Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1913-01-10

to ply between the village and Boston,
the stage has been superseded by the
locomotive, the old "square-riggers,"
commanded by Cape Cod men, no
longer sail the seas. Along the main
road the houses have changed hands.
Didama Rogers peers no more from
her parlor window; that parlor is now
profaned by the frivolous and irrever-
ent summer boarder. But the old
residents love to talk of the days that
are gone and If you happen to catch
Mr.. Isaac Higgins, now postmaster
and a dignified member of the board
of selectmen, in a reminiscent mood
he will very likely tell you of the
meeting of the parish committee call
ed by its chairman, Elkanah Daniels,
to GUST Rev. John Ellery from the pull
pit of the Regular church.
"Pll never forget" says Mr. Hig-
gins, that parish committee meetin'
II live a thousand years. I, and two
or three other young shavers, was hid
In the little room off the vestry-the
room where they kept the dishes they
heard the whole business. or course
nobody knew that Nat was goin' to
marry Keziah then, but they did know
that he want goin' to marry Grace
Van Horne, and had given her up to
the minister of his own accord. So
Daniels's guns were spiked and he
didn't have no chance at all. How
no
look at him. He marched into that
meetin' and up to the platform as stiff
and dignifed as If he'd swallered
peck of starch. He called the meetin'
to order-'twas full one, for adj
hands and the cook was there-and
then got up to speak.
He opened fire right off. He raked
John Ellery fore and aft. The par
son, he said, had disgraced the So
ciety and his sacred profession and
should be hove overheard immediate.
Three or four sung out Question
and Vote But Elkanah held up his
hand.
Gentlemen. says he, before ! ask
for the vote l want to say just one
word. I've worshiped in this meetin
house ever sence / was a child. was
christened In it, my father worshiped
here afore me; I've presided over the
meetin's Of this body for years. But
| tell you now that II you vote to keep
that rascally hypocrite in your pulpit
/ shall resign from the committee
and from the society. It'll be like
cuttin' on my right hand. but l shall
do it. Are you ready for the vote?
Those in favor OF retaining the pres
ent minister Of this parish will rise.
Those opposed will remain seated"
Every man on the floor stood up.
Daniels himself was the only one that
stayed settin' down.
cit Is q vote says he. white as q
sheet, and his voice trembling. Gentle
men, bid you good day
HE took up his hat and cane, give
one look around the vestry. as II he
were sayin' good-by to 1t. and march
ed down the aisle as straight and
starchy as he'd come into It. Only,
when he reached the door, he put up
one hand as II he was steadyin' HIM
self. Their was precious few In that
vestry that liked Elkanah Daniels. but
I'm bettin' high there want one
who didn't feel sorry for him then"
Captain Daniels and his daughter
moved to Boston that summer. They
never came back to Trumet to live.
Annabel remained single until after
her fathers death: then she married
a man very much younger and poorer
than she was- 1t was remarked by &C
quaintances Of the couple that the diff
ference in age became less and less
apparent as their married life con-
tinued.
On a Sunday morning. few weeks
after the CON mittee meeting. the Reg.
..t-. -I--~A tvss crowded JNhn FL