The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-01-04

marks. There was silence when he
came alongside the window at the
right Of the chalrman's desk, a silence
broken by the voice Of Old Man Slmms,
saying "Mistah Chairman !"
"The chair" said the voice of Ezra
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. forbidding 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 no speaker" said Old
Man Simms, "but All CANT set here
and be quiet an go home an face my
ole woman an my boys an gyuhls
withouten sayin' a word To- the best
friend any family evan had. Mr.. Jim
Irwin" (Applause.) Maybe Ah'll be
thought forrard to speak hyah, bein'
as All amt no learnin' an some may
think All don't pay no taxes; but
seein' 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 taxes in our rent, All
reckon. an howsomever that may be,
Alive come to feel that you-aIl won't
think hard Of me II 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 on"
you've got as good a right as any
onel" You're all right, old man w
Such EXPLANATIONS as these came to
Jim's ears with scarcely less grateful
who stammered and went on.
"Ah thank you-all kindly. Gentlemen
an ladies, when Mr.. Jim Irwin found
us, we was scandalous pore, an we
was wuss'n pore-we was low-down."
(Cries of "No-Nor)
"Yes, we was, becuz when a man
gets in a new place, he's got to lift
himself up to what folks does where
he's come to, or he'll make a place
fer himself lower'n anybody else. In
the mountings we was good people,
becuz we done the best we could an
the best any one done; but hyah, we
was low-down people becuz we hated
the people that had mo- learnln', mo-
land, mo- money, an mo- friends than
what we had. My little gyuhls wasn't
respectable in their clothes. My chill
dern was igernant. an triflin', but I
was the most trifiin' of all. Anil leave
1t to Colonel Woodruff If 1 was good
fer a plug Of terbacker, or a bakin'
of flour at any sto' In the county. Was
I, Colonel? Wasn't perfectly wuth-
less an trifiin'?"
There was a ripple Of laughter, In
the midst Of which the colonel's voice
was heard saying, II guess you were.
Mr.. Simms. guess you were, but"
'Thankee," said Old Man Simms, as
II the colonel had given a really valu-
able testimonial to his character. 81
sho' wasl Thankee kindly An now.
what am 1 good ferf CANT get sny-
thing / want at the stores? CANT I |
III
got to have it,"
you're just as good as any man in
the district" said the colonel. "You |
don't ask for more than you can pay.
and you can get all you ask"
''Thankee," said Mr.. Simms gravely.
"What All tell you-all is right, ladies
and gentlemen. An what has made
the change in we-uns, ladies and gentle
men? It's the wuk of Mr.. Jim Irwin
with my boy Raymond, the best boy
any man evan he'd, and my gyuhl, Ca
ista, an Buddy, an Jimmie. an with
me an my ole woman.
"He showed us how to get a toe-holt
INTO this new kentry. He teached the
children what orto be did by a rentin'
farmer In Ioway. He done lifted us
up. an made people of US. He done
showed US that you-all is good people,
IN not what we thought you WIS.
)uten what he learned in school, my
10Y Raymond an me made as good
,rops as we could last summer, an
lone right much wuk outside. We got
he name of bein' good farmers an
rood wukkers, an when Mr. Blanchard
moved to town. he said he was glad to
i've us his fine farm for five years.
Now. see what Mr. Jim Irwin has
lone for pack O. outlaws and out
asts. lnstid o. hjdin' out from the
iobdays, that was laywayin' us In the
nountings. well 0e Twin In a house
With two chimleys an swimmin' tub
made Outen crock-ryware. Well be IT,
ebt a whole lot-an' we owe 1t to
IT. Jim Irwin that we got the credit
D git in debt with. an the courage to
o on and git out aginl" (Applause.) ,
"Ah could affo'd to pay Mr.. Jim Ir- ,
'ins salary myself, II All could. An :
here's enough men hyah tonight that :
ny they've been m0ney-he'ped by his
aachin' the school to make up mo-
nan his wages. Let's not let Mr.. Jim
win 20, neighbors Let's not let :,
i'm COR
Jims heart warmed. There isn't a
IAN in that meeting" said he to him
IF, as he walked to the schoolhouse !,
Dor possessed of the greatness of .
lirif of Old Man Simms III he's a