Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-03-09
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The Awakeni1g
Of BusEville

DusnVilS was aSleep. LII neStleQ
quietly at the base of the Blue Ridge
mountains, and although not more
than hundred miles from city, the
hamlet was securely guarded from the
innovations of society There were
no streams by which pleasure boat
might reach it, and railroad promot
ers had not even heard of any place
nearer than so miles There was no
woodland, and there was no quarry
The 200 Inhabitants lived because
they had been created, and there was
sufficient land to go round without
causing disputes.
But grave problem had arisen,
There had not been a marriage in
Bushville for Is years. and there were
at least 30 couples between the age
OF 10 and IS. A council Of fathers was
called. They had never heard of tho
bachelor tax, and they did not know
what the age limit meant, but they
did know that something had to ba
done Immediately or the land of their
ancestors would be barren. After the
smoke of the corn-cob pipes had
cleared away, this resolution was left
standing:
That the Council of Bushvills
Fathers does declare that everybody
who is in love or who is not in love
must show the same by conforming to
the following orders:
I'D Everyone who is in love must
wear red necktie.
(2) Everyone who is not in love
must wear black necktie.
(3l Children under the age of Ia
must wear white neckties.
az This order is :, so into effect
on September 1.
% On September there will ba
holiday, and every man, woman and
child in Bushville must attend the
picnic given by the Council of Fathers
for the benefit of our Improvement
Association. sa
tSigned) Council of Fathers"
Bushville was waking up. That
same night every inhabitant knew the
action that had been taken, and there
was fear and trembling in the ranks
Of the unmarried ones. Some of the
young men threatened to migrate, but
four trusty fathers guarded the passes
from the settlement
The eventful September / arrived
The day was beautiful, as If in den,
ance OF secret wishes for disagreeable
weather s tfj-e
Up until 10 o'clock not an eligible"
person had appeared on the street.
At exactly one minute past 10 Hi
ram Baker stepped from his front
door. Hiram had been calling on, Miss
Polly Ann Evans for 20 years.) "A hun
dred prying eyes were upon him, and
az he came into the sunlight they saw
small black bow. The fathers, who
were assembled at the store. saw this
and were astonished. shafs'f4
Another black bow appeared. VqThis
tirae it was Sam Kimbo, an old of.
fender; and another, and another, and
still another, in bewildering success
sion, until every eligible" was on the
street wearing black bow All seem
ed trif1e nervous, but AstiH they wore
there. No, there was one exception.
The anger Of the Fathers cooked an
their hopes rose. Miss Polly, Ann
Evans appeared. 's
She wore a pink sunbonnet The
men uneOnsciously stepped forward to
see the tie, as Miss Polly approa ched
the the store The bonnet ssringe
obscured the coveted view, But a
gentle wind waited aside the folds.
displaying red tie. Hiram Baker
was stirred. f@fs a'll' "
Il guess that I have not treated
Miss Polly properly he mused.4 And
to think that she had the courage to
wear a red bow l believe that every
one in the village is in love with her
tonight"
| Hiram took several hours to decide
on his course Of action for the next
| day. The picnic! Yes everybody vas
| there: Miss Polly with her red bow,
and Hiram with a red bow. The
| Fathers looked at one another sig.
nificantly Hiram sought out Miss
Polly and they had dinner together In
shaded nook of the mountain
stream. She was like a girl again;
| little embarrassed when they walk,
ed off alone. but formally dignified
when Hiram became unusually quiet,
Several couples had strolled OF
alone. Others could follow the lead
of Miss Polly. The Council of Faith.
ers convened toward the close of the
day, and decided that as the prospects
for the future were bright, the picnic
| should be continued the next day.
Bushville was awake that night. The
next day 20 "eligtbles" were wearing
| the coveted color
Again Miss Polly and Hiram saun.
tered away alone, like two children in
the May-time Of love. Hiram felt
little more confident.
Miss Polly he said, why did you
wear that little red bow on the first
| day?"
Because am in love-" she replied
coyly.
with whom. Miss Polly?" he softly
| asked.
with Bushville, of course"
Then, Miss Polly. you don't love
me?" he said, sadly.