The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-10-19

want to keep it to hit the crowd with
tonight. l 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 'em It's big thing, pap; tell 'em
It's sunthin that's bound to Jump this
i town over ten rail fence and make
city lots with thousand dollars
, apiece"
There was good deal Of excitement
around town that afternoon and when
J night came the crowd at the postofice
was as big as the time when war was
declared ag'in Spain. Most of 'em
thought Bill Lapham was goin to de-
! clar war ag'in Mexico or Canada, and
everybody was lookin 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 Teller townsman,
William Lapham. and we kin take 1t
that them remarks will go beyand
geese and goslin's. Make your pint,
Bill"
"My pint is this" says Bill as he
draws a long 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.
amt sayin who it'll be, but the gold
en- opportunity fur which Jericho has
sighed is at 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 Bill pauses fur breath. ''The speak
er amt through yit but he's made a
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 it 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
If 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.
tons: Why not organize the Jericho
! Guards? And why shouldn't the
Jericho Guards be that escort|
] There was yellin and whoopin ful
the next five minits, but when the dea
con could make himself heard he said
, Its pint, gentlemen-six or sever
tv,<, u all
t delivered by Henry Clay or DAME
Webster and both of 'em put together
never made the p'ints our Bill Laphan
has. Bein l hev the floor, I'll say
2 favor the idea. Yes, sir, I'm with i
$ heart and soul. want my name tt
e go down fust fur the Jericho Guards
Y and I'm even willin to sacrifice mysel
J. and be captain of the company. S'posil
' we hear from Abner Jones on the sub
ject."
4 II s'pose it's known in this town tina
t my great-grandfather was killed at tn
: battle of Monmouth" says Abner a
: he gets off the counter, Though ain
:. braggin about it. I'll jest say tina
I'm willin to die fur my country an
time I'm called upon, and If Pm electe
captain of the Jericho Guards II
J. promise that no invader shall set foo
n on these shores and live for five mir
y it's"
,, "Thars pint in that" says the dea
o con as he looks bit put out. "Whe
mans willin to die fur his country
l. that's pint in his favor, but of cours
II we want to hear from other patriot.
How is it with you, Moses Plumbers"
"Does any man here doubt that II
willin to die fur America" asks Nose
u as, he draws himself up. my grea
! grandfather didn't die at Monmouth
but the blood of them seven uncles {
mine that fell durin the civil war dow
In my veins. and my watchword
,s~ar,,