Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-07-22

CRAVE WE No PUBLIC sPEERlT AMONG US?"
towels and tablecloths. but above
them all would flap and flop the flag
which had covered the heroes of Bun
ker Hill as they died in the cause Of
liberty.
AS soon as the crowd had recovered
from its surprise and begun to cheer
Deacon Spooner said 1t was n mighty
strong pint and one worthy Of a leadin
patriot of Jericho. He was heartily In
favor of. the idea, and he would then
and there contribute 10 cents toward
the purchase Of a public flag. He also
thought a vote Of thanks was due Enos
for his cuteness in thinkin out the idea.
A f1appin, fioppin flag h'isted to the
balmy breezes Of Jericho would give
the town worldwide fame and probably
result in a boom.
Then Hosea Saunders spoke. His
grandfather had died while fightin IN
der the stars and stripes. His father
had fallen and killed himself while
climbin q hagpole. His mother had
wrapped him In the flag Of liberty
when be was born. and he had long
thought Of havin a group Of stars tat
tooed between his shoulders. He loved
his wife and children, and he set a
heap of value on his boss and COW. but
he loved the flag Of his country more.
1t was hard times, and money was
tight, but he would 60 without tobacco
for q month In order to contribute a
shillin toward the purchase Of a flag.
With his own hands. If agreeable to
all, he would hist the emblem at sun
rise and lower it at sunset durin the
| rest of his natural life.
The deacon said that was also a
beautiful speech, with a mighty strong
| pint to it. and the feelin'S of the
| crowd had got so worked up over free
dom and liberty that tears stood In
many eyes. Hosea was follered by
Squar Joslyn. Philetus Williams. .Abra.
ham White and others. and there was
frequent cheerin and shakin hands.
About ten years ago Abijah Davison's
dog tore the ear off n hog owned by
Joel Hardman. and the men have been
enemies ever since. but under the eX-
citement and the patriotism engender-
ed by them speeches they fell into each
others arms and became brothers
ag'in. 1t was finally settled that a pub
lie contribution should be taken up to
buy a SIS flag. and then came the Ques-
| ton of where it should be raised. Enos
Hopkins, who had started it all. got
up in a modest way and said he would
60 to the expense Of plantin a pole In
front of his house. 1t was on high
ground, and the flag could be seen
from every house in Jericho.
1--WE shouldn't put Enos to all that
trouble" said Deacon Spooner as he
rose up. He's done his sheer In think
In out the plan. I'll see that the tag Is
duly displayed from the roof Of my
cooper shop when 1t arrives"
whats the matter with h'istin 1t
ver my grocery" asked Dan Skinner
as he wiped the tears of emotion from
his eyes.
"Or with h'istin it over my coal
yard" said Darius Waterman. who
calculated to chip in 10 cents and no
more.
Then everybody bobbed up and de-
nanded to be heard. Every man pres
ent wanted that flag in front of his
house or place of business and no
where else. and purity soon they was
shakin their lists and sayin they'd be
burned If they wouldn't have 1t there
or refuse to contribute a red cent.
There was a lively row on in two min
Its. with no more weepin over patriot
ism. AS the row grew hotter Abijah
Dawson turned to Joel Hardman and