Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-07-01

ness, as citizens Of these United
States"
Hep husband struck an attitude wor-
thy of his position and replied: "f
the people coincide, Matilda. Now il
I were a mayor instead of a president,
things would move"
"Isn't president bigger than
mayor?" she asked.
mo; / rather think not when tt
comes to saying what's to be done"
We'll, 'Rastus. why don't they say
Mayor Roosevelt, them" looking tri-,
pmphant. This was a poser for the
chief executive Of Northfeld and he
pretended not to hear.
"Pshaw!" continued Mrs. Powers,
noticing her husbands brown study,
who cares, so you don't forget the
celebration; a real old timer where
they read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence all solemn like to remind peo-
pie Of their obligations. You won't let
the opportunity slip, will you. dear?"
she pleaded, the matter of precedence
IN authority forgotten altogether.
Have the Declaration read. too: the
rising generation don't know anything
about the foundation Of Liberty; nor
with what struggling 1T came into ex-
istence, nor even who signed 1t, per-
haps."
"The Declaration of independence"
observed Mr.. Powers, carefully,
doesn't make Fourth. no more than
spring chicken makes whole pic
mic. And, after all. can't imagine
who would read 1t, now that the pro-
fesser ID away"
"The professor!" snorted Mrs. 'Ras-
tus; why can't the minister read It?
He reads the Thanksgiving proclama-
tons, and guess the grand old docu-
ment is as readable any day as they
are. not rejecting on the head of the
nation, at all. But and she cogitat-
ed moment-"our Margie can read 1t,
for that matters and Ben and Rena
can sing the Star-Spangled Banner
beautifully! Then there's their
cousins. over at Phelps; they own the
string band. Well get them. and your
Fourth's assured, 'Rastus."
President Powers felt in his bones
that the matter was really settling. but
the drift Of the partial outline struck
him as being monopoly.
ut might be Objectionable" he ven
turned. ito make the programme q
family affair."" Matilda
"Humph!" she returned, warming up
why should they object? We've waited
a dozen years for the rest to move
Mercy! don't believe the people here
know even how many signed that won.
derful paper fixing the Fourth for ali
| time"
well. Matilda he answered, wear.
lily, ut seems to me you are dead gons
on the Declaration"
Don't be blasphemous, 'Rastus," she
interpolated, you're the president Of
Northfeld-"
And" went on her husband, deal
to the interlude, I'll bet you $40 t.
a penny, If you dare, that not one eoun
Gilman can tell whether 1t was signei
| at all or not
| His wife fairly gasped with surprise
and disdain. do you mean to sa,
that Northfield has refrigerated Xix,
that, Erastus Powers? Surely the
pagan ancestors are not far tn-.>tht
rear!"
Il was speaking of tie town coun
Gil, only" he answered as If pronounc
| ing sentence.
We'll, you tell them it was signe;
by Sc Of the biggest Fourth o. Jul,
men on earth at that time; our frs
congressman, too.
And Mrs. Powers swept up and dowl
the apartment, very Goddess 9
Liberty.
The town council met that evening
and the president was commissions,
| by the powers behind the throne t,
"see to it." Very ably did he "sug
gest," and mention the matter" an
before he was aware they were al
wonderfully enthused.
He could almost hear Ben an
Rena's 20. Say Can You See," etc.. a