Amador ledger., 1900-11-02

want 10 keep II 10 nit LDe cr0WQ WIN
tonight. want the biggest. bustinest
crowd to gather here tonight that the
town of Jericho has ever seen. Give
every man notice as he drops in today,
and along about o'clock I'll hev the
fire bells rung and the horns footed.
Tell EN- it's big thing, pap; tell 'em
It's sunthin that's bound to jump this
town over ten rail fence and make
city lots wuth a thousand dollars
apiece.'s
There was good deal of excitement
around town that afternoon, and when
night came the crowd at the postofflce
was as big as the time when war was
declared ag'in Spain. Most of 'em
thought Bill Lapham was goin to de-
chr war ag'in Mexico or Canada, and
everybody was loolxin pale when Dea-
con Spooner called the meetin to order
and said:
"Sons Of freedom, we hev gathered
here tonight to hear some remarks
. from our esteemed feller townsman,
william Lapham, and we kin take 1t
that them remarks will 60 beyand
geese and goslin's. Make your pint,
Bill"
MY pint is this" says Bill as he
drnws along breath and steps out to
git room. I'VE ar now in the midst
of the turmoil of political cam
paign. Somebody is goin to be elected.
nin't sayin who it'll be, but the gold
en- opportunity fur which Jericho. has
sighed is al hand. When the newly
elected official takes the oath of Of
fee. he will be escorted to and fro."
That's k'rect," says Deacon Spooner
as Eiil pauses fur breath. 'The speak
er amt through yit, but he's made q
. pint already. When he refers to the
turmoil of campaign, it's not only high
flown language. but strong pint. Go
ahead, Bill"
That escort will not only do the pres
ident proud" continued Bill, "but
every man in 1t will be mentioned by
all the papers in the United States.
they'll speak Of his wife and children
and town and home, and he'll be big
man fur the rest of his life. He kin be
elected sheriff without opposition, and
II any one runs ag'in him fur the legis-
lature they'll be showed under. What
I'm here tonight fur is to ask the ques-
tions: Why not organize the Jericho
Guardsa And why shouldn't the
Jerichoe Guards be that escort?"
There was yellin and whoopin fur
the next FIVE minlts, but when the dea-
con could make himself heard he said:
ITS a1p'tnt, gentlemen-six or seven
p'ints I've read all the speeches ever
delivered by Henry Clay or Daniel
Webster and both of 'em put together
never made the p'ints our Bill Lapham
has Bein | hey the floor, I'll say
favor the idea. Yes, sir, Pm with it
heart and soul. want my name to
go down fust fur the Jericho Guards,
and I'm even willin to sacrifice myself
and be captain Of the company. S'posin
we hear from Abner Jones on the SUBJ
ject"
81 s'pose It's known in this town that
my great-grandfather was killed at the
battle of Monmouth" says Abner as
lie gets or the counter, Though amt
braggin about 1t. I'll Jest say that
I'm willfn to die fur my country any
lime I'm called upon, and>if Pm elected
captain Of the Jericho Guards I'll
promise that no invader shall set foot
On these.6hores and live for fve min
rs"
''Thar's pint in that" says the dea-
son as he looks bit put out. when
q mans willin to die fur his country,
shat's pint in bis favor, but of course
we want to hear from other patriots.
How is It with you, Moses PlumberT'
Does any man here doubt that Pm
willin to die fur American" asks Moses
rs he draws himself up. my great
grandfather didn't die ae Monmouth,
but the blood of them seven uncles Of
mine that fell durin the civil war flows
IN my veins, and my watchHord Is
Liberty or deathg As captairkpf th,
Jericho Guards you'll find me ;ae tn,
front, and II don't kill at leastsee7el
invaders a week you kin bouncA m,
out"
"The seven uncles and seven. inyad
ers is pint, Noses" says the deacon
"and I'm proud that we both live In th,
same town. Bill Lapham seems to bt
oneasy, and I'll ask him If he has any
thing more to say"
I'm the fust place." says Bill, "Tt
like to know IL everybody is in favor
Of organizin the Jericho Guards"
Everyhody SWUNG his bat and ysllAt