Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-06-29

well, he never had been in the
habit Of taking lessons IN being
snubbed. so he kept right on. just the
same 81 ever. and spoke the longest
pieces when they were getting up the
show, and dictated how II was to be
done, and put himself In M marshal
long after he stopped paying q cent for
orator and firecrackers and roman
candles. Thew 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 q foam
ing. prancing steed; and the other
marshal either had to look out and not
run over him. or to keep from being
run over ty him. Everybod:' got tG
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.
well. one Fourth Of July we in
tended to havs everything regardless.
The lieutenant governor was going to
be there, and the est criminal lawyer
anywhere round was to be the orator.
and the brass band had learned eight
new pieces for the occasion. and the
nremen were coming out with their
new engine. and II 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. Maj.
| Palmer must be marshal Of the day,
and the old man must lie down and fan
himself"
Mai. 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 a 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 60 and
inform him that his services would not
be required that day.
1.-THE committee said that the ole
man replied: Certainly, certainly. gen.
tlcmen, but that tears rolled down his
cheeks when he uttereI the words
and he added: I 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
put looking 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 30 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 all
the scallops we could have desired
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 his
cheeks Now. Lrave men are always
big-hearted ones. and the major man.
aged some way or other to get the
procession in a hollow square on the
village green, and made a speech
and q singular one. Fellow citizens.
he said, 4 can't stand this. For &c
years, nan and boy. I've seen Uncle
oliver marshal Of the day. don't
know how, somehow. to celebrate
Fourth Of July without him in the sad
die. He seems to be like portion OF
the Declaration of Independence. He's |
part Of the town. He's getting old. |
and the rest of us will have plenty Of
chance by and by II we want It. And |
I'm going to march in the procession,
the rest of the route. and ask Uncle
Oliver to take the lead
"And he dismounted from his horse
and led It up to the old man, and took
OF his hat, and held the stirrup for
him.
Somehow, It was Just what every
body wanted. and didn't know It. The
lieutenant governor clapped his hands.
and the criminal lawyer hallooed
Murray and the committee rescind-
ed their former action, then and there.
and invited Uncle oliver to the sad.
die.
BEST he could do. the major couldn't
keep the old man from grabbing him
around the neck and kissing him on
the forehead. It was tn, first time any.
one had seen a man kiss q man IN the
village. but It took The lieutenant
governor. and the lawyer. and the IRE
men, and all the citizens. cheered and
cheered again: and the brass band
was with dihiculty restrained from