ettle. He had never
seen any candy just like that, and wondered if he had better try a
piece. The speaking on the stand attracted and held his attention,
however. Oratory always had a powerful attraction for him. He moved
forward and stood leaning against a tree.

Seats had been arranged in a semi-circle around the stand, on which the
speakers of the day, the band, and the singers were already grouped.
All around, leaning against the trees, twined in the branches of the
oaks, or ranked against the railing, were the banners and mottoes of
the various granges. No. 10, Liberty Grange, "Justice is our Plea."
Meadow Grange, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Bethel Grange,
"Fraternity." Other mottoes were "Through Difficulties to the Stars";
"Equal Rights to All, Special Privileges to None." A small organ sat
upon the stand surrounded with the singers. Milton, resplendent in his
sash and his white vest and black coat, sat beside the organist Eileen,
the daughter of Osmond Deering.

The choir arose to sing, accompanied by the organ, and their voices
rolled out under the vaulted aisles of foliage, with that thrilling,
far-away effect of the singing voice in the midst of illimitable
spaces. This was followed by prayer, and then Mr. Deering, the
president, called upon everybody to join in singing the national
anthem, after which he made the opening address.

He spoke of the marvellous growth of the order, how it had sprung up
from the soil at the need of the farmer; it was the first great
movement of the farmer in history, and it was something to be proud of.
The farmer had been oppressed. He had been helpless and would continue
helpless till he asked and demanded his rights. After a dignified and
earnest speech he said:--"I will now introduce as the next speaker Mr.
Isaac Hobkirk."

Mr. Hobkirk, a large man with a very bad voice, made a fiery speech.
"Down with the middlemen," he cried, and was applauded vigorously.
"They are the blood-suckers that's takin' the life out of us farmers.
What we want is to deal right with the manufacturers, an' cut off these
white-handed fellers in Rock River who git all we raise. Speechifyin'
and picnickin' is all well an' good, but what we want is _agents_. We
want agents f'r machinery, wheat buyers, agents f'r groceries, that's
what we want; that's what we're here for; that's what the grange was
got together for. Down with the middlemen!"

This brought out vigorous applause and showed th