Evening star., 1941-11-09

Just come nom Town nall meeting TIC tOlu
Wilczek what we'd decided. Then he waved
hand at the tree and said, "Therell be no
finer fagpole IN the State of Vermont
Wllczek was not what you d call quick to
understand He scowed at the pine for some
time. and then looked hard at Jeff. You
want to cut down my tree?" he said.
jeff said that was the idea.
NO" Wiczek said and shook his head.
This was something we hadn' looked for,
and it struck us as being mighty narrow.
After all, WilCzek was citizen of Farmvllle
like the rest of us, and ought to have some
feeling for the town, even if he was queer
sort who never attended town meetings.
left had more patience than the rest of us.
When we began mutterng and sending dark
looks at Wilczek, Jeff gave us stare that
shut us up. Then he explained to Wilczek
50 even child could understand, why the
town had to have that tree. Its not as If
we wanted your tree for some mercenary
reason. This tree will fly Old Glory. Doesn't
that mean anything to you"
WnCzEK was stubborn. "She is my tree.
on my land. You have to find some other"
But you've got any number of trees! You
won't feel the loss of this one!'
Some other tree" Wilczek said. Il am
sorry"
His little girl stepped forward then shy
as a rabbit but anxious to say something.
You gentlemen don't understand My father
doesn't know how to say it, but -
Wiczek turned her away from U.s. ELLA,
he said you go in the house.
But, Pa -"
GO in the house,
The little girl went away. looking back at
us Wiczek said again, Il am sorry. Some
other tree. Then he went away.
WELL" | said, that's that
We we're all pretty sore, because we hadn't
foreseen anything like this and didn't have
any idea what to do about it, Delbert Hub
bard said there was white pine back of his
place we could have, but he thought it was
pretty old and might break up when we
felled it.
Matthew Selley. who runs the Main Street
garage thought he'd seen good tree - he
didn't know what kind - near the falls on
Hemlock Brook.
Jeff Graham just glared at them. The
town wants this tree he said. and the
towns going to get this tree
It's his property l pointed out
Then we'll buy the tree. Wen take up
collection
1t was my job to keep track of the money
that came in | also called on half the towns
people personally. including Miss Wallet.
the schoolteacher. Were collecting money
for nagpole to stand in front of the town
hall" told her.
She gave me dollar and seemed real inter
ested IT'S high time" she declared. that
this town developed some patriotism! Heaven
knows I've been working on it hard enough.
I've even had the children writing essays
on why they are glad to be Americans
Miss WALLET is brisk kind of woman,
who speaks her mind at great length. didn't
want to get into any argument with her.
She said, Are you planning ceremony
at the dedication of the flagpole, Mr.. Evans?"
We'll, we haven't talked about it.
You certainly should!" she declared.
But I'll take care of that. You leave that
part of it to me, and assure you it will be
in capable hands. Among other things -
and she was already planning away like
politician - I'VE must have a reading of our
prize essay on Americanism. Indeed we
must"