The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-07-03
A FAMH Y AFFAIR.
Hon tie Pozvecs Family Celebrated tie Fourth at Mortified
BY AMANDA L. CROKER.
X AMANDA L. G

Rena's 20, Say Can You see," etc, as
he drnmmed thoughtfully on his desk.
We u have an orator of the day."
broke in Houseman, the man of energy,
"and Nv been thinking that young,
Lawyer Foote. Of Phelps would be the
n to wake up Northfeld; and we
are able to pay him handsomely for
the speech"
The presidents face blanched. but
he was diplomat enough to hold his
tongue. The proposed orator was
Margie's best beau, INC that program
But II this was of Providence he was
not the one to gainsay it; so Foote
was booked for the grafton, IF they
could get him."
Get hint" mentally unused Powers,
OF course. He'd break his neck to
show off before Margie." But another
was speaking.
there's the Phelps string band. They
can come right along with the orator
Of the day and Phelps and Mortified
can celebrate together"
Shades of the hydra-headed COM
bine! The scheme was moving Matil-
las way fast!
That's the checker!" cried Dumfey,
the most influential of the lot. II will
write at once and do the inviting
Well give them a good dinner and see
to the rest"
How this thing was growing: what
a magnitude this Fourth" had already
assumed, and 1t "a only in embryo!
Surely there was moro patriotism in
Mortified than Mrs. Powers dreamed
of.
But Nevins, who admired the presi-
dent as the sun Of their cluster, was
ready with the climax.
Our chief here can read the Decla-
ration of Independence. and e-th
rest of us-will consider ourselves a
committee Of the whole on decoration.
fireworks and other things"
The chief felt a great and most uH-
comfortable lump under his collar and
hfmly declined.
"Well.''' said Nevins, determining to
get the honor fixed as near the central
orb as possible, Miss Margie has a
fine voice and we'll put her down for
the reading
President Powers swallowed the lump
in his throat. That was plainly pre-
destination, so he cheerfully submitted.
In due time Nevins waited on Miss
MArgie and she sweetly consented to
do the reading. And Mrs. Powers was
asked to Kindly make out the pro-
gram for that weeks issue Of the
Northfield Palladium"
'Rastus," she exclaimed as soon as
the corner. this certainly is getting to
be a family affair in spite of your
qualms.
ITO make 1t sure. I'll sandwich Ben
and Rena in for their song and I will
head the table committee"
The president OF Northfeld nut on
his hat and went out in the garden to
think. He was only a figure head after
all. even II they did spell it with a
capital P. His name was Powers, but
he hadn't any influence: he was shorn
as clean as Samson!
On this libery loving sphere the BIT
ter Is often mingled with the sweet;
naturally, then it was no strange
thing that the Powers family found
aloes in plenty stuffed into their pa
triotic dessert.
No criticisms We're Forthcoming con.
corning the celebration for that was
a success both in attendance and en-
thusiasm; n the dinner and Are
works were simply elegant" with
weather to match. But when the Cos
sips found time to manipulate the wires
IT went out that the presidents fam
lily instituted the new departure on pur-
pose to air their attachments and show
OIL Margaret'S beau; and not because
hey We're any more patriotic than 9th
er folks.
1t was at this j%uncture that Erastus
Powers changed his mind on the oues-
tion of predestination, and declared to
ms wife that it was nothing but a
sleek scheme of the devil, to reflect on
him officially. And he swore within
himself, n by himself, that mo more
golden opportunities should mako a
fool of himtn