The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-07-12

ready for the school "exhibl-
tion." Every home In the valley and
up Cedar hill rang with loud declama-
tions. The impassioned utterances Of
James Otis, Daniel Webster and Pat
rick Henry were heard In house and
field and stable. Every evening wom-
en- were busy making costumes for u
play, while the young rehearsed their
parts. Polly Vaughn, editor Of paper
to be read that evening. searched the
countryside for literary talent. She
found young married woman who
had spent year In the State Normal
school and who put her learning ut the
service Of Polly In composition treat
Ing the subject Of ntemperance. Miss
Betsey Leech sent In what she called
"a piece" entitled Home" Polly her.
self wrote an editorial on Our Teach
err" and there was hemming and haw-
Ing when she read II. declaring they
all had learned much. even to love
him. Her mother helped her with the
alphabetical rhymes. each n cOuplet Of
sentimental history. as. for example:
A is for Alison. a jolly young man:
He'll marry Miss Betsey they say. II he
can.
They trimmed the little schoolhouse
with evergreen and erected small
stage where the teachers desk had
been. Sheets were hung for curtains
on ten foot rod
A while after dark one could hear a
sound Of sleighbells In the distance.
Away on drifted pike ana crossroad
the bells began to ding their music. It
seemed to come in rlppling streams Of
sound through the still air, each with
its own voice. In half an hour count
them and all were as one chorus, where
In, as 1t came near. one could distin-
gulsh song and laughter.
Young people from afar came In cut
ters and by the sleigh load; those who
lived near afoot with lanterns. They
were n merry company, crowding the
schoolhouse, laughing and whispering
as they waited for the E.st exhibit
Trove called them TO order and made
few remarks.
Remember" said he, this Is not
our exhibition. Ii Is only n sort OF
preparation for one we have planned.
In about twenty years the Llnley school
Is to give nm exhibition worth seeing
II will be, believe, an exhibition of
happiness. ability and success on the
great stage of the world Then ! hope
to have on the programme speeches ir
congress, in the pulpit and at the bar
You shall see In that play, II | mistake
not. homes full of love and honor men
and women of fair fame. II may be
you shall see, then, some whose names
are known and honored of all men,"
Each performer quaked with fear,
and both sympathy ana approval were
In the applause. Miss Polly Vaughn
was a rare picture OF rustic beauty,
her checks as red as her ribbons. her
voice low and sweet. Trove came out
In the audience for a look at her as
she read. Ringing salvos of laughter
greeted the play and stirred the sleigh
bells ON the startled horses beyond the
door The programme over, somebody
called for Squire Town, a local petit
fogger, who flung. his soul and body in
to every cause. He often sored his
knuckles on the court table and racked
his frame with the violence of his rhet-
oric. He had stock Of impassioned
remarks ready for all occasions.
He rose, walked to the center Of the
stage, looked sternly at the people ana
addressed them as fellow citizens"
He belabored the small table; he rose
on tiptoe and fell upon his heels; often
he seemed to ding his words with
rapid jerk of his right arm as one
hurls pebble. 1t was all In praise OF
his ''young friend" the teacher. and
the high talent Of Lnley school.
Ths exhibition ended with this rare