Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-08-12
D-O-O-O-O-O-OO-O-O-O-O-O-c
}Ghe HerOOf{
; Pond s
} A disappointment at Fourth {
! of July Celebration.
By CLARISSA MACKIE.
| Copyright, 1910, by American Press
= Association.
By CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.

Foster "Found the grave YETI"
Reckon l have" replied the sexton.
"Ann Bassett says it's the grave of
Theron Bassett."
After a 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. 1t did not appear at
all Other towns and villages In the
state boosted Of bullet SCARED edifces,
historical taverns and many dwellings
wherein had slumbered the immortal
Washington or the beloved Lafayette.
1t had remained for DR.. Liscom to
unearth or at least to disclose the
identity Of a real hero Of the Revolu-
tonary war. In his genealogical re-
searches the good doctor had come
across the mention of one Theron Bas-
set of Pond EWnt who had enlisted
and afterward died fighting 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 in those
early days, with commendable ardor
Pond Point decided upon celebration
upon the following Fourth of July.
This celebration was to come as a
thunderclap upon the neighboring
towns, which had openly jeered at
Pond Point In days gone by.
There was to be grand parade and
speechmaking on the green where the
churches formed a triangle. There
was to be an grafton at the grave de-
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 a 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 indicated. DR.. Liscom had
cousin who knew man who was a
reporter on New York paper. This
reporter was enjoying his 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.
''Ths is proud day for Pond Point"
remarked DR.. Liscom as he prepared
to enter the carriage drawn up at the
sidewalk.
1.-The greatest day ever" responded
the first selectman, putting nervously
at his huge cigar. We've been wait
ing a long time. doctor. but today
We'll 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 a seat 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 Enright
brothers. lawyers and men of stand
ing In the community; superanuated
senator who was a relative of the En-
rights and the orator of the day: the
committee on celebration. and, lastly,
the reporter from New York. who sat
dejectedly beside Hiram James Of the
Pond Point Clarion. rather bored at
the whole proceeding.
UP the long street, around the cor
ner by the postoffice and up the incline
to the village green, where the school
house and three churches stood in
neighborly proximity. Here they paus-
ed and formed a semicircle about the
platform which had been erected.
| DR.. Liscom arose and said:
Ladies and conference.-the is a
proud day for Pond Point! For the
first time in her history she is able to
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 and who, through o. strange
oversight, has been too long permitted
to rest In an unknown grave" etc.
Jared Wilson wheeled a small can
non into position, and the minister
lifted his long, white hand and bowed
his head. and there was silence while
he prayed.
First Selectman Jefferson Foster
came forward when the prayer was
ended His round red face was redder
than usual. and when he removed his
stiff hat beads Of perspiration stood out
on his forehead. He took the roll OF
manuscript from his pocket and sur
veyed the company with a wavering
eye. When his glance met the slightly
contemptuous smile of the reporter
from New York he started violently
and unrolled his papers nervously.
The first selectman was suffering
painfully from stage fright He look
ed at the opening lines of his carefully
prepared speech and then concentrate
ed his gaze upon solitary vehicle
vending its way slowly up the dusty
road