The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-12-06

HAAs AC ACdAu - Oul0l VI 0R
plause, from which he judged thai
some speaker had just finished his re
marks. There vas silence when ht
came alongside the window at the
right Of the chairman's desk, a silence
broker by the voice of Old Man Simms
saying "Mistah Chairman !"
1.-The chair" said the voice of Ezrs
Bronson, recognizes Mr.. Simms."
Jim halted in indecision. He was
not expected while the debate was in
progress. There is no-rule of manners
or morals, however. f%orbidding caves
dropping during the proceedings of a
public meeting. Therefore he listened
to the first and last public speech of
Old Man Simms.
"Ah amt M speaker" said Old
Man Simms, "but All CANT set here
n be quiet an go home an face my
ole woman an my boys an gyuhls
w%lthouten sayin' a word TO- the best
friend any family evan had, Mr.. Jim
Irwin (Applause.) Maybe Ah'H be
thought forrard to speak hyah, bein'
as All amt no learnin' an some may
think All don't pay no taxes; but
seem as how we've took the Blanch-
ard farm, a hundred an sixty acres,
for five yeahs, an move In a week from
Sat'day, we pay axes in our rent, All
reckon, an howsomever that may be,
Alive come to feel that you-aIl won't
think hard of me if All speak what
we-uns feel so strong about Mr.. Jim
IRWIN"
Old Man Simms finished this ex-
ordium with the rising infection, which
denoted a direct question as to his
status in the meeting. go orr
You've got as good a right as any
one!" You're all right, old man."
Such EXPLANATIONS as these came to
Jim's ears with scarcely less grateful
ness than to those Of Old Mar Simms
who stammered and went on.
"Ah thank you-all kindly. Gentlemen
ladies, when Mr.. Jim irwin found
we was s%candalous pore, an we
was wuss'n pore-we was low-down."
(Cries of "No-No!")
Eyes, we was, becuz when a man
gets in a new place, he's got to lift
himse'f up to what folks does where
he's come to, or he'll make a place
fer himself lower'n anybody else. In
mountings we was good people,
becuz we done the best we could an
he best any one done; but hyah, we
was low-down people becuz we hated
he people that had mo- learnin', mo-
and, mo money, an mo friends than
what we had. My little gyuhls wasn't
in their clothes. My chill
1ern was igernant, an t%rifin', but /
vas the most trilin' of all. Anil leave
t to Colonel Woodruff If / was good
'er a plug of %terbacker, or a bakin'
# flour at any sto' in the county. Was
!, Colonel? Wasn't I perfectly wuth-
ess an trifin'?"
There was a ripple Of laughter, in
he midst Of which the colonels voice
vas heard saying, ." guess you were,
ar. Simms. ! guess you were, out
'Thankee," said Old Man Simms, as
liz NOlOAlCI Hdd SlfCH a lCdlly All
Bile testimonial to his character. 81
ho' was! Thankee kindly An now,
that am l good fer? CANT l get any
hing | want at the stores? CANT l
it a little money at the bank, if l
OF to have it,"
You're just as good as any man in
he district" said the colonel. you /,
ont ask for more than you can pay, /
nd you can get all you ask" !
'Thankee," said Mr.. Simms gravely. !
What All tell you-all is right, ladies !
gentlemen. An what has made {
le change in we-uns, ladies and gentle /
en-? It's the wuk of Mr.. Jim Irwin
18th my boy Raymond, the best boy B
~ man evan he'd, and my gyuhl, Ca /
sta, an Buddy. an jimmie, an with 5
e an my ole woman. B
He showed us how to get a toe-holt &
this new kentry. He teached the b
ildren what orto be did by a rentin' b
rmer In Ioway. He done lifted US h
}, an made people of us. He done b
owed us that you-all is good people, B
! not what we thought you was. n
item what he learned in school, my n
y Raymond an me made as good B
Dps as we could last summer, an b
right much wuk outside. We got 81
e name of bein' good farmers an 81
cd walkers, an when Mr.. Blanchard "a
we'd to town, he said he was glad to 81
ve us his fine farm for five years. OK
Now, see what Mr.. Jim Irwin has u
ne for d pack O. outlaws and out B
its. lnstid o. hidin' out from the "a
bdays that vas laywayin' us in the a
untings. We'll be Twin in a house =
n two chimleys an a swimmin' tub
de outen crock-ryware. Well be in eli
IT a whole lOt-an' we owe it to oil
Jim Irwin that we got the credit =
git in debt with. an the courage to
on and git out agin" (Applause.)
All could affo'd to pay Mr.. Jim IT.
IS salary myself, II All could. An d
res enough men hyah tonight that q
they've been money-he'ped by his
chin the school to make up mo-
n his wages. Let's not let Mr.. Jim
in go, neighbors! Let's not let d