Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-09-20


FOREMAN OF THE FIRE COMPANY
call the meetln to order. Stand out.
Horatio, and let's hear oil about It,"
Horatio stood out. He looked pale,
but determined. He'd bin thinkin fur
u week of what he was goin to say,
and he started off as smooth as grease.
"The drums are beatin wild alarm.
There is II wavin of flags. mnrchin
Of men and q wailin of women and
children. War is upon the land. The
life of n 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 aowery Ian
guage!" exclaimed the deacon as
Horatio paused. "lf Horatio kin keep
it up fur an hour; I'm fur lectin him
to the next legislature"
"Thc farmer leaves his plow," con-
tinued Horatio, 1.-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 bur-
dock i'll November"
| Gentleman" snid the deacon as the
| applause had subsidized, '.up to the
present mint Horatlo Sparrow has
knocked the socks off'n Henry Clay as
an orator, and am proud to know
that he is Il citizen of Jericho. Any
thing more, uoratio"
II jest want to call your attention to
the fact that Jericho has never had a
Decoration day parade" replied the or
ator. 1--WE hev never paraded and never
decorated, and say it's burnin
shame and ought to be remedied ut
| once"
by John, but that's strong pint"
shouted the deacon. Hang me If Ho-
ratio Amt knockin things endways!
No. sir; we've never had parade nor
decorated any graves, and we ought
to be ashamed of ourselves. Is 1t your
suggestion that we celebrate the day
this year, Horatio"
That's my pint, deacon"
"And it's as strong US log chain.
Yes, sir; We'll celebrate the day. and
in order to make it n howlin success
Ill agree to take charge of the parade. !"
But object to that" said Horatio.
"Hcvin originated this idea. think it's
fur me to ride on horseback ut the
head Of the purccssion."
| There was painful pause. and then
Abner Jones. who was in tircman's 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 SLOUGH in his
cooked hat. but If there's to be any
feelin over 1t I'll take the job off their
hands. AS Pm foreman of the fire COM
pany 1t comes in my line anyhow"
II don't propose to give up my rights
fur nobody" said Horatio.
"And I'm thinkin I'm the man to
boss things" added the deacon.
II don't want TO charge anybody
with hevin too much cheek" said
Equar Henshaw, 'but 1t 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. bosscd the
parade the last time we had Fourth
OF July. and you may remember that
the newspapers said l managed 1t bet.
ter than any we ever had
I'll allow that the squar did fairly
we'll" said Enos Williams as lie shut
up his jackknifc 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