The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-07-17

ltS meluOuS. Inc impression nlaue up
on the camp by Billy Breen's death
was very remarkable, and l have nev-
er been quite able to account for II.
The mood of the community at the
time was peculiarly susceptible. Billy
was one Of the oldest of the old tim.
ers. His decline and fall had been a
long process. and his struggle for life
and manhood was striking enough to
arrest the attention and awaken the
sympathy Of the whole camp. We in
stinctvcly side with man In his
struggle for freedom. for we feel that
freedom is native to him and to us.
The sudden collapse OF the struggle
stirred the men with Il deep pity for
the beaten man and deep contempt
for those who had tricked him to his
doom; hut. though the pity and the
contempt remained, the gloom was re-
lieycd and the sense of defeat removed
from the mems minds by the trans
forming glory Of Billy'S last hour. Mr..
Craig, reading of the tragedy of Billy's
death. trauSfgured defeat into victory.
and this was gradually accepted by the
men rs the true reading, though to
them it was full of mystery. But they
could all understand ana appreciate at
fun value the spirit that breathed
through the words of the dying man:
Don't hc ard ON 'cm. They didn't
mean no arm" And this was the new
spirit Of the league.
1t was this spirit that surprised Sla-
vim into sudden tears at the graves
side. lie had come braccd for curses
and vengeance for all knew it was he
who had doctorcd Billy's lemonade,
and instead If vengeance the message
from the dead that echoed through the
voice of tie living was one of pity and
forgiveness.
But the days Of the leagues mega
tive, defensive warfare We're over. The
fight was to the death. and now the
war was 10 be carried into the enc
my'S country. The league men pro.
posed thoroughly equipped and well
conducted coffee room reading room
and hall to parallel the cncmy's lines
of operation and defeat them with
their own weapons upon their own
ground. The main outlines of the
scheme were clearly defined and We're
easily seen, but the pcrfccting Of the
details called for all Craig's tact and
good sense. When. for instance. Vcr-
non Winton, who had charge Of thr
entertainment department, came rur
Craigs opinion as to minstrel ,loUpe
and private theatricals, Craig was
prompt with his answer:
Anything clean goes"
"A niger show" asked WntOn.
depends upon the n!S%"rs." replied
Craig, with a grav"ly comic look,
shrewdly adding. ASK Mrs. Mavor."
And so the League Minstrel and Dra-
matte company became an established
fact and proved, as Craig aftcrward
told me, a great means OF grace to the
camp.
Shaw had charge of the social de-
partmcUt. whose special care it was to
see that the men We're made welcome
TO the coy, cheerful reading room,
where ;hey might chat, smoke. read,
write or play games, according to
fancy.
But Craig felt that the success or
failure of the scheme would largely
depend upon the character of the resi-
dent manager, whu while caring for
reading room and hall. would control
and operate the important department
represented by the coffee room.
AT this point the whole business
may come to grief" he said TO Mrs.
Mavor without whose counsel nothing
was done.
"Why come to grief?' she asked
brightly
because if we don't get the right
man that's what will happen" he re
piled in Il tone that spoke OF anxious
worry.
"Eut we shall get the right man, ncy-
or fear" Her serene courage never
faltcrol. "lIc will come to us"
Craig turned ana Gazed at her in
frank admiration and said:
"If only had your courage"
"CuUga-o"' she answered quickly.
at is not for you to say that And at
his answering look the red came into
her check and the depths in her eyes
glowcL, and maryrlcl and wondered,
looking at Craig'S cool face, whether
his blood We're running evenly through
his veins. But his voice was quict-a
shade too quiet, thougAt-as he grave
ly replied:
81 would often be a coward but for
the shane Of it,"
Ana ,J the league waited for the man
10 cone who was to be resident mana
&C." "rl r9Ec the new enterprise n
success. And come lie did, but the
manner II his coming was SO cXtraur-
diua"y that / have believed in the doe
trinr Of special providence ever since,
for as Craig said, IF he had come
sua. a.-ut from heaven, | could not have
been more surprised"
While the league was thus waiting,
its interest cautyrcI upon Slayin, chief
ly because he represented more than
nny .tI.l, tlp fD-,,. Of tho pnnrnv nj