verous features with a red silk
pocket-handkerchief, and inquired, sarcastically, "Am I to understand
that freedom of speech is interdicted in this hall?"

"Freedom of speech is in order," said the chairman calmly, "provided
the speaker confines himself to the question under discussion. You have
spoken fifteen minutes without once touching it."

"I suppose you want me to praise the Administration," said Holman,
evidently thinking that he had demolished the chairman. He looked around
to observe what effect his shot had produced.

"That would be equally out of order," ruled the presiding officer. "We
have not assembled to praise or to censure the Administration, but to
consider in what manner we shall go to work to raise our quota."

Holman sat down with the air of a martyr.

Mr. Frost rose next. It is unnecessary to report his speech. It was
plain, practical, and to the point. He recommended that the town
appropriate a certain sum as bounty money to volunteers. Other towns had
done so, and he thought with good reason. It would undoubtedly draw in
recruits more rapidly.

A short, stout, red-faced man, wearing gold spectacles, rose hastily.

"Mr. Chairman," he commenced, "I oppose that suggestion. I think it
calculated to work serious mischief. Do our young men need to be hired
to fight for their country? I suppose that is what you call patriotism.
For my part, I trust the town will have too much good sense to agree to
any such proposition. The consequence of it would be to plunge us into
debt, and increase our taxes to a formidable amount."

It may be remarked that Squire Haynes, the speaker, was the wealthiest
man in town, and, of course, would be considerably affected by increased
taxation. Even now he never paid his annual tax-bill without an inward
groan, feeling that it was so much deducted from the sum total of his
property.

Mr. Frost remained standing while Squire Haynes was speaking, and at the
close continued his speech:

"Squire Haynes objects that my proposition, if adopted, will make
our taxes heavier. I grant it: but how can we expect to carry on this
gigantic war without personal sacrifices? If they only come in the form
of money, we may account ourselves fortunate. I take it for granted
that there is not a man here present who does not approve the present
war--who does not feel that we are waging it for good and sufficient
reasons."

Here Mr. Holman moved uneasily in his seat, and seemed on th