He had been successful so
often, that with him success was a duty, for he had a reputation to
maintain.
"Mister Moderator," he said, "I'm agin appropriatin' any more money for
this 'ere town lib'ry. We hev got plenty of schoolbooks in our schools;
we hev got plenty of books and newspapers in our houses, and it's my
opinion thet those people who spend their time crawlin' up three flights
er stairs and readin' those books had better be tillin' ther soil,
poundin' on ther anvil, or catchin fish. Neow, I wuz talkin' with Miss
Burpee, the librari'n, and she sez they want a new Wooster's
Dictshuneery, 'cause ther old one iz all worn eout. Neow, I looked
through the old one, and I couldn't see but what it's jest as good as
ever; there may be a few pages missin', but what's thet amount ter when
there's more'n a couple of thousan' on 'em left?"
Mr. Tobias Smith was again fidgeting in his seat. He evidently had
something to say and was anxious to say it.
Mr. Butterfield continued: "Neow, to settle this question onct fer all,
I make ther motion that this 'ere lib'ry be closed up and the librari'n
discharged; she gits a dollar a week, and ther town ken use that
fifty-two dollars a year, in my opinion, to better advantege.
Pages:
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440