Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-07-20
St. George and
St. Daisy
By EPEs w. SARGENT

by EF Ed w. SAKGENT
1a
1t even puzzled Rev. Augustus Elem.
ming to decide whether the popularity
of st. Georges was due to the fact Of
Its being the first religious edifice in
Mangoon or whether credit should be
given Daisy Homer, to whose endeav-
ors st. Georges owed its existence
when, as yet, there were only three
saloons in the town. AS rule five
saloons preceded the first church
Daisy was the daughter of the SUI
perintendent of the Mangoon Mining
company, and Flemming was, her cou-
sin. but lately graduated and filed
with desire to benefit his fellow
man. He was clean-cut, sincere and
mans man, SO the little congrega-
ton prospered amazingly. The miners
f1ocked into the church and stared al
ternately at the minister and Daisy.
The latter sat on the end seat in the
choir and formed by far more potent
attraction.
Even the Twisted Dog shut its
doors during the hours Of service,
and Mangoon was inordinately proud
of its church, it's minister and Daisy.
These three were even more impor-
tant to Mangoon than the railroad,
though before Daisy came and the
other two followed in her wake, the
main line railroad was accounted q
thing too important to ever be SUI
perseded in the boasts of the towns
men.
Mangoon WAS still a rather raw
worked wisely when he brought his
daughter out to keep him company
Her influence, the more potent be-
cause 1t was unconscious, made itself
felt in the whole town, and Ben
Challoner, the assayist. was wont to
credit Mangoon reforms to ST. George
and st. Daisy, with the latter as the
strenuous factor for good.
But Challoner alone was not per-
mitted to say pretty things to Daisy.
BY virtue of his position he held the
inside track. but there was not man
IN town of adult age and good moral
character who had not made up his
mind to win the girl for his wife, and
Daisy. fattered by their homage, &C.
cepted them all as good chums and
resolutely shut her ears to pleas OF
love.
Il like you all SO much" she ex-
planned to Fenwick Tenton, editor of
the local paper, that don't want to
give you all up for just one" That
was at once her platform and the
secret of her success. None Of her
suitors had ever given up hope, and
she ruled her little court with gentle
despotism
Sosit happened that when Easter
drew near dozen young men were
interested in the preparations for the
special services. 1t was to be the first
Easter service at st. Georges, and
more than one man recalled the day
back home" with the fower-decora-
eggs. 1t was but natural that the in
terest of the town should center in
the tiny conservatory built into the
Homer cottage where Daisy faithful
ly tended their flowers that they might
be ready for the Eastertide. She had
had splendid luck with these and a
dozen stately plants were depended
upon to relieve the masses of wild
flowers that the boys assured her
would be gathered in time.
Then came the catastrophe. 1t was
Challoner who spread the news. He
| had dropped in to see Daisy on his
way down to his laboratory and had
found her dissolved in tears. There
had been a sharp frost through the
night and wandering burro had
made objection tn this odd-looking
stable encountered on his travels and
let fly with his heels In the morn
ing Daisy had found her beloved
plants wilted and dead and Easter
only three days away.
A burro with cut heels was shot on
suspicion, but this did not bring back
the life of the cherished plants, nor
could anyone suggest a remedy. Flow.
ers might be sent down from Denver
i
spouse to a telegram that there were
orders booked for twice the visible
supply. and that no more orders
would be considered
st. Louis and Kansas City and
Omaha all returned similar answers
and by nightfall consultation was
held in the lobby of the post office
The loss of the lilies was calamity
to the entire town. They had boast
ingly sent invitations to nearby places
to come over and join in a real Easte,
celebration. Rev. Flemming had oh
jected to this as being uncharitable
and, therefore, unChristian, but be
had been overruled and the Mangoon
Times had openly Dragged that Man
COON was 20 years in advance of Its
sister Cities" Men from Pine Bluff
Central City, Sulphite and even Lame
Dog would come to wonder and re
main to jeer.
| When the committee had concluded
! its labOrs men set ont tn accnpnl;.l