The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-02-01

ucation and bulwarks Of liberty seem
to come in jest right and hit the school
house on all sides at once. l fur one
am standin neutral in this bizness. and
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 few remarks
LAS fur me-" says Silas as he rises
up, 'Pm ag'in the idea of a lightnin
rod. That there schoolhouse was built
Is years ago, and durin them 10 years
We've had u thunderstorms. If she's
lodged u. why can't she dodge 200?
Why can't she keep right on dodgin till
she tumbles down of old age? Forty
dollars fur lightnin rod means more
taxation. Thar's SIGH a thing as an
emporium Of education, but thar's also
SIGH 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 strange the
life out of her? I'm askin you to
pause and ponder afore it 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 q 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 100000 people in these Unit
ed States. and because none Of 'em fell
down stairs last year it don't foller
that heap of 'em won't tumble down
this year. I've known man to go on
dodgin mules heels fur Is years and
then git 'em both in the stomach at
once. Mebbe your schoolhouse- will
dodge a hundred more thunderstorms,
and mebbe we will skassly hev sought
our virtuous couches this night before
a thunderbolt as big as bar'l will go
drivin through her and leave nuthin
but heap of splinters to mark the
1ion 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 nation of freemen
I'll make the price $685.
"He's made a pint. gentlemen-he's
made pint" says the deacon as he
whacks on the stove and looks around.
eyes, sir. when he talks about our
schoolhouse rearin it's proud roof to
the blue vaults Of heaven he's made q
pint, and I'm more favorable to the
jightnin rod than was. think this
crowd would like to hear from Enos
Williams"
"I'm with Silas Lapham," says Enos
as he shets up his jackknife and gits
his feet under him. I'm fur lettin
sartin things dodge or bust. They
wanted to insure the meetin house "a
years ago, but my advice Tas to lei
her dodge. She's thar vt. I've got Z
barn 80 years old. and she's never had
q lightnin rod or been insured-jest
( had to dodge or bust III these years
and she's thar yit Seventeen year.
ago. when ! built my house. ] put Z
bell On the front door. Nobody hal
rung that bell 70 this day. Il would
BE the same Il We put : lightnin rod
% thu schooI house ron wouldn't re
fhundess around here fur the mex,
IS yearA I'm ~ right On TIE empo
i RUM &c 0duca1lon bixnss1, ma ~
4 - tlnaY oehoolhouss roal1n III
| psrsd gpok ~ 1he blue yaults % heavsl