Evening journal., 1905-04-06
By iRVING BACHELLER
! Copyright, 1900 BY LorHRop PUBLISHING cossrANY =

Ann Jane was always looking around
for some event likely TO touch her feel
ings. She went TO every funeral in
PARKWAY, and when sorrow was scarce
in her own vicinity journeyed far in
quest OF it.
Wouldn't wonder + the fur few
when they git L goin'," she remarked,
and then hurried on, her head erect her
body motionless. her legs flying Such
energy as she gave to the pursuit OF
mourning / have never seen equaled IN
any other form Of dissipation
The schoolhouse was nearly full Of
people when we came in. The big boys
were wrestling in the yard. Men were
lounging on the rude seats inside idly
discussing crops and cattle and lapsing
into silence frequently that bore the
signs both of expectancy and reflection
Young men and young women sat to-
gether on one side Of the house whis-
pering and giggling Alone among them
was the big and eccentric granddaugh-
ter Of AIRS. Blsnette, who was always
slapping some youngster for imperti-
nence. Jed Feary and Squire Town sat
together behind pile Of books, both
looking very serious. The long hair
and beard Of the old poet We're now
white and his form bent with age. He
came over and spoke TO us and took a
curl Of Hopes hair in his stiffened fin
gers and held It to the lampllght.
"What silky goldr' he whispered.
as a skein O. fate. my dear girlr'
suddenly the schoolteacher raped
on the desk and bade us come to order,
and Ransom Walker was called to the
chair.
"srbet there is talent in Taraway
township" he said, having reluctantly
come to the platform. land talent OF
the very highest order, no, one can
deny who has ever attended n lyceum
at the Howard schoohouse l see evil
dences of talent IN every face before
me. And I wish to ask what are the
two great talents OF the Yankee tall
ents that made our forefathers famous
the world over? | pause for an an
swer"
He had once been a schoolmaster.
and that accounted for his didactic
style
"What are the two great talents Of
the Yankees" he repeated, his hands
clasped before him.
"Doughnuts an pie said Uncle Eb.
who sat in a far corner
"No. sir" Mr.. Walker answered.
''There's some hev q talent fer sawin'
wood, but we don't count TINT It's
war an speakin they are the two
great talents OF the Yankee But his
greatest talent IS tie gift o CAB. Give
him a chance Z talk It over with his
enemy, an he'll lick I'm without a fight
An when his enemy IS another Yankee
why, they both git licked, jest as il
was IN the case OF the man thet sold
me lightnin rods. He was sorry he
done Il before l got through with him.
II we did not encourage this talontl in
our sons they would be talked 20 death
by our daughters Ladies and gentle
men, II gives me pleasure { say that
the best speakers In PARKWAY township
have come here { discuss the important
question: s
Resolved. That intemperance has
caused more misery than war;
Il call upon Moses Tupper to open
for the Affirmative"
Moses. who rose to respond, had a
most unlovely face. with thin and
bristling growth OF whlskers. In Civ
ing him features nature had been gen
erous to a fault He had a large ged
nose and a mouth vastly too big for
any proper use II was mouth fash
ioned for odd sayings He was well TO
do and boasted often that he was n
self made man. Uncle Eb used to say
that II Nose Tupper had had the
"makin NV himself he'd oughter done
II more careful"
I remember not much Of the speech
he made, but the picture Of him as he
rose on tiptoe and swung his arms like
a man fighting bees and his drawllng
tones are as familiar as the things of
yesterday.
Gentlemen IN ladies'" said he pres
emily. "let me show you a pictur' 1t
is the drunkard's child. It Is hungry,
an there amt no food in Its home. The
child is poorer n a straw fed hoss
'Taln't he'd a thing { eat since day be
fore yistiddy. Plctur' It to yourselves
as IT CONES cryin' to its mother an
saws: