The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-07-02
A FANlH AFFAIR
HosO the Posvers Family Celebrated the Fourth at Mortified
1a@ BY AMANDA r. CROCKEp
BY AMANDA L. CROKER.


The American eagle had not screamed
over Northfleld for, at least, dozen
years, and when its citizens had a pa
triotic swelling of the heart for the ma
tional holiday, they went elsewhere for
their Fourth"
But when Erastus Powers was elect
ed president of The village his wife
suddenly developed into a very Spartan
of enthusiasm, and determined to cele-
brate. 3
"Now,IRastus," she began, your one
golden opportunity of adjoining your Of
flee and honoring your forefathers lies
before you. Have q real old fashioned
Fourth of July celebration; make a new
departure and convince all Mortified
of their ungrateful shiftlessness as citi-
zens Of these United States"
Her husband struck an attitude
worthy Of his position and replied: IF
the people coincide, Matilda. Now, If
I were a mayor instead of a president,
things would move"
Isn't q president bigger han a
mayor?'' she asked.
mo; I rather think not, when 1t
comes to saying what's to be done"
Well, 'Rastus, why dom they say
Mayor Roosevelt, them" looking tri-
umphant. This was a poser for the
chief executive Of Mortified and he
pFeIenQeQ not TO near.
"Pshaw!" continued Mrs. Powers, no.
ticing her husbands brown study,
who cares. so you don't forget the
celebration; a real old timer where they
read the Declaration of Independence
all solemn like to remind people OF their
obligations. You won't let the oppor-
tunity slip, will you, dear?" she plead
ed, the matter OF precedence in author
ity forgotten altogether.
Have the Declaration read, too; the
rising generation don't know anything
about the foundation Of liberty; nor
with what struggling II came into ex-
istence, nor even who signed it, per-
haps,"
"The Declaration of Independence"
observed Mr.. Powers, carefully,
doesn't make a Fourth, no more than
a spring chicken makes a whole picnic.
And, after all. I can't imagine who
would read 1t, now that the professor is
away"
The professorr' snorted Mrs. 'Ras-
tus; why can't the minister read it?
He reads the Thanksgiving proclama-
tons. and / guess the grand old docu-
ment is as readable any day as they
are, not rejecting on the head of the
nation, at all, But and she cogitat-
ed a moment-'our Margie can e it,
for that matter; and Ben and Rena
NoAA oAAA6 ~ nj RNCA-oHLA6lS AiiA
beautifully! Then there's their cous-
ms, owe at Phelps; they own the string
band. Wen get them, and your
Fourth's assured, 'Rastus."
President Powers felt in his bones
that the matter was really settling, but
the drift OF the partial outline struck
him as being a monopoly.
1T might be Objectionable" he ven
tured. ITO make the program a family
affair. Matilda"
"Humph!" she returned, warming w,
why should they object? We've waited
a dozen years for the rest to nov
Mercy! / don't believe the people here
know even how many signed that won-
derfui paper fixing the Fourth for all
well, Matilda" he answered, wear
lily. lit Seems to me 0 aretdead gone
on the Declaration"
Don't be blasphemous, 'Rastus," she
i~nterpolated. you're the president of
Northfield-"
And" went on her husband, deaf
to the interlude, I'll bet you 1920 to a
penny, If you dare, that not ote cuun-
Gilman an tell whether it was signed
at all or not"
His wife fairly gasped with surprise
and disdain. DO you mean to say
that Mortified has refrigerated like
that Ernstus Powers? Surely the
pagan ancestors are not far in the
reari" u.lm.
Il was speaking Of the town coun-
ell only he answered as If pronounc-
Ing sentence.
Well, you tell them 1t was signed
BY Sc OF the biggest Fourth O. July
men on earth at that time; u first
congressman: too"
And Mrs Powers swept up and down
the apartment, a very Goddess Of Lib
erty. 1
The town council met that evening
ana the president was commissioned
by the powers behind the throne to
see TO IT." Very ably did he suggest"
and mention the natter" and before
he was aware they were all wonder
fully enthused.
lie could almost hear Ben and