The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-01-23
For the Good
Of the Town
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1911. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD


and years after the town of Wharton
had been founded and named there
was strong talk of changing the name
TO Brotherly Love. No one could live
In 1t without being good and behaving
himself. This state OF affairs had
continued for thirty years when
change was observed.
The wickedness started with n good
and respected man. He traded bar.
rel Of new cider for Spanish rooster.
beauty of bird. Up to the arrival
Of that rooster not chanticleer in
Wharton had ever dared to crow until
sure that daylight was at hand. The
newcomer went right at It Mt 10 o'clock
at night and kept up constant crow
Ing until sunup. He crowed vigorous.
ly and defantly. Ills notes reached
every house In the village, and after
three or four nights there was n row.
The owner was kindly requested to
muzzle the nuisance. He refused. He
said the rooster was the handlwork of
the Creator and that II be crowed It
was because he was created to crow.
That was the rolling stone that start.
ed the avalanche. Cows had always
wandered In the streets at night, but
without bells. Now half dozen men
belled their cows, and II the cows gal
loped up and down the streets at mid
night, shaking their heads and CHING
ing their bells, all the better. There
had always been dogs In Wharton, but
good dogs, respectful and respectable
dogs. Now dogs of bad degree were
ndded-dogs that barl;ed and roamed
and fought and cared not for the rep
utation of the town.
Perhaps Elder Shoemaker took things
to heart more than any other man
first because he was a real good
man and next because he owned most
OF the vacant lots in the town and was
trying to get the railroad and boom
there. Booms and real good men often
go together.
The elder was sitting on his door.
step one day. bemoaning the fate that
was overtaking his beloved village,
when pack peddler came along. He
had knives. combs. pins and needles,
threads, jewsharps and many other
things In his pack, but he did not
enumerate them. He did not offer to
make sale. He sat down beside the
good man, mopped the sweat from his
brow and said:
ELDER. this village has got to be
dinged durn."
"Yes2'' i.
ITS the wust In the state
~ think so."
"why don't you get up and hump
yourself and do somethingT
"My friend, what can be doneP"
Heaps of things. but you've got to
pay for your information. I'm not CIV
ing up for nothing. About $25 will put
this town back to where 1t was two
years ago"
"I'll give Il hundredv' exclaimed the
elder.
well. that's liberal. Let's go out to
the barn and have n talk"
They talked for couple of hours.
and opposed the peddler, but after
awhile he nodded and smiled. A good
man with lot of vacant lots on his
hands can reconcile many things to his
conscience. The deacon's nearest neigh
Dor on the left was the man with the
Spanish rooster. the nearest on the
right the man with the meanest dog In
town. Opposite him was family with
parrot. Indeed. his place wqs about
the storm ceuter OF all the troubles,
The three families nearest him also
kept hives OF bees in their gardens,
but the insects had had no hand In the
rows.
The man who could furnish Spanish
rooSters could also furnish Spanish
bees. He might have been able to
furnish Spanish oarhs us we'll If called
upon This man sold The pack pcddler
three swarms of Spanish bees and
guaranteed they would turn the trick.
One midnight they entered the town
OF Wharton and proceeded quietly and
softly and unseen to the residence OF
the elder, where they were unloaded
and the hives placed in the back yard.
Each hive was securely covered up md
remained 80 all the next day. that the
bees might get mad abont II, During
this day the elder and his wife drove
away on visit t0 nSt four days.
On the night OF their going the hives
were uncovered, and the drs streaks
of daylight found the bees pouring
out nnd itchlng for row,
Hardly any person had left his bed
when things began TO be lively. The
Did bull rushed here and there like II
locomotive, and the cows beloved and
plunged
Then the cyclone began 10 hit hu.
manity. Not living, moving thing
escaped them, They took possession OF
the town aud shot II up Even the
TWO ministers did not escape, When
the elder returned after the four days
he wus awed by silence, Not dog
bnrked
For week the village of Wharton
was very quiet Then II opened lts
~.