Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-29
THE SCHOOL,
HOUSE FLAG
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the new school ma am, hey? Come to
tell me bout some bad conduct of
Samnly's? Well, if you've got any
fault to find with my grandson, out
with it. III back you every time"
MIR. Blodgett, who was blowing. while
Sammy helped him by guiding the
morse. turned to his grandson as he
spoke. s-
"Oh, l assure you, Mr.. Blodgett,
Sammy behaves beautifully. l called
on an entirely different errand. Prob
ably Sammy has told you about the
flag we want to buy?" 0,..
mo, he amt
quickly, eve want to provide a flag for
our school house. Nearly every school
house in the country has one. And we
want you to help us
"A alag? What for" demanded Mr..
BlOdgett
why, don't you think" she spoke
with surprise, that the daily sight OF
their cOuntry,s flag will make the pu-
pills better men and women by and
by?"
"Stick to writing, reading and 'rith-
metic, and let the flummeries be-
Miss stanton, too shrewd either to
show dismay or to wrangle with the
farmer, simply looked as if she were
amazed at and pitied his sentiments.
How much do you calculate to put
out for the tlag?" he asked, forced by
her demeanor to doubt whether he had
not pat himself in the wrong.
"Oh, something like forty dollars
"Whew-ew." Mr.. Blodgett whistled
his establishment. And how much do
you lay out for me to give"'
Miss Stanton had an instructive
knowledge that it is always judlclous
to ask for more than one expects
"Well, I should like it if you and Mr.
Simpson would give ten dollars each
to start the ball rolling. The minister
tells me you are one OF the rlcheSt
men in Plunkett, and Mr.. David Simp-
son is the other. So | came this sat
urday to ask you two to help us get
the flag"
Dave Simpson, did you say? Dave
Simpson, The meanest man in Punk
EFT. Skin a flea for its hide! Ten dol
lars! Him."
He considered moment. "NoW,
look hera," he said. You go and see
Dave simpson. Tell him Bill Blodgett
se,,t you. Don't leave that out. He
VIII know what | mean-he and | were
in the war together. Tell him you
want a forty dollar flag fer Plunkett
schoolhouse And I'll match you, cent
for cent, dollar for dollar, whatever
you get out of Dave Simpson. Come!
there's an offer for you"
CT -
Thanh; you, Mr.. Blodgett. Goodbye
thank you so much! Goodbye, Sam
n.y.
"Well," muttered Blodgett, chuck
ling. 81 got out of that neat Get up,
Sammy
Miss stanton, somewhat discouraged,
walked over to Mr.. Simpsons place.
The first glance at him treasured her.
Holding his little grandchild, Polly, by
the hand, he cordially inquired how she
liked Plunkett, and put a great many
other questions. She could not get in
a word about the flag. She began to
suspect a method in Mr.. Simpsons
vclubility.
And how is this naughty Polly car
rying on?" he asked.
Miss stanton smiled on the pair and
said Have you told grandpa about
our flag Polly"
Dave Simpson squared his shoulders.
His aimable expression vanished. His
pocket was attacked.
well" he faltered, I'm sorry to-
disobecge specially as
little Polly here wants it"
"Mr. Rlodgett told me-
"Bill Blodgett" exploded Mr. Simp-
son. What did he tell you? Bill
Blodgctt's the meanest man in Punk
EFT. Splits his coppers for the con-
What are you laughing
at ," ne asked. in an aggreved tone.
MI Blodgett said, You go see
Dave Simpson, and I'll match you, cent
for cent, dollar for dollar, whatever
you get out of Dave Simpson" Now
what do you say, Mr.. Simpson,
Mr. Simpson flushed with anger. II
say this he said emphatically. I'll
give you ten dollarS-ten dollars for
Bill Blodgett to match. Yes. for the
sake of seeing Bill Blodgett shell out
I'll give youth give you-Polly. girl,
Well give a clean twenty! Cent for
cent dollar for dollar says Bill BlOd-
Sttl. Ilt Ia toiiipccIi S'N'S t'N''
ty, Blodgett matches it, And Blodgett
and Simpson haint spoke for years.
Blodgett and Simpson go halves on a
forty dollar flag for Plunkett school
house. Ha! I guess I've got Bill Blod-
gett this tme!"
But will Mr.. Blodgett give his
share?" asked Miss Stanton, anxiously.
Got to-" replied Mr.. Simpson. zone
thing about Bill Blodgett, he never
goes back on mis- word in a financial
transaction
SO the little schoolmistress went
back to Mr. Blodgett. When she told
him that Mr.. Simpson had given her
twenty dollars he turned pale. and
without word went with her to the
house, took two ten-dollar notes out
of the cupboard, and gave them to
her. She thanked him earnestly, but
he said not a word in response.
Miss Stanton kept the secret for a
whole week. Then all Punkett was
stirred with the news. marvelling much
that Plunkett was to possess the flag.
but moro that it should be the gift of
the two men whose stinginess and mu-
tual luminosity had become notorious!
Sammy Blodgett. almost bursting
with bride placed in Miss Stanton'S