Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-17

smiles, walked up to her and said, Il
tell you what, Miss James, that last
composition of mine is bang up. One
of these days, when the Star Spangled
Banner Hail Columbia" and March
ing through Georgia are laid upon the |
top shelf and all covered with dust,
one hundred million American free
men will be singing Strout's great ma |
tional anthem, 'Hark and Hear the
Eagle Scream. What do you think of
that prophecy"
4 think" said Miss James, turning
her pretty face towards him, her black
eyes swapping witt. fun, that if con-
ceit was consumption, there'd be an
other little green grave in the ceme-
terry with o. Strout on the headstone."
The professor never could take a
joke. In his eye, jokes were always
insults to be resented accordingly.
Turning upon the young lady sayagely,
he retorted:
''If sass was butter your folks
wouldn't have to keep any COWS"
Then he walked quickly across the
room to where Zekiel Pettengill stood
aloof from the rest, wrapped in some
apparently not very pleasant thoughts.
AT this juncture Hiram Maxwell
dashed into the school-room, and judg-
| ing from appearances his thoughts
| were of the pleasantest possible de-
scription.
"Say, fellers and girls" he cried,
"Ive got some news Tor yer, and when
you hear it you'll think the day of judg-
ment has come, and you're goin' to git
your reward"
An astonished "Oh!' came up from
the assemblage.
"Out with it." said Bob Wood, in his
coarse, rough voice.
well, fust," said Hiram, his face
! glowing with animation, you know we
/ got up subscription to pay for the
barge and made me treasurer, cuz l
worked in a deacon's family. Wall,
when | asked Bill Stalker tonight how
much the bill would be, just to see if
I'd got enough, he told me that a Mr..
Sawyer, who said he boarded down to
/ Deacon Mason's, had paid the hull bill
and given him dollar beside for his
self" Cheers and the clapping of
hands showed that the city fellows lib
erality was appreciated by a majority
at least. of the singing society. When
we git on the barge I'll pay yer back
yer money, and the ride won cost any
one on us a durn cent That amt all.
MIR. Sawyer jest told me hisself that
when he was over to Eastborough Cen.
tire yesterday he ordered a hot supper
for the whole caboodle. and it'll be
ready for us when we git over to the
, the Eagle hotel. So come along
and get your seat in the
barge" A wild rush was made for the
door, but Hiram backed against it and
screamed at the top of his voice: NC
; two girls must sit close together. Fusi
a girl, then feller. next a girl, then g
, feller next a girl, then a feller, that's
; the rule"
: He opened the door and dashed out
followed by all the members of the
society excepting the professor anf
j Ezekiel, who We're left alone in the
: room.
J "See that flock of sheep" said the
professor to Ezekiel. with a strons
$ touch of sarcasm in his tone. That:
1 what makes me so cussed mad. Brain!
and glorious achievement count TO
+ Inothin' in this community. If a cit.
t swell comes along with pockettul o
money and Just cries, 'Baa, over tn
fence they all go after him."
Hasn't it always been so?" aske'
J. Ezekiel.
mot bit of it" said Strout 81
v the old days. kings and queens am
il princes used to search for modest mel
q it. and when found they rewarded il
It Nowadays modest merit has to hole
r and yell and screech to make folks loo
e at it,
s Hiram again appeared in the room
It beckoning to the two occupants.
sp,f ir,' o1c ncr9
q he cried. "We've saved good place
if for yer"
. where's Mr.. Sawyer?" asked y,
v kiel
"oh. he's goin' along with til
h crowd" said Hiram; "he's got ses
Il in between Miss Putnam and Miss NJ;
n. son, and looks as snug as a bug in
rug. There's place for you, Mr. Pc
= tengill. between Miss Mason an
Mandy, and I comes in b
4 tween Mandy and Mrs. Hay
y l1ins. Mandy wanted her mother to g
), cuz she works so confounded hard an
~ gifts out of doors so seldom. and there
seat tween Mrs. Hawkins and Til
~ James for the professor, and Sa
=, - Hills t'other side of Tilly and mex
'e s'frina Cotton
II, 1 guess l can t GO, SAID Lellel. - III
,d house is all alone, and I'm kind of fra
90 thet thet last hoss | bought may 8
,s into trouble again as he did last nigf
So guess I'd better so home and loo
~. arter things" Leaning over be viii
r.. Ipered in Hiram's ear, 81 reckon you
better take the seat between Hult
III and Mandy, you don't want ter sep
in rate a mother from her daughter, "
know
by "All right" said Hiram, with a kno
no ing wink, I'm satisfied to obleege."
nd Hiram then turned to the professo
st "Aint yer goin', Mr.. Strout?'
or When this sleigh ride was proje
nd ed" said the professor with dignity,
fiji s'posed it was to be for the membe
of of the singin' class and not for boar
lu- in mistresses and city loafers."
a Il guess it don't make much diff
nj ence who goes" replied Hiram, $
ne long as we git a free ride and fr
OIL supper for nothing"
Present my compliments to
at SAWYER said the professor, and t
nd him I've had my supper, and as do
,al belong to fire company don't ca
CO fnr crackorc and chnoco o,d cpffaa