Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-07-20

ucation and bulwarks of liberty seem
to come in jest right and hit the school
house on all sides at once. | fur one
I'd like to hear both sides of the ques
ton. Mebbe Silas Lapham, who lives
next door to the schoolhouse, would
like to make a few remarks"
''As fur me-" says Silas as he rises
up, 'I'm agin the idea of ligh8in
rod That there schoolhouse was built
13 years ago, and durin them IS years
we've had - thunderstorms. If she's
lodged -. why can't she dodge POO?
Why can't she keep right on dodgin till
she tumbles down of old age? Forty
dollars fur lightnn rod means more
taxation. Thar's sich thing as an
emporium of education, but thar's also
sich thing as an emporium of taxa
ton. Jericho is out of debt and no
one kickin, but let the hand of eX-
cessive taxation clutch her throat, and
how long would it take to strangle the
pause and ponder afore 1t is too late"
"Silas. you've made pint and a
strong one" says the deacon when the
applause has subsidized. IF the school
house has lodged - thunderstorms,
thar's no reason to think she won't
keep up the record. Yes, it's a pint,
and mebbe the lightnin rod man would
like to answer it."
81 don't think much of the pint"
says the man as he gifts up ag'in.
"Thar's S0.000,000 people in these Unit
ed States, and because none of 'em fell
down stairs last year 1t don't foller
that heap of 'em won't tumble down
this year. I've known man to go on
dodgin a mules heels fur 16 years and
then git 'em both in the stomach at
once. Mebbe your schoolhouse will
dodge hundred more thunderstorms,
and mebbe we will skassly hev sought
our virtuous couches this night before
a thunderbolt as big as barl will go
drivin through her and leave nuthin
but q heap Of splinters to mark the
spot where your emporium of educa-
tion once reared it's proud roof to the
blue vaults Of heaven. | said $40 to
the town board today, but in order to
show my interest in the cause of edu-
cation and to prove to you that my
hand Is ever stretched forth to uphold
the prestige Of a nation of freemen
I'll make the price $3S."
Hes made a pint, gentlemen-he's
made pint" says the deacon as he
whacks on the stove and looks around.
"Yes, sir when he talks about our
schoolhouse rearin it's proud roof to
the blue vaults of heaven he's made
pint, and I'm more favorable to the
lightnip rod than | was. | think this
crowd would like to hear from Enos
Williams"
"Im with Silas Lapham," says Enos
rs he shets up his jackknife and gifts
his feet under him. "Im fur lettin
sartin things dodge or bust. Ihey
wanted to insure the meetin house "A
years ago, but my advice was to let
her dodge. She's thar yit. I've got
barn 80 years old, and she's never had
a lightnin rod or been insured-Jest
had to dodge or bust all these years
and she's thar yit. Seventeen years
ago, when ! built my house, put
bell on the front door. Nobody has
rung that bell to this day. 1t would
be the same If we put lightnin rod
ON the schoolhouse-you wouldn't see
Thunderstorm around here fur the next
15 years. I'm all right on the empo-
rum of education bizness, ana can
see that thar schoolhouse rearln lts
nroud roof TO the blue vaults Of heaven
as plain as if it wasn't o'clock al
night, but I don't see no call to pay
out $3s. Let her dodge or bust!'
"Thar's a pint thar, Enos-thars