her down was the want of KNOWN
the compass pints. He wasn't the
only one who was turned around. Hair
the folks in town couldn't go buckle
berryin without gittin lost and wander
in around all night. Hogs and dogs
walked around in q circle because they
was confused. and every time there
was a lawsuit most of the witnesses
said west fur east. An emblem of in
nocence would be all right, and roost-
er would be a thing of beauty, but both
would be beaten by compass p'ints.
"SiIas has made purity good speech
and a purity good pint" says the dea-
con. land I'm sorter lettin go of the
rooster and leanin to his side. Though
I've lived in Jericho fur % years, l
can't make out yt whether my pigpen
is on the north or west side Of the
house. I'm mderstandin that Elisha
TAYLOR las sunthin to spring on this
meetin and we are ready to hear it"
Elisha was ready. He had bin watch
in the growth Of the town hall fur six
long years, and he had had his eye on
the tower day and night. He had look
ed at it from the street and from the
roof Of his barn. He had looked at it
at monday and squinted Ct it at mid
night and had come to one unalterable
c.1nclusion-he wanted the fgger of
Gilt angel to finish off that tower, and
he wanted that angel to be p'intin up
wards. same as on a gravestone he saw
in Buffalo The angel would signify
the goodness of Jericho, and strangers
would no longer stop and raise a row
because they couldn't git a glass Of
beer or find anybody to take hand at
poker. Her p'lntin upward would be
an object lesson to the Sunday school
children, and the sight CT her would
calm the feelin's Of a man about to
lick his wife.
There was a howl CT derision as Eli
sha sot down. and the deacon said that
/
con of the church and a good man, but
he'd never consent to hist gilt angel
on ton of the town hall. She might
pint upwards or dOWnwards or any
other way. but angels didr't belong on
towers. He called upon Beverly Jones
fur his views, and Beverly jumped up
and declared himself in favor of the
= .A,N5t etsfr f0f
crit and independence. an eagle Signi-
fed all that and a dozen things more
An eagle stood fur liberty, freedom and
! equal rights. 1t was the emblem of
| glorious republic. Its wings sheltered
the helpless as well as the strong, and
Its soft COON lulled the infant to sleep,
while it's scream sent the father to the
/ field of battle to fight fur the grandest
| principles of mankind. 1t was rattliD
/ speech. full of redhot patriotism, and
! Deacon Spooner said that Daniel Web
ster never approached it in his palmiest
DAYS. 1t didn't affect the other fac
! tons, however. They stuck out fur
the gilt ball, the rooster, the compass
pints and the angel. and each one de.
clareu he q ngnt 10 the DIllef emu
AS a compromise Jim Shorely. who
didn't care what they put up, moved
fur a gilt goat, and Abraham Scott,
who was goin to move away and had
lost all interest, moved fur monkey,
but they was booted down and every
body began to jam his elbows around
and call everybody else a hog. There
was every sign that the meetin would
break UP in free fight, when there
comes q fash and an awful clap Of
4 thunder. and at the same time Lish
4 Billings walked in to git out of the
storm. Deacon Spooner appealed TO
him to save the honor of Jericho by
bringin about harmony, and Lish
looked around and replied
GAS understand it. this crowd is
t-.lI Al,