Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-04
CHAPTER ".
fContinued.)

To Aunt Deel men-folks were
careless, irresponsible and mis-
chievous lot who had to be looked
after all the time or there was nc
telling what would happen 10 them
She slipped some extra pairs oil
socks and a bottle of turpentlne IN
to the pack basket and told us what
we were to do If we got wet feet OF
sore throats or stomach ache.
Aunt Deel kissed me lightly on
the cheek with a look that seemed
to say, There, I've done it at last,
and gave me little poke with her
hand q remember thinking what
an extravagant display of affection
it wasD and many cautions before l
got into the wagon with Mr.. wright
and my uncle. We drove up tie
hills and l heard little that the men
said for my thoughts were busy. we
arrived at the cabin of Bill Seaver
that stood on the river bank Just
above Rainbow Falls. Bill stood IN
his dooryard and greeted us with
a loud Hello. there."
want TO go fishing" Uncle Pea
body called.
You bet l do. GOSH I aint had
no fun since | went to Joe Brown s
funeral an that day I enjoyed my
self damned if l didn't! Want to
go up the river?"
1--WE thought we'd go up to your
camp and fish a day or two"
'All right. Well hitch in tn>
bosses. My wifeIl take care Of 'em
till we git back. Say 1t looks as
fishy rs hell, don't it,"
This is Mr.. Silas Wright-the
Comptroller" said Uncle Peabody.
at is, Gosh almighty! I ought
to have knOwed it," said Bill Sea-
changed like magic to those of awed
respect. Il see We in the court one
day years ago If I'd knowed twas
you l wouldn't "a swore as l did. ="
The men began laughing and then
he added: Damned if 1 would"
at won't hurt me any-the boy
is the ape" said Mr.. Wright as he
took my hand and strolled up che
river bank with me. l rather fear
ed and dreaded those big roaring
men like Bill Seaver.
The horses were hitched in and
the canoes washed out. Then we
all turned and dug some angle
worms. The poles were brought
lines, hooks and sinkers were made
ready and in an hour oT so we were
on our way up the river, Mr.
Wright and I and Uncle Peabody
being IN one of the canoes, the lat
ter working the paddle
| remember, how, as we went
along, Mr.. Wright explained the
fundamental theory of his politics.
| gave strict attention because of
my pride in the fact that he includ-
ed me in the illustration of his
point. This in substance is what
he said, for l can not pretend to
quote his words with precision all
though l think they vary little from
his own, for here before me is the
composition entitled THE Comp.
troller." which l wrote two years
later and read at lyceum in the
district schoolhouse.
We are a fishing party. There
are four of us who have come to-
gether with one purpose-that of
catching fish and having a good
time. We have elected Bill guide
because he knows the river and
the woods and the fish better than
We do. It's Bits duty to give us
the benefit of his knowledge, and
to take us TO and from camp and
cut of the woods at our pleasure
and contribute in all reasonable
ways to ours comfort. He is the
servant of his party. Now if Bill,
having approved our aim and ac-
cepted the job from us, were TO try
to force a new aim upon the party
and insist that we should all Join
him in the sport of catching butter
flies, we would soon break up. III
we could agree on the butterfly pro-
gram that would be one thing, but
If we held to our plan and Bill
stood out, he would be traitor TO
his party and a fellow of very bad
AS long as the aims Of
my party are. in the main, right, I
believe its commands are sacred.
Always in our country the will of
the greatest number ought to pre-
vail-right or wrong 1t has a right
even to make mistakes, for through
them it should learn wisdom and