St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-03-22


his hearers were silent now, on tiptoe
of expectation.
This man." he proclaimed. this
father. nlournin' for his dead wife and
longin' for his child. comes to the
town where he was to find and take
her And when he meets the man
that's got her what does this rich
man-do? Why, fust of all, he's sweet
er'n strip to him. takes him in, keeps
him overnight, and the next day he
says to hiAn: You just be quiet and
say nothin to nobody that She's your
little girl. I'll make it with your
while All right so fur maybe. but
wait! Then it turns out that the
father knows about this land. this.
property. And then the kind, chart
table man-this rich man with lots of
money of his own-turns the poor
father out, tellin him to get the girl
and the land if he can. knowin'--
KNOWN, mind you-that the father
amt got a cent to hire lawyers nor
even to pay for his next meal And
when the father says he won't go. but
wants his dear one that belongs to
him. the rich teller abuses him. knocks
him down with his fist-knocks down
a poor. weak. lame Invalid just off a
sickbed! Is that the kind of man we
want on our school committee
The meeting was in an uproar.
mo need for me to tell you who l
meanr' shouted Tad. waving his arms
You know who as well as I do. You
have just heard him praised as bein'
all that's good and great. But say
You've said enough! Now let me
say a wordr'
1t was Captain Cy who interrupted.
He had pushed his way through the
crowd.
.'Knowles.' said Captain Cy. turning
to the moderator. ''let me speak. will
you? won't be but minute" Brief
ly he told the true facts.
t'As for the property" he concluded.
fereely, why, darn the property.
say! It amt with much anyhow. and
if twas anybody else's he should have
it and welcome But it's Bos'n's. and.
bein' what he is, he shan't have it.
And he shan't have her to cruelize.
neither-by the Almighty. he shan't,
SO long as I've a dollar to fight him
With | say that to you. Tad Simpson.
and to the man-to whoever put you
up to this. There! I've said my say.
Now. gentlemen. you can choose your
side.''
He strobe back to his seat. There
was silence for a moment Then Jo-
81 n Dimick sprang up and waved his
hat
That's the way to talk!" he shouted.
That's a man. Three cheers for Cap'n
Whitaker! Come on, everybodyp'
But everybody did not come on"
The cheers were feeble. 1t was evil
dent that the majority of those present
did not know how to meet this unex-
pected contingency. 1t had taken them
by surprise, and they were undecided.
The uproar of argument and question
began again, louder than ever. The
bewildered moderator thumped his
desk and shouted feebly for order.
Tad Simpson took the floor and in a
few words and at the top of his lungs
nominated Alonzo Snow. Abel Leon
ard seconded the nomination. There
were yells of 'Question! Question:
and vote! Voter
Eben SaIters was recognized by the
chair Captain Salters made few
speeches, and when he did make one
it was because he had something to
say.
"Mr. Moderator" he said 'T,i for
one. hate to vote just now. 1t isn't,
that the school committee is so i'm
portant of itself. But do think that
the rights of father with his child is
pretty important. and our vote for
Cap'n Whittaker-and most of you
know l intended votin' for him and
have been workin' for him-might
seem like an Endorsement of his posi-
ton. This whole thing is big sur
prise to me. / don't feel yet that we
know enough of the inside facts to
give such an Endorsement. I'd like to
see this Thomas man before | decide
to give it-or not to give it. either
It's queer thing to come up at town
meetin', but it's up. Hadn't we better
adjourn until next week?'
He sat down The meeting was
demoralized. Some were shouting for
adjournment, others to vote it out
A straw would turn the scale, and the
straw was forthcoming. While Cap
tain Cy was speaking the door had ST.
lently opened and two men entered the
hall and sought seclusion in corner.
Now one of these men came forward
the Hon. Heman Atkins.
Mr.. Atkins walked solemn1y to the
'front.'.
The moderator's gavel descended.
.Orderp' he roared "Order, say!
Congressman Atkins is goin' to talk
to u.s.
The Honorable Heman faced the ex-
cited crowd One hand was in the
breast of his frock coat; the other was
clinched upon his hip.
Fellow townsmen." be began. star
be it from me to influence your choice
in the matter of the school commit
tee. Still farther be it from me to in