Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-01-03

right Of the ehalrman's desk. a silence
broken by the voice Of Old Man Simms,
4 saying .AIistah Chairman -
"The chair" said the voice OF Ezra
Bronson. recognizes Mr.. Simmss
Jim halted In INDIGESTION. He was
not expected while the debate was In
progress. There Is no rule OF manners
or morals, however. forblddIng caves
dropping during the proceedings OF a
public meeting. Therefore he listened
to the first and last public speech OF
Old Nun Simms.
"Ah amt no speaker said Old
Man Simms. but An CANT set here
and be quiet an so home an face my
ole woman an. my boys an gyuhls
withOuten sayin' a word 70 the best
friend any family evan had. Mr.. Jim
Irwin" tApplause.l Maybe Ahll be
thought forrard to speak hyah, beln'
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 yeqhs. an move In aaweek from.
Satday, we pay taxes In our rent, All
reckon, an hows0mever that may be,
Ah'ye come to feel that you-all won't
think hard Of me II An speak what
we-uns feel so strong about Mr.. Jitn
Irwin"
Old Man Slmms finished this ex-.
ordium with the rising infection. which
denoted a direct question as to his
status in the meeting. eco on -
you've got as good right as any
oner You're all right, old manpP
Such ordinations as these came to
inns ears with scarcely less grateful
ness than to those Of cid Afar eimms
-whozstammered and went on.
"Ah thank you.all kindly. Gentlemen
an ladies' when Mr.. Jim Irwin found
us we was scandalOns pore, an we
was wuss'n pors-=xa was low-down."
tCries OF 'NO-Noip1
Yes. we was, becuz when a man
gets in new place. mes 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. II
1.-The mountlngs 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 trihIn', but
was the most trlflin Of all. Ah'tl leave
it to Colonel Woodruff II / was good
fer a plug OF terbncker, or a bakin'
Of -four at any sto' In the county. Was
/. Colonel? Wasn't perfectly with.
less an trlnIn'7"
There was ripple OF laughter, In
the midst OF which the colonel's voice |
was heard saying, Il guess you were,
Mr.. simms. guess you were, but"
sEhankee." said Old Man SImms as
II the colonel had given a really valu.
able testimonial to his character. y
sho' was Thankee kindly An now,
what am good fer? CANT get any.
thing ! want Mt the stores7 CANT I
git little money at the bank, II I |
got to have TT"
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"
Thanked" said Mr.. Slmms grayely.
what All tell you-aII 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 eVnh he'd, and my gyuhl, Ca
llsta. an Buddy. an jimmie, an with
me an my ole woman.
"He showed as how to get to- aolt
into this new kentry. He teached the
elsiltirefl what efte did ~ -seHtin,
farmer In Ioway. He done lifted US
up. an made people Of us. He done
showed Us that YaH-all Is good people,
an not what we thought you was.
9uten what he learned Ia school, my
boy Raymond an me made as good
crops as We could last summer. an
done right much wuk outside. We got
the name OF beIn' good farmers an
good wukkers an when Mr. Blanchard
moved to town. he said he was glad TO
give us his fine farm for FIVE years.
~Now. see what Mr.. Jim Irwin has
done for pack O. outlaws and out
casts. Instld o. hldin' out from the
that was laywayin us IN the
wen be Twin in a house
with twO ChfmIeys an swimnin' rub
made Outen crock-ryware. Wen be In
debt a whole lOt--an we owe Il 10
MFR. Jim Irwin that we got the credit
10 git in debt with. an the courage TO
90 on and git out aglnl !" tApplause.)
"Ab could affo'd to pay Mr.. Jim r.
WINS salary myself, If All could An {
here's enough men hyah tonight that s
say they've been money-he'ped by his q
.eachin' the school to make up mo-
han his wages. Let's not let Mr. Jim
irwin go, nelghborsl Let's not let
lin gol'
Jlm's heart warmed. There isn't a
nan in that meetiRg" said he to him
elf, as he walked TO the sehoelhouse