The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-04-05
++++''++4++''@""'++''tt
t ~ ole y t,....s......
Straw-Ride at Frisker's.

By Fletcher Cowan.



everybody, went it alone" nestled in
one corner of the sleigh under a clus-
ter of fir branches, with no one but his
little brown pocket flask to keep him
company, but he had real enjoyment
with it, and seemed to prefer it's pleas
ing comfort to all the fun and frolic
taking place around him.
His frequent potations soon began
to tell upon him, as everyone feared
would be the case, for he was known
to never be without his flask, and
oftentimes the people saw it flash in
the moonlight as he raised it to his
lips and took what he humorously
termed his astronomical observa-
tions."
Farmer Frisker began to get nerv-
Gus. He had brought Spriggs out upon
the ride for particular purpose-to
make big speech at Dan Kelly's hotel
as the opening feature Of the "surpris-
ing sensation" he had promised in the
notice of the village paper
He began to fear that Sprigss would
be unfit for the delivery of the speech.
These fears were considerably height
ened by the bachelor suddenly burst
ing out into boisterous song, and as
tipsy mems songs are always as long
as your arm, he never finished until
the sleighs entered Fairview and
dashed up before Dan Kelly's door,
where fully half the town were gath
cred to receive them.
"Spriggs!" cried Frisker, seizing the
bachelor by the hair so viciously that
he yelled like a wild beast. 81 didn't
think you'd sarve me in this way.
Tarnation take your distillery stom
ach You're not fit to grace a mud
gutter, let alone grand affair like
this here. You're not fit to spout
now"
"Oh, yes, l am, Frisker," said
Spriggs, in a quavering voice. Trust
me-trust Spriggs. He's not gone back
on you. He'll make a grand sp-speech." D."
Frisker said nothing, but turning to
one of his sons who was assisting some
of the girls from the sleighs, whis-
pered:
Zach, for mercy's sake, keep Spriggs
down in the bar-room, or he'll turn
the whole affair into circus. Don't
let him upstairs, or I'll go mad!"
But, father, | can't hang onto his
coattails all the time. must be pres
ent upstairs"
Then tell Dan Kelly to get some
one to do the job. If Spriggs gets up
stairs a cock fight will be nothing to
the row he'll raise"
Frisker, Jr, promised he would, but
the girl of his heart was waiting to be
handed from the sleigh, and as he
sprang to do his duty Spriggs fed
from his memory.
AS the party left the sleighs and
filed upstairs into the snug parlor of
the hotel, everyone, excepting the
members of the Frisker family, and
the Darrell family, and a few others,
was burning with anticipation as to
what the surprising sensation" was
going to be.
w htl al WGlC dSOGulbiCu Ill NllC
lighted parlor, quite some surprise was
manifested at few certain things.
Farmer Frisker's daughter had
thrown off her cloak, and was dis
covered in a handsome silk dress-a
rather too beautiful and costly cos
tune for a strawride
Stephen Darrell was dressed in
handsome black, which is not general
ly worn upon a straw-ride, either.
Two or three other ladies and gen.
tlemen were dressed in a style not to
be expected for a straw-ride, and the
families of Frisker and Darrell were
dressed in their very best.
All this caused curiosity and re-
mark.
Suddenly the presence Of Parson
Brooder, sitting at an adjoining table
with a Bible before him, was noted,
and this and that put together gen.
Grated great deal of suspicion.
In the midst of the mysterious whis-
perings Farmer Frisker arose, and,
with sly smile, that showed how he
enjoyed the deception he had prac-
ticed upon his friends, disclosed the
nature of the surprising sensation"
my friends" he said, Il wanted to
provide you with real enjoyment upon
this ride. We have had great fun on
the road but | have reserved the cream
of the amusement to the last. This
cream we would have churned at my
house, but there wasn't enough room
there, so we'll churn it here under the
roof Of good Dan Kelly. The great
sensation announced to take place here
is the marriage of my daughter to
young Stephen Darrell, on which l
pray you to shower your blessings"
What Frisker had done in his few
words he had intended Spriggs to
make the subject of a splendid speech.
But, alas! Spriggs had failed him in
his hour of need. and he was forced
thus to be his own speechmaker, but
it is our belief that the great Spriggs,
had he been in fit condition, with all
his polish and ready command of Ian
guage, could not have delivered
speech with better effect than had the
farmer in his few blunt words
Then all became silent, and the