The Washington herald., 1915-02-07
LEADING THE PROCESSION

It was about week before Decoration
DAY. Il few Years ago, that one HoratiO
sparrow. a resident of the village ol
ui"nos. entered the drug store in that
h.rGh looking as il he had something
~'Ii"us on his mind, and on being en-
outraged little he said to the drug
-ist.
DO. don't say nothin' to a livin' soul,
hut the town OF Okemos Is to be Jared
from center to circumference this
in what way" was asked.
Never YOU mind. but be al the post
office at o'clock. Meanwhile, get ready
ru feel tho earth trcmblc,'
Is II dynamite. lIoratiu. WAS gasped.
You be there and sec.
liuratiO WAS man that never got eX-
cited when lie woke up in the morning
:md found a cow in his garden. and the
druggist felt quite sure he had some
rLiuE big on hand. lie must have told
about fifty other people what he did him.
lIr there was a big crowd at the poStOf-
ice a. : o'clock in the evening, and all
NpcCteG TO hear big news Deacon
Holden took charge of things. as usual.
.ni as the crowd got impatient he said
at is understood. feller-CitiZenS, that
lIoTatIO sparrow L. EOin' TO launch Il
thUnderbOlt here tonight. and il is with
more than ordinary interest that ! call
IH- M, in 10 order. Stand out, HOratiO
and let hear all about it"
HITHtiO stood out. He looked pale, but
determined. He'd bin thinkin' fur a
week "f what he was GOin' to say, and
hG started off as smooth as grease.
The drums are bcatin' a wild alarm.
There is a wavin' of flags. marChin'
0f men and a wailin' OF women and chill
drcn. War is upon the land. The life
of the nation is at stake. 1t is an
hour when men are called upon to give
up their lives fur tho sake of principle -
BY John. but that's flOwry language"
Exclaimed the deacon as HOratiO paused.
I'm fur lectin him TO the next Iegisla-
tUrr."
The farmer leaves his pIow.' con-
'iHued HOratiO. the merchant his store,
and the mechanic his bench. They
march away TO find the enemy and fight
him and die. Yes; they yield up their
lives that We may live on in peace. and
II we forEit the sacrifice we ought to
wither away like a burdock in Novem-
bcrv'
Gentlemen, said the deacon as the
applause had subSided, up to the present
mint Horatio Sparrow has knocked the
I'm proud to know that no is a citizen
Of Okemos. Anything more, Horatio?'
I jest want to call your attention to
tho fact that Okemos has never had a
Decoration day parade" replied the or
ator. We hev never pRraded and never
decorated. and ! say it's a burnin' shame
and ought to be Temedied at once"
by John. but that's a strong pintI'
shouted the deacon. Hang me, II Ho-
ratio amt knockin things edEeways. No,
sir; we've never had a parade nor dec
orated any graves, ana We ought TO be
ashamed Of ourselves. 1t is your sug-
Eestion that we celebrate the day this
year. Horatio?''
That's a pint. deacon"
and it's as strong as a log chain. Yes,
sir; Wen celebrate the day, and in order
to make 1t a howlin' success I'll agree
to take charge of the parade"
But object TO that said Horatio.
"Hevin' originated this idea, ] think it's
fur me to ride on horseback at the head
Of the procession
There was a painful pause, and then
Abner Jones, who was in fireman's uni
form, jumped of 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 slouch in his cooked hat
but IL there's to be any feelin' over Il
I'll take the job on their hands. As Tn
foreman OF the fire company, il comes in
my line. anyhow
Il don't propose TO give up my right
for nobody said Horatio.