The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-11-01

ders lookin into the embers fur the
bones of their husbands and husbands
shovelin over hot Goals In search Of the
remains Of wives and children even
Joe Truelove was seen to wipe q tear
from his left eye. Fur once everybody
seemed to be agreed, and when Reube
was named fur foreman Of the cOmpa-
ny nobody kicked. Before the meetin
closed it was resolved to buy two more
pals and another ladder and that the
company should be uniformed.
Jericho woke right up. Real estate
began to jump, Tom Bigelow put down
six rods Of new sidewalk, and Homer
Lee repainted his barn and put new
hinges on his gate. People who came
over from Dobbs Ferry and witnessed
the speerit Of enterprise went home
jealous of the town. and q lightnin rod
man said that the hustlin reminded
him Of the early days of Kansas City
and Denver. 1t wasn't week before
the Wilder Taylor's smokehouse got
afire at midnight, and Peleg Scott
rung the alarm bell in q way to turn
the hull town bottom side up in five
minits. That fire company went at
that conf1agration to conker or die. and
in II minits the red tongued flames Of
destruction had bin doused out. and
Jericho was safe. In a leetle speech
which follered the fire Squar' Danvers
said that Rome in her palmiest days
never equaled the occasion. and Phile-
tus Johnson declared that the thanks
nP hn a N P,,w
such heroism.
The day the firemen got their uni
forms Jericho got up on her hind legs
and howled. There was SIGH excite
ment in the town that soft soap was
allowed to boil over. bread was burned
up In the ovens, and most folks forgot
to feed their hogs. Some idea Of what
sort of royal jubilation it was kin be
gathered from the fact that one gro
Gerry alone sold 16 lemons and Z cocoa
nuts durin the day. 1t was Renbe
Holdfast's idea that fireman should
always be on duty. and he advised ev-
cry member Of the company to wear
his uniform day and night. When the
first thunderstorm came along. the fire
bell rang. and the company turned out
and stood ready to rush to the spot If
lightnin hit anythin. If there was a
dog fight in front of the town hall, the
company come rushin up. and If any
body's team ran away or kitchen
stove got red hot there was a dash of
red shirted heroes. Jericho was BOOM
in. but Reube wasn't satisfied with her
progress. He got his company out
and marched them to Sunday church
and to Thursday evenin prayer meet
in. There was lawsuit over a cow
between Jim White and Aaron Temp
kins, and the fire company was present
in full uniform. Old Mrs. Hopkins was
taken sick. and the doctor said she
must 60, and Reube felt 1t his duty to
march the company up to her house
and bid her last farewell. Her sick
ness took turn fur the better, and she
begun to git well. and Reube marched
the company up ag'in to give her three
cheers fur not dyin.
After about a month there was only
one thing lackin The fire company
mad turned out fur everythin but fu.
neral but death had obstinately refus.
ed to gin it show There was a LOT
of old folks with asthma and liver com.
plant and a lot of babies with whoop.
In cough and measles. but none Of 'em
would die. Reube used to 60 around
achin fur it, and he'd drop into the
postoftice occasionally to say to me:
Pap. If some one would only die, I'd
turn out the boys in way to jumu
Jericho 100 years ahead. Them red
pals and axes and ladders would Jest
be an offset to the mournin, and the
way the boys would stand around on
one leg and look solemn would be pic.
ture to beat an old master. How's
your heart disease. PapT
Better. thank you" E&&
II was in hopes 1t was wuss. Thar's
wuss men nor you, Pap Perkins, but II
you'll only die our fire company will
gin We sendoff to make yer wilder
proud fur the rest Of her days."
Reube was on the watch day and
night fur funeral. and he'd almost
made up his mind to turn out the COM
pany fur the next cow that died Of hol-
Ter horn when q crisis come like a
fash. OWN to his lame leg Lish Bill
lings hadn't fined the fire company,
but he was an old and respected citi-
zen who could beat anybody in town