Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-01
A MEMORIAL DAY DISCRETION

| The company of boys who filed out
Of the chapel of the Kedron Prepara-
tory school one May morning were all
angry, although but one youth ex-
pressed his feelings in decdmatory
tones
It's a shame," he cried III reg
ular outrage
"Sh! Not ST. loud, JIM" said another,
nervously. 1.-The major will he along
sc on"
That's all right" shouted Jim. 81
want him to bear
Yet the handsome, gray-haired man
Of soldierly bearing who presently
came flOm the chapel heard nothing
in particular rs he hurried past his
pupils. When he was at a sufficient
distance, Jilu began in a milder voice:
| Yes, | say it's a wicked shame!
What right has he to NEEDLE, anyway:
Memorial day is Il legal holiday
Il say, fellows, what's the caiamity?'
drawled tall boy as he approached.
We'll, now, Dick Graham, if you'd
been at chapel this morning, you'd
lnnw," said Jim Clark. This makes
three times within a week that you
haven't got round"
is that sa?" drawled Dick "But
guess my being late for chapel isn't
the cause of all this sudden excite
ment What's happcned?'
Il suppose you know that the
BroWnlicld Academy boys sent Il chal-
lenge to our nine to play them on
| their grounds tomorrow"
yes, | knew dis much as that
| "Well, as manager, | sent an accept
ance, of course. And | engaged Il
barge to take us down. was going
| to drive it myself. There were TWEEN
| ~ of us going. And this morning we
asked permission of the major, us a
mere form, YOU know. And what do
you think? AT chapel he said lie
Didn't approve of using Memorial day
| for baseball anC other sports, and
that consequently he must refuse our
request. He expects us to go in a
| body To take part in the exercises at
| the village tomorrow"
THAT is Il little hard admitted
Dick.
lizard. IFS an outrage. and it's
|
challenge"
eyes, awkward that you didn't ask
leave before accepting the challenge"
said Dick, in his most provoking tone.
"Stuif.' said Jim, impaticnty.
"Fancy Mr.. Arson refusing us such d
| request when he was prinCipal!'
ooh, the major isn't Mr.. Anson, by a
! long sight, remarked Horace Boyd.
'Mr. Arson was easy, and he let the
| school run down. The major has built
| the school up again in less than u year
but he is pretty hard sometimes. Just
the same, think what Memorial day
means to q man who was all through
the war. l tell you. when he was talk
| ing this morning, | felt that it wasn't
quite the thing, after all, to play ball
| and have q high old time generally on
! that day. But under the circumstan-
ccs he might have let us go" he added,
rather lamely. g.,
The ringing of the study-bell ended
| the talk: but after school hours about
twenty of the older boys-"The Kcd-
ron Baseball Association'-aSsci
in Jim tlarks room.
"FeiloWS," said jim, q haven't sent
word t. Brown(cld that we aren't go
ing. l couldn't bring myself to do it.
And 1t is too late now. l haven't
Countermanded the order for that
barge, either. And | won't do it if you
will stand by me-"
He paused, and received some ap-
plause.
'"Thc case is Just here" he contin-
ue,l. Eve arc in honor bound to play
Brownticld. We beat them last time
on our own grounds. What if we fail
to play a return game? After accept
ing their challenge, too! | say it's our
duty to go. in spite Of the ajor."
That's So" assented most of the
boys.
"Well-but remember, the major
isn't exactly the man to trile with"
said Horace Boyd.
ITS time to show him that we
aren't the boys to trihc WITH replied
Jim, loudly; and the company APP
plauded again. Come now, Hold" he
continued. in a coaxing voice, you are
not going to hold back? We can't
play without you to pitch
ooh, if the team goes, | go, of
course said Horace, and take my
medicine with the rest when we get
| back"
1--WE shall only be standing on our
| rights" insisted Jim. 'If the major
plays the tyrant, he must expect to
find some rebels. that's all, He wont
do much to twenty of us
Il suppose you'll have the barE"
drawn right up in front of the grounds
| tomorrow morning." said Dick Ora
| ham
"Wcll. no. said Jim, hesitatingly.
| THE barge had better wait on the
| river road, a little below the griStmiI."
| OH said Dick. Looks a little more
| like descrtion than rcbcllion.'
| Call is whatever you like replied
Jim And now the question is. How
many of you will go?'
soon all present had enrolled them
selves for the venture, and then fol-
| lowed careful laying of plans for
| the departure the next day.
COUNTY NEWS.