The Florida agriculturist., 1907-11-06

y
the confidence of his fellow-man and
capable of expressing ali opinion merit
ing consideration. The lack Of respect
for these standards does not mean that
a man is an outlaw, but his character is
presumed to tend in that direction.
To be good citizen in the corn grow
ing region of Missouri one must drag
the roads with unf1agging zeal after
every rain, and must have deep and
abiding conviction that the district
school is the cradle of all honesty and
Of all real worth; that it is the barrier
at which stalking red revolution and
anarchy shrivel into mist.
There are other elements entering
into the makeup Of good citizen in
these parts, but they are comparatively
incons equent1a1 If a man is enough
Of patriot to drag the roads and sup
port his district school all the other
virtues Of humanity will naturally gravi-
tate to him.
So strongly was this creed of good
citizenship engrafted in the souls of
the people along road district No. IS
that when foreigner man from
some far eastern state-came over and
located on the Hampton estate, his ill.,
attention to local customs caused him
to be a marked man inside Of two
months. Bob Rockford, the road over
seer, sent him a polite note 1eciting
what was expected of him in the way
of road work. Knowing he was
foreigner" and, therefore, with more
or less learning ahead of him, Bob
didn't get mad at first, but when
second note brought no response, he
took his pen in hand with some vigor.
"Mr. R. Hasbrook," he wrote: "This
is the third time your attention has
been called to the disgraceful state of
the roads along Hampton estate. A
very little exertion would put them in
good condition. If you have not the
time to drag them yourself your duty
is to hire it done. This neglect on your
part will not be tolerated any longer.
[ am under bond to see that the roads
in this district are kept in good con-
dition.
Rockford, Overseer No. I5"
The overseer had never met the new
occupants Of the Hampton domain,
and knew nothing about them. The
place was at the southern terminus Of
his Jurisdiction, and he did not often
have occasion to go that way, but as
the last ultlmatum was treated with the
same anarchistic Indifference that had
been accorded the other two, he re-
solved to ride over and see who was
"Boss Of the Highway
Rockford had not sought the posi-
ton Of road overseer In fact, when
the county court appointed him at the
suggestion of many residents of the
district, he had tried to withdraw, urg-
ing full hands in other directions. The
court so1emnly listened to his objec-
tons, and then directed the clerk to
enter them as overruled. The overseer
lived in large mansion home with his
widowed mother and two sisters but
was engaged in several business enter
prises in the town of Mapleton, the
nearest market Rockford was neither
exactly old nor young. He was at the
elastic age commonly designated as
"the prime Of life" In disposition he
was quiet and somewhat. reserved.
Strangers regarded him over cautious
or difident Those best acquainted
with him recognized different charac-
ter.
The overseer's brow was moody as
his saddle horse brought him nearer
the insurrectionary territory. He had
small regard for man who was will
ing to profit by his neighbor's work,
and do none himself Running back
through the years of his residence in
the district, he recalled one other man
who had refused to do his part on
the road work, and who for such re-