The Monticellonian., 1905-06-29
Uncle Oliver S Last Fourth

l yielded again to the local historian and shut his eyes and began to turn over tse leaves of his memory, Uncle Oliver, as we used to sall him. was a natural marshal of the day. The Fourth Of July was as sacred to him as Sun day, and his folks used to rejoice that it didn't come only once year. For 90 consecutive times, except once when he had the cholera morbu5, he was head horseman of the procession; and got into the habit of it.
 If our town didn't have a celebra- ton tand of course we used to get tired once in awhile. and say: Let the rest take hold9, he would go to the nearest disturbance on that day. and offer his time, and pay half the ex- penses or less. and. of course. they were glad to welcome him on such terms as that, and put him forward in a way that he esteemed
 He was the most gorgeous mar shal of the day that we ever had in this bailiwick. No slouched- hat rough rider business for him, Why, the old Continental shako was good enough. with plume that made every rooster and peacock on the route raying crazy He had great big half moon epaulettes, with fringes like whipeord. and red sash, and a sword that would have killed Goliath, and pair of pants with stripes down the sides stabbing his shin knuckles. that he never wore ex- cept upon military occasions. He cd f4, I affairs, and I don't know how many generations O. steeds he curved and twisted up and down the roads with him on different occasions. Nobody ever used to think. in his prosperous days. that the Fourth of July was at it's very finest, unless Uncle OliY- = steered the procession, and rode up and down the street on various specimens of gal iop.
 Well. 1t was all right as long as he was head-diVer in the social swim: but after awhile he sort of lost his property. and grew old, and wasn't particularly in demand anywhere But he didn't know that he wasn't and kept right on being marshal of the doJ NhCAilCt lHe1 Mdlleu Iiul UT nOLs Of course there were other and young er and richer men who coveted their chance to show off; and onc9 in awhile some brave captain or colonel that the people wanted to see in that place They used to stand back. at first, In deference to Uncle Divers age and previous condition; but finally they began tN Suuh him a littIa
 Well, he never had been In the habit of taking lessons in being snubbed. so he kept right on. just the same 'f ever, and spoke the longest pieces when they were getting up the show, and dictated how it was to be done, and put himself in as marshal long after he stopped paying a cent for orator and flrecrackers 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
 
 ing, prancing steed; and the other marshal either had to look out and not run over him, or to keep from being run over ky 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
 Well, one Fourth of July we In tended to have 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 firemen were coming out with their new engine. and 1t 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"
 AAHJs | iAAliC- Lil JuSl SOA OdEh ITOU1 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 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 uttereI the words, and he added: l suppose can march in the procession somewhere? 9 And they replied Oh. of course. And the old man stumped along away back toward the rear. with his uniform on. but lookir g 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 waltzing his horse up and down the line just as we wanted him to. and putting on all the seallops we could have desire from so modest a man. when he caught sight of Uncle Oliver march. ing in rank by himself, and his head down. ana tears rolling along his cheeks. Now, braye men are always pig hearted ones, and the major man Q god ec.1nn n.ntL .nr. ,t h or- L., -...t tI..