Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-06-05

HIS OFFSPRING A TOY HATcHET.
store for the mailbag he loftily inform
ed the crowd of loungers that Ridge
vale was preparing an intellectual treat
that would cause such commonplace
thing as circus parade to resemble u
stranded minstrel troupe counting the
ties toward home.
The secret was pretty well kept, but
toward the erd all Harrison knew that
Gregory Kinsman, the schoolmaster.
had written n little play to be perform
ed in the schoolhouse yard. George
Haskins, Seths youngest son. was to
impersonate the Father Of His Country.
while Dan Smith was to be the elder
Washington.
For this reason they were not surpris-
cd on the morning of the 22d when they
trooped into the schoolhouse yard to
find the benches and some extra chairs
arranged in rows in front of the build
ing. At the farther end the snow had
been shoveled from the frozen earth,
forming a sort of stage. Branches of
cut evergreens masked the bare brown
fence boards. and in the geometrical
center Of the cleared rectangle single
small evergreen was firmly planted.
Around the lower part of the tree q
band OF bark, wired on, showed where
the shrub had been nearly chopped
through. 1t had been demonstrated
when the boys were over in Haskins'
lot for the eyergreens that, with the toy
hatchet furnished young Haskins, the
demolition of the tree would require
something like an hour and half.
This would have greatly retarded the
crlspness of the performance. piece
of white cloth fastened on the side far
thest from the audience showed the
little fellow where to make the initial
attack.
Most of the Ridgevale people had al
ready gathered in the inclosure when
the guests from Harrison began to ar.
rive. But seats had been saved for the
visitors. When the last sleighload had
driven up, Kinsman, who was called
professor" in Ridgeyale and plain
"Greg" over in Harrison, opened the
proceedings with an Grafton which bad
originally appeared as an editorial in
IL 4NGh lol paper wv yNHAo pNANANs
Sias Hopkins followed with an extern
poraneous address punctuated by "cr'
and "as | was saying" The First
Reader class sang an ode to Washing
ton composed by Kinsman and set to
the tune of Bringing In the Sheaves."
Ella Garrison, who was known to fame
as a child elocutlonist, recited poem
On Washington from Spelman's Fourth
Reader There was quartet by the
choir of the First NJ. Il. church, and
then the stage was cleared for the
event OF the afternoon.
Around the corner Of the woodshed
stroled Master Haskins In gorgeous
Continental costume. A bag wig OF
cotton batting was surmonted by ms
Sunday hat OF black felt, carefully pin
ned into an imitation Of cooked head
gear, while he wore the patent leather
pumps that the previous June had been
the admiration OF all on the occasion
of the annual school commencement
and exhibition"
Fully conscious OF his Importance as
a historical parsonage, Master George
strutted forward and in n childish
treble Informed the audience that this
was his birthday and that great JOY
had been brought TO his heart through
the bestowal OF many gifts. His JOY
was not In that he valued the intrinsic
worth of the offerings but In the kindly
sentiments of the givcrs. This view OF
the matter was heartily applauded, ana
then through the cate came Dan Smith,
who had scorned the use of paper cam
brio and had dc risod costume thhi
was startling, II not historically cor
rect.
Under his bla tk cutaway cont he
sportcd a yellow vest. cut into squares
by red and green stripes and set off by
II massive brass W.Uch chain and
flaming red nccktle. His legs were In
caacd in n pair or blue bicycle l,nickcr-
bocscrs, the eXtrcmitics being clothed
with a pair of white stockings. when
Danny McKecvcr Of Harrison prompt
" declared belonged to Dams Aunt
Mary. In dcfJu,t Of patent leather
pumps II pair of brand new rubbcrs
glstcHcd almost as effectively.
Pausing i moment to allow the rude
Hamlsonian lauehtrr to suhside, the
senior Washington approached his son
and in copy book speech bestowed mp.
on his hopeful offspring toy liatchet
After this hc retired to enable the
youngstcr to chop down the evergreen.
which 10y courtesy was supposed to be
fruit bearing tree
All R,dpNnlr ana the most OF Ilar
risen held i,s breath as tlc future hero
of the American people raised his aS
on high With a swinging stroke he