Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-06-30

uOne, ana put himself IN as marshal |
long after he stopped paying a cent for
orator and firecra&ers and roman
candles They got to having their
preparatory meetings on the sly, and
elected another man marshal instead of |
him; but that didn't seem to do any |
good; he'd be there all the same
cooked hat, epaulettes, red sash, long
sword, striped pants and ALL and on
as good horse as he could get, which |
OF late years wasn't much of foam |
ing, prancing steed; and the other |
marshal either had to look akt and not |
run over him. or to keep from being
run over hy him. Everybody got to
laughing at him, and at his old-fash- |
Toned ways in the saddle; and his boys
were all dead or moved away, so there
wasn't one of em left to knock the
dressing out Of anybody that sneered
at their old father.
We'll, one Fourth of July we in
&nded to have everything regardless.
The lieutenant governor was going to
Ne there, and the Lest criminal lawyer
anywhere round was to be the orator
and the brass band had learned eight
new pieces for the occasion, and the
firemen were coming out with their
new engine, and it was intended that
there should be very hot time in the
Old town from midnight to midnight.
We mustn't have Uncle oliver in the
way this time everybody said. Mai
Palmer must be marshal of the day,
and the old man must lie down and fan
himself"
Maj. Palme- had just got back from
the war, had been wounded three
times, taken prisoner and escaped, etc,
and he was the hero of the vicinity.
He was modest man, too, but he
knew how to do things, and could
make a horse take two-steps all over
the village corporation. OF course we
had to have the major, and not Uncle
Oliver; and the only way to head him
off was to tell a committee to go and
inform him that his services would not
be required that day.
THE committee said that the old
man replied Certainly, certainly, gen
tlemen,' but that tears rolled down his
cheeks when he uttered the words,
and he added; 4 suppose can march
in the procession somewhere And
they replied: oh, of course And the
old man stumped along away back
toward the rear, with his uniform on
but lookirg so sad and humble and
everlastingly put down, that every
body pitied him. It's the first time
Uncle oliver has put foot to ground
on the Fourth Of July, for 80 years,
said old Shubal Leonard.
well, Maj Palmer, he was Waiting his
horse up and down the line, just as we
wanted him to, and putting on al
the scallops we could have dasired
from so modest man, when he
caught sight of Uncle. Oliver march
ing in rank by himself, and his head
= down, and tears rolling along hi;
cheeks. Now, brave men are always
big hearted ones, and the major man
aged some way or other to get tht
procession in a hollow square on thu
village green, and made speech
he said, 4 can't stand this For 81
years, nan and boy, I've seen Uncl
oliver marshal of the day. don
know how, somehow, to celebrate
Fourth of July without him in the sad
die. He seems to be like portion o
the Declaration of independence. He
part of the town. He's getting old
J and the rest of us will have plenty o
l chance by and by If we want it. An
: I'm going to march in the procession
the rest of the route, and ask Uncl
A Oliver to take the lead
a "And he dismounted from his hors
and led it up to the old man, and too
: off his hat, and held the stirrup 70
n him
: Somehow, it was just what every
d body wanted and didn't know it. TIL
/, lieutenant governor clapped his hands
r and the criminal lawyer hallooe
hui dy, anu IuS COuuulllISS lSoSIhe
5, ed their former action then and Their
d and invited Uncle Oliver to the sa(
g die.
h Best he could do, the major couldn
S keep the old man from grabbing hill
: around the neck and kissing him @
e the forehead. 1t was thc first time an,
e one had seen man kiss a man in tt
y village, but II took The lieutenal
d governor, and the lawyer, and the fir
h men, and all the citizens, cheered ar
y cheered again; and the brass bar
is was with difficulty restrained fro
Is playing their. eighth new piece.
ID well, sir, Uncle divers last Four
n was the best he'd had in ten years;
l. was the pet of the day. And tn
little dialogue on the village green a
IS tually sent Mai Palmer to congress Il
l; next election. "-Everywhere.
- - A Suggestion.
= What can fellow do when he ge
!, to the end of his roper" murmured t
" respondent citizen.
~ Throw the cigai away and light
- fresh one" suggested the idiotic citiz
> cheerfully. Sun.