The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-01
BUYING OFF
A REBEL
By Nj. QUAD
Copyright 1914 by Associated Lit
erary Press,

cry year.
Sometimes when election can
around he drove to the polls and vo
ed, and sometimes he didn't. He ha
no interest In politics. He belonge
to a certain party because his fathe
and grandfather had. II his party wo
out all right; If it lost all right
was nothing to the farmers gain. eithe
way.
Take It, all in all, John Noyes wa
as content as any man in America, an
when he happened to think of 1t b
said 20 his wife:
II guess it's purity good countr,
to live in"
And they went right along believing
that and wondering why other folk
kicked until one fatal night when /,
tin peddler was taken In as a guest
The peddler was a man Of CAB out
side of the CAB he had to use in hi:
business. He was also politician, Of
thought he was. He likewise boosted
that he was a Socialist of the deepest
dye, and he carried with him anG
handed out to whoever would take
them stock of pamphlets entitled
Are You Slave" rs Freedom. 8
Myth" Ibid Our Grandsires Die In
vain" Twill You Tamely Submit to
the YokeT'
That evening the peddler told John
Moves and his wife some THINGS tc
make them gasp. and he had the doc.
uinents to back up what he said.
This was government composed, OF
a few rich men, and they were sworn
fbt to let the poor man get fair iv.
ing.
All the Judges were bought and sold.
The great burden of taxation was
borne by the poor.
The rich were entirely to blame. FOR
the high cost of living.
Let rich man steal 100000 and
the judge let him Off with a mild rep
rimand and divided the plumber with
him.
Let a poor man steal frostbitten
potato for his starving children and he
was sent to prison for thirty years,
There was much more of the stuff,
and when the farmer and his wife had
read and heard they were aghast
The farmer had been placid and CON
tent for long years. He had had little
TO worry him, and no one could remem-
Der when be had been seen to lose his
temper. Such man goes all to pieces
when the change comes. He slept very
little that night, and next morning he
did not 90 to work. He sat down TO
read those pamphlets through and
through. He got worked up as he read.
He exclaimed; he swore; he felt blood
thirsty: he pounded with his fist.
Il wouldn't get all het up over IT,"
said the w1re as ne nnaIIy got up ana
stamped around.
"But them burned rich men, Mar
thar
II know. but mebbe they can't help
1T"
And them blamed tyrants!"
''They haven't tried to boss us any"
And them judgesr'
But we don't have any lawsuits"
II tell you, Martha. the people are
being driven to desperation, and the
cry for blood will soon be heard all
over the land"
well, wen stay home and mind our
business"
Once started on the wrongs OF the
people, John Noyes was fanatic.
lie could talk of nothing else. He be- ,
gan planning how to right those
He finally sent commune !
,ation to the county paper reciting the a
of the people and offering him. {
,elf as a leader in the movement TO \
-edress them. He defied the powers I
Il the Unieed States and went so far y
is 10 dare the government to arrest
lin. The spark needed TO fire the
ountry would be struck when min. b
OIL of the tyrant at Washington laid :,
lands on him. Il
After his defy John Noyes loaded his Il
hotgun and retired TO a straw stack ST
o wait for recruits and the army OF g
be United States. Neither the re a
ruits nor the army came. e'
Better give it up, John. and go 2,
ack to the corntield," advised his !.
life. u
But I'm here TO help redress the !,
-rongs." dr
But 1t looks as If the people didn't fu
ant them redressed, and that corn 10
eeds hoelng mighty bad" m
The farmer held out for another day Pc
nd might have made it DAY and II
alf bad not Deacon Travis. who lived ~
mile away. come over to say: y
Hey. John. don't want this coun. 40
y all mussed up jest now" oh
But the tyrants must be wiped out" ne
as the reply. du
II know, but don't wipe 'em Jest ne
wv. Put 1t OF another year." mi
Il don't see how I can" OF
John, you have a bull calf you 81
anted to trade me for a hog The y. ~
& is wuth two of the calf. but IL you !.
e a mind TO give this thing up we'll ~
II il an even trade." 20
Il might do IT," was the doubtful re- me
'. HI
'of course you will" said the wife dr.
I hate 10. deacon. but seeing its vei
u. and seeing the people have not ~
lied 10 throw Of their chains. and .n M