Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-09-03
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$PondPoint{
A disappointment al . Fourth
Of July Celebration
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

o-O-O-O-O-O-OO-O-O-O-O-O-o
Iii. jared" called First Seleciman
Foster. Found the grave yeti"
Reckon | have" replied the sexton
Ann Basseit says it's the grave Of
Theron Bass.tt."
After century OF somnolence the
town OF Pond Point awoke to the re.
alization that Its name was not writ
ten large on the page Of the nations
history. Indeed. II did not appear at
all. Other towns and villages In the
state boosted OF bullet SCARED edifices.
historical taverns and many dwellings
wherein had siumbered the immortal
Washington or the beloved Lafayette.
II had remained for DIR. Liscom to
unearth or at least to disclose the
identity of real hero OF tho Revolu.
tionary war. In his genealogical re-
searches the good doctor had come
across the mention Of one Theron Bias.
sett Of Pond Point, who had enlisted
and afterward died lighting on the
9th of August, 1776. in the battle OF
Long Island.
Notwithstanding the fact that The
ron Bassett had appeared to be the
only patriotic soul among the hundreds
that had populated Pond Point 10 those
early days. with commendable ardor
Pond Point decided upon celebration
upon the following Fourth OF July.
This celebration was to come as n
thunderclap upon the neighboring
towns. which had openly jeered at
Pond Point In days gone by.
There was TO be grand parade and
spcechmaking on the green where the
churches formed triangle There
livered by the first selectman himself.
followed by the sounding Of taps"
over the resting place OF the neglected
hero. Then there was to be q picnic
In the grove. with free ice cream and
gorgeous fireworks in the evening
Other towns and villages would come
and see and envy.
At last the honor of Pond Point was
TO be vindicatcd. DR.. Liscom had a
cousin who knew a man who was a
reporter on New York paper. This
reporter was enjoying bis annual va.
cation. but he had reluctantly con.
scented to appear. Had he known what
was in store for him he might have
accepted the assignment with more
grace.
The eventful morning dawned warm
and muggy. with the promise OF In
tense heat later on.
This Is a proud day for Pond Point.
remarked DR. Liscom as he prepared
to enter the carriage drawn up at the
sidewalk
THE greatest day ever" responded
the first selectman. putting nervously
Mt his huge cigar. We've been wait
Ing long time. doctor but today
wen show some Of those other fellows
what Pond Point can do. They say
there's big crowd from Leetown and
Scatterbrook up At the green now "
He painted into scat beside the doc.
tor and fumbled at the roll Of manu-
script In his pocket
In the carriages were three clergy
men OF varying doctrines: the Enrighi
brothers. lawyers and men OF stand
Ing In the community: superanuated
senator who was relative OF the En-
rights and the orator at the day: the
committee on celebration. and. lastly.
the reporter from New York. who sat
dcjeciedly beside Hiram James OF the
Pond Point Clarion. rather bored ut
the whole proceeding.
Up the long street. around the cor
nor by the posiotiice and up the incline
TO the village green. where the school.
house and three churches stood IN
ncighborly proximity. Here they paus
cd and formed scmicirrE nlout the
platform which had been >e''ted
DIR. l.iscom arose and said
Ladies and conference.-the II a
proud day for Pond Point. For the
first time In her history she Is able 10
stand side by side with her patriotic
sister towns and to enthusiastically
commemorate the Declaration OF our
Independence and TO honor the mem
DRY OF one who fought and died for
that liberty aud who. through strange
oversight. has been too long permitted
TO rest In an unknown grave" etc.
Jared Wilson wheeled small can.
non into position. and the minister
lifted his long. white hand aud bowed
his head. and there was silence while
he prayed.
First rSelectman jefferson Foster
came forward when the prayer was
ended. His round red face was rcdder
than usual. and when he removed his
stiff hat beads OF pcrsplratlon stood out
on his forehead. lie took the roll OF
manuscript from his pocket and sur
veycd tho company with wavering
eye. when his glance met the slightly
coniemptuous smile OF the reporter
from New York he started violently
and unrollcd his papers nervOusly-
The first seleciman was suffering
painfully from stage fright. He look
ed nj the opening lines of his carefully
sassH