Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-31
Quincy Adams Sawyer
ss & 5ss.s BY3cHAs +. PIDGIN. (
/ "A sNew England Story Dedicated to the Memory
5st| of James Russell LOweH
Copyright lsoo-lsoa by chas. F. pldgin.

BY3cHAs. r. PIDGIN.
fchapter XVIII. continued.)

J y
The wellknown clergyman at Ma
sons Corner came forward, assembled
the platform, took the chair, and rec
ognized Deacon Mason's claim to be
heard.
II have herd the motion to accept
this check, an desire ter say tibet
am teetotally opposed to the towns
takin' this money. If the Hon'rable
Nathaniel Sawyer, who's the dead
! mans brother, or Mr.. Quincy Ad-
ANS Sawyer, who's his nephew,
had known that he wuz a pauper, they
would 'er relieved the town of any fur
Their charge. We hev no legal claim
agin either of these two gentlemen.
Our claim is agin Their town of Ames-
bury, in which Mr.. James Sawyer
If Mr.. Quincy Adams Sawyer
wishes to pay Their town of Amesbury
4 after Their town of Amesbury has paid
!, us, sthet,s his affair and none o. our
business, but we've no legal right to
accept dollar from him, when our le-
Z gal claim is agin the town in which he
he'd a. settlement, and hope this mo-
ton will not prevail
form loud cries of Vote! Vote! Vote!"
came from all parts of the hall.
Tellers were appointed, and in few
moments the result of the vote was an
nounced. In favor of Mr.. Strout's mo-
tion to accept the check, S5. Opposed,
2S0. And it was not a vote.
We will now proceed" said the
Moderator, as he resumed the chair,
ITO consider the question of appropriate
as1ng money for the support of the poor
farm"
II The next matter on the warrant OF
general interest was the appropriation
Of a small sum of money to purchase
some reference books for the town IL
cbrary, which consisted of but few
hundred volumes slowed away in a
badly-lighted and poor1y-ventilated
room on the upper floor of the town
hall
This question brought to his feet
Zachariah Butterf1eld, who was looked
upon as. the watchdog of the town trea-
sury. He had not supported Strout
on the question of accepting the check,
because he knew the position taken by
the Moderator IS legally correct, and
he was. very careful in opposing ap-
Preparations to attack only those where
as 1T seemed to him, he had a good
show of carrying his point. He had
been successful so often, that with him
/ success was duty, for he had repu-
tation to maintain.
mister Moderator" he said, I'm
ngin appropriatin' any more money for
this ERE town lib'ry. We hev got plen-
" of schoolbooks in our schools; we
hev.got-plenty of books and newspapers
in our houses, and it's my opinion
tibet those people who spend their time
crawlin' up three flights er stairs and
readin' those books had better be till
In Their soil, poundin' on Their anvil, or
catchin' fish, Meow, l wuz talkin' with
Miss Burpee, the librari'n, and she SEE
they want new Wooster's Dictshun-
eery, cause Their old one. IL all worn
eout. q Meow, looked through the old
one, and Il couldn't see but what its
Jest as good as ever; there may be a
few pages missin', but what's tibet
amount ter when there's more'n cou-
pie of thousan' on 'em left?"
Mr.. Tobias Smith was again fidget-
Ing in his seat He evidently had
something to say and was anxious to
4 say it,
Mr.. Butterfield continued: Meow,
make Their motion that this ERE lib'ry
be closed up and the librari-n dis
charged; she gifts dollar week, and
Their town ken use that $50 year, in
my opinion, to better advantage"
Mister Moderator" came again
+ from Mr.. Tobias Smith, II rise to a
question of privilege"
Mr.. Butterfield kept on talking:
Mister Moderator, this is not ques-
ton of privilege; this is question of
& expenditure of money for a needless
y purpose. Yes, Mister Moderator, for
q needless purpose.
!. Mr.. Butterfield had evidently lost the
!. thread of his discourse and Mr.. Smith,
q taking advantage of his temporary in
II decision, said: Il agree with the gen
= tleman who has just spoken; am in
favor OF closing UP this musty, dusty
old room and saving the further ex-
penditure of money upon 1t.
Mr. Butterfield, hearing these words
and not having sufficiently collected
his thoughts to say anything himself,
nodded approyingly and sank into his
I seat.
Mr.. Smith continued, 81 have a prop
osition to submit in relation to the
town library. hold in my hand let
ter from Mr.. Quincy Adams Sawyer,
whose name has been previously men,
toned"
Mr.. Strout jumped to his feet.
/. Mister Moderator, | rise to ques-
{ ton of privilege"
II second the motion!" cried Alb
ner Stiles.
State your question Of privilege,
Z ~ cot he -,
Il wish to inquire answered Strout
1T the time of this town meetin' is to
be devoted to the legitimate business
of the town, or is it to be fooled away
IN hearin' letters read from person
who is not citizen of the town and