The Glenwood post., 1924-01-03

speech. tHaluly devoted TO the IN
creased value Of that farm he at one
memorable time was going to sell be-
fore Jim's fool notions could be car
ried out.
Colonel Woodrufr made most of the
above points which 1 have filched
from him. He had begun as a re-
former late in life. he said. but he
would leave it to them If he hadn't
worked at the trade steadily after en-.
hstment. He had become follower
of Jim Irwin, because Jims reform
was like dragging the road in front of
your own farm-it was reform right
at home, and not at the county seal.
or Des Moines, or Washington lie
had followed Jim Irwin as he had
followed Lincoln, and Grant. and
Blaine. and McKinley-because Ji;a
Irwin stood for more upward growth
for the average American citizen than
the colonel could see any prospect
of getting from any other choice An!
he was proud to live in country
like this, saved and promoted by the
great men he had followed, and in
neighborhood served and promoted. If
not quite saved, by Jim Irwin. And
he was not so sure about ii not be
ing saved. Every man and nation
had to be saved anew every so often.
and the colonel believed that Jim lr.
wins new kind of rural school is
just as necessary to the salvation of
this country. Il am about to close
my speech" said the colonel. "an1
the small service have been able 10
give to this nation. went through
the war, neighbors-and am proud OF
it; but I've done more good in the
peaceful service of the last three
years than | did in four of fighting
and campaigning. That's the way
feel about what we've done in Con
solidated District Number One" (Vo-
ciferous and long-continued applause,
"Oh, Colonel!" The voice of Angie
Talcott rose from away back near the
kitchen. Can Jennie keep on oein
county superintendent, now she's mar
rled?"
a great guffaw OF laughter reduced
poor Angie to tears; and Jennie had
to go over and comfort her. 1t was
all right for her to ask that and they
ought not to laugh at Angie, so there,
Now you're all right, and let's tall,
about the new schoolhouse and SO
forth. Jennie brought the. smiles
back to Angles face, just in time to
hear Jim tell the people amid louder
cheers that he had been asked to 90
to-. A..
in two states, and had been offered
a fine salary in either place, but that
he wasn't even considering these Of
fers. And about that time. the chill
dren began to get sleepy and cross
and naughty, and the women set in
motion agencies which moved the
crowd homeward.
Before bright wood fire-which
they really didn't need, but how else
was Jim's mother to show off the little
fireplace?-sat Jim and Jennie. They
had been together for week now
this being their homecoming-and had
only begun to get really happy.
Jim sat looking into the fire. OBJ
livious of 1t. When Jennie spoke. her
voice seemed to emanate from Jim's
shirt front.
did you hear" said she. "what
Angie Talcott asked?"
"M'h'm." said Jim.
"WGll." said Jennie, now that I'm
married can I go on being county su-
perintendent?"
There was long silence.
would you like to?" asked Jim.
kind Of" said Jennie: 'if I knew
enough about things to do anything
worth while; but I'm afraid that by
rising to my full height shall always
just fail to be able to see over any
thing"
You've done more for the schools
of the county," said Jim, sin the last
year than any other county superin-
tendent has ever done"
"And we shall need the money so
like-so like the dickens" was Jennie's
rejoinder.
"Oh. not SO badly" laughed Jim,
Except for the first year. I'll have
this little farm paying as much as
some quarter sections when we get
squared about. Why, we can make a
living on this school farm, Jennie-or
I'm not fit to be the head Of the
school,"
There was another silence, during
which Jennie took down her hair. and
wound 1t around Jlm's neck.
ut will settle itself one Of these
days anyhow" said he at last. 'There's
enough to do for both of us right
here"
But they won't pay me-" she pro
tested.
"They don't pay the ministers
wives" said Jim. "and yet, the min
listers with the right sort of wives are
always the best paid. guess you'll
be in the bill, Jennie"
Jim walked to the open window and
1nnknd