160 THE COUNTRY BOY 



The proprietor of the rink tried to collect 

 damages from father, and I think there was a 

 compromise made. But the skating rink had 

 one moral effect upon the people of Silverton 

 that it might never have had, as the town was 

 full of philosophers, mathematicians and 

 smart men, and none of them would have be- 

 lieved if they hadn't seen it, that just a little 

 wet feather could break a pane of glass. 



The next Fourth of July Silverton was 

 down on the bulletin boards for a celebration, 

 and as in all small country towns on such 

 occasions, the village was keyed up to its 

 highest pitch. Long before noon our barn- 

 yard had commenced to fill with wagons and 

 hacks belonging to friends and relatives and 

 a few people we owed, and among the wagons 

 I recognized that of father's brother. Uncle 

 Ben, who lived up in the Waldo Hills. When 

 Uncle Ben came to town, he always put his 

 team in our barn and came into the house to 

 joke and talk business, and though he was full 

 brother to my father. Uncle never ate with us 

 for the simple reason that my father ate plain 

 food, while Uncle Ben didn't care to waste anv 

 time with anytliing but fancy cooking. His 



