Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-05-13
HEADING TIE
PROCESSION ON
MEMORIAL DAY
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By NJ. QUAD

ratio Sparrow, Il resident of the VIII
lage of OkemOs, entered the drug store
i'll that burg looking as if he had
something serious OH his mind, and on
being encouraged little he said to the
druggist:
Doc, don't say nothin' to livin'
soul, but the town of Okemos is to be
Jared from center to circumference
this evenin'!"
In what way?" was asked.
Never you mind, but be at the post
office at o'clock. Meanwhile get
ready to feel the earth tremblev'
rs it dynamite, Horatio?" was
gasped.
You be there and seer'
HoratiO was a man that never got
excited when he woke up in the morn
ing and found Il COW i'll his garden, and
the druggist felt quite sure he had
something big on hand. He must have
told about fifty other people what he
told him, for there was big crowd at
the postoffice at o'clock in the even
ing, and all expected to hear big news.
Deacon Holden took charge of things,
as usual, and as the crowd got impa-
tient he said:
ut is understood, feller citizens, that
HoratiO Sparrow is goin' to launch a
thunderbolt here tonight, and it is
with more than ordinary interest that
l call the meetin to order Stand out,
Horatio, and let's hear all about it,"
Horatio stood out. He looked pale,
but determined. He'd been thinking
for week of what he was going to
say, and he started off as smooth as
grease:
'The drums are beatin' wild alarm.
There is a wavin' of flags, a marchin'
of men and wailin' of women and
children. War is upon the land. The
life of the nation is at stake
by John, but that's flow'ry Ian
guage! exclaimed the deacon.
Anything more, Horatio?"
II jest want to call your attention to
the fact that Okemos has never had
Memorial day parade" replied the or
ator. I'VE hev never paraded and nev-
er decorated
by John, but that's strong p'intv'
shouted the deacon. Hang me if Ho-
ratio amt knockin' things edgeways.
No, sir; we've never had a parade nor
decorated any graves, and We ought
to be ashamed of ourselves 1t is your
suggestion that we celebrate the day
this year, Horatio?"
That's pint, deacon"
"And it's as strong as a log chain
Yes, sir; We'll celebrate the day, and In
order to make it howlin' success I'll
agree to take charge of the parade"
But l object to that" said Horatio
"Hevin' originated this idea, think
1t S fur me to ride on horseback at the
head of the procession"
There was painful pause, and then
Abner Jones, who was in fireman's uni
form, jumped off the counter and said:
There shouldn't be no jealousy
about this thing. Horatio would look
purity fine on his spotted horse, and
the deacon would be no SLOUGH in his
cooked hat, but if there's to be any
feelin' over it I'll take the job off their
hands. AS I'm foreman of the fire
company, it comes in my line any
how"
Il don't propose to give up my right
for nobody" said Horatio.
And I'm thinkin' I'm the man to
boss things" added the deacon.
1T appears to me-" said Silas Lap
ham as he stood up and rubbed his
hands together, that we are not work
In in complete harmony in this mat
ter 1t will be the event of the cen
tury. Let us sacrifice any selfish in
terests as individuals and work to make
the affair "a general success"
That's powerful good advice" said
the deacon as he raped on the stove
with his cane-''powerfuI good. l al
lus stand ready to sacrifice, and hope
the rest of you do. Any further pint,
Silas?"
You can call it pint or not" said
S1las, "but bein' there seems to be
controversy here l think it better be
settled by selectin' me to boss things"
III never surrender my rights" said
Horatio Sparrow.
Nor me.' added Deacon Holden.
"Nor me"' yelled Abner Jones.
1t was evident that the meeting was
on the point of breaking up in a row
when Joe Richard came sauntering in
as calmly as could be. The deacon saw
him and called out:
"Feller patriots, before this meetin'
breaks up in a row that will send the
price of Okemos real estate down 30
per cent and put our civilizashun back
fifty years let's hear what Joe Richard
has to say about it,
whats the question: asked Joe.
About Memorial day. Shall we dec
orate:"
Decorate what?"
"Why. the soldiers graves
II don't see how you are goin' to do
it," said Joe as he scratched his ear.
so fur as know or hev bin able to
find out nobody from Okemos went to
war. 1t therefore follers that no Oke-
mos man uroc ava,. l-ilIod fO1lprS