West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1901-07-04
THE JERICHO
POSTOFFlCE.
Pap Perkins, Postmaster, Relates n
Patriotic Incident About the
Glorious Fourth.

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over the glorious Fourth, and il
yelled louder, cheered harder and
burned more powder than any town
of its size in the State. Then a sad
event took place, and there has
been no celebration since and may
not be for five years to come.
Along the first of June, when a pub
lie meeting was held and commit
tees were appointed, Squire Joslyn,
Deacon Spooner and Darius Steb-
bins were appointed a committee to
secure the services of Fourth OF
July orator. The orator was TO
read the Declaration of Indepen-
dence from the grand stand and
then indulge in some spread eagle
remarks about Lexington, Bunker
Hill and liberty and start the crowd
to yelling. jericho had always had
an orator on that day and paid him
$40 for whooping it up. Two or
three nights after the public meet
ing the committee on oratory got
together TO name its man and notify
him. Squire Joslyn took the chair
and raped for order, and there
was the light of liberty IN his eye as
he began
'Feller patriots, I've bin thinkin
I've also bin readin up anew on
American history. I've also bin
out in the cornfeld practicin my
voice. l kin read that declaration
from start to finish and not skip a
word. kin tell about Lexington
and Bunker Hill as well as if / had
laid down my life on one of them
historic fields, and | kin wind up
with SIGH words as will lift every
patriot in this town over the fence.
I've come TO the conclusion to be
orator of the day myself. | don't
care about the $40, of course, tho
it'll come in handy to pay taxes,
but want to show this town of
Jericho that there's no call to send
to Dobbs Ferry for oratory. All
in favor of my motion will say H."
Nobody said 'I," and after
painful pause the squire sat down
and the deacon got up.
"Sons of liberty" said he as he
got his mouth ready, eve hev Jest
listened to few remarks from one
who is willin to lay down his life
that the flag of the free may con-
tinue to wave on. Everybody who
has the honor of KNOWN Squar Jos
lyn knows how f-sacrifcin he is
and honor him for it. America is
willin to accept sacrifice from all
her sons, but she feels that it amt
fair to ask too much.
As Ii would be too much to ask
the squar, who has had quinsy four
different times within the last year,
to read and crate for couple of
hours with his hat off, this great
and glorious Nation has requested
me to take the place. Pm willin to
do 1t and to do my best. | amt
after that $40, though of course it
will be handed over to me, but |
shall see to arouse SIGH a feelin of
love of country in this town of Ter
icho as no Twin man has ever wit
messed. don't think that any
further remarks are needed lest at
present and will now put the motion
TO vote"
The deacon voted for himself,
but the squire and Darius Green sat
there as cold as Jumps of Ice. When
the deacon had dropped into his
chair, Darius got up. 1t took him
long minute. Then it took him
another minute to look around and
begin:
"Ihere has never bin time since
| was old huff to ride around on a
broomstick that wasn't willin to
pour out my blood fur my country's
sake"
'Jest like me :" whispered the
squire.
"And jest like me 3" added the
deacon.
"And this Willingness has in
creased as I growed older" con
dnued Darius, "and to-day the eli.
max has bin reached. The country
amt askin me to she'd my blood to
prevent the landin Of tyrant on
these shores, but hear her voice
calm on Inc to step in and make
Jericho's Fourth of July celebration
one Of the grandest successes Of the
age. Ny country says that squar
Jocelyn is willin to perish, but has.
nj the voice Of an orator, and she
says that Deacon Spooner would
she'd his last drop Of blood for lib
erty, but has catarrh in the head.
To save the day am asked to step
in as crater Believe me my friends