The Delawarean., 1900-09-15
[Copyright, 19OO. by 6. B. lewis


more than ordinary interest that l
call the meetin to order. Stand out,
Horatio, and let's hear all about it."
Horatio stood out. He looked pale,
but determined. He'd bin thinkin fur
week of what he was goin to say,
and he started off as smooth as grease.
"The drums arc beatin a wild alarm
There is wavn of flags, a marchin
of men and wailin of women and
children. War is upon the land. The
life of a nation is at stake. 1t is an
hour when men are called upon to give
up their lives fur the sake Of prin-
ciple"
"By John, but that's howery Ian
guage" exclaimed the deacon as
Horatio paused. "If Horatio kin keep
it up fur an hour; I'm fur 'lectln him
to the next legislature"
"The farmer leaves his plow," con-
tinued Horatio, 'the merchant his store
and the mechanic his bench. They
march away to find the enemy and
fight him and die. Yes; they yield up
their lives that we may live on in
peace, and if we forgit the sacrifice
we ought to wither away like a bur
dock in November"
"Gentleman." said the deacon as the
applause had subsidized, "up to the
present mint Horatio Sparrow has
knocked the socks off'n Henry Clay as
an orator, and l am proud to know
that he is citizen of Jericho. Any
thing more, Horatio?
81 jest want to call your attention to
the fact that Jericho has never had a
Decoration day parade" replied the or
ator. eve hevnever paraded and never
decorated, and l say it's a burnin
shame and ought to be remedied at
once"
'By John, but that's a strong p'int!
shouted the deacon. "Hang me if Ho-
ratio amt knockin things endways!
No, sir; we've never had a parade nor
decorated any graves, and we ought
to be ashamed Of ourselves. Is it your
suggestion that we celebrate the day
this year, Horatio"
"That's my pint, deacon"
'And it's as strong as a log chain.
Yes, sir; we'll celebrate the day, and
in order to make it howlin success
I'll agree to take charge of the parade"
But l object to that" said Horatio.
"Hevin originated this idea, think it's
fur me to ride on horseback at the
head of the purcession."
There was painful pause, and then
Abner Jones. who was in tiremans uni
form, jumped off the counter and said:
"There shouldn't be no jealousy
about this thing. Horatio would look
purity fine on his spotted horse, and
the deacon would be no slouch in his
cooked hat, but If there's to be any
feelin over it I'll take the job off their
hands, AS I'm foreman of the fire com
pany it comes in my line anyhow"
81 don't propose to give up my rights
fur nobody" said Horatio.
"And I'm thinkin Pm the man to
boss things" added the deacon.
81 don't want TO charge anybody
with hevin too much cheek" said
Squar Henshaw, "but it do look a
leetle strange to me to see the way GER
tain folks want to crowd to the front
on public occasions. If there is a
purcession, it's got to be headed by a
man who knows how to boss things
and can't be ratified. l bossed the
parade the last time we had a Fourth
of July, and you may remember that
the newspapers said managed 1t bet
ter than any we ever had"
''I'll allow that the squar did fairly
WELL" said Enos Williams as he shut
up his jackknife and got off the sugar
bar'l, "but there are several other folks
In this town of Jericho. For instance,
I'm here myself. When anything has