CHAPTER XVIII
THE PARADE AND PICNIC
Announcement was made next day, by Mr. Bergman, that the new firedepartment, of which he was considered the patron, would have a grandparade and picnic in about a week. Members of the fire fightingorganizations of neighboring towns were to be asked to take part, andthere would be competitive drills, sports and games.
The people of Lakeville hardly knew what to think. So many things hadtaken place in the last few months that the town seemed like a personawaking from a long sleep, and finding himself in a new place.
"Lakeville is certainly improving," remarked Mr. Appelby to a group ofmen in the post-office one day, as they were reading the notice aboutthe parade and picnic.
"That's what it is," added Mr. Charles Daven, the aged postmaster anda justice of the peace. "Why there's been more mail come to this hereoffice in the last two weeks than in two months afore."
"How do you account for that?" asked Mr. Appelby.
"Why nearly every resident has written to some friend, tellin' of thenew engines an' fire department, an' the pussons has writ back, askin'how we done it. I know, 'cause lots of 'em writ on postal cards, an' Iread 'em. I read all th' postals you know," he went on, as if that washis privilege, "only now there's gittin' to be so much mail, I don'thalf finish with 'em, 'fore some pusson comes in an' takes 'em away.But business is certainly improvin' wonderful."
"And the taxes will go up likewise," added Mr. Sagger with a scowl.
"Not on account of the fire department," declared the mayor. "Thathasn't cost the town a cent. Mr. Bergman footed the bills."
"But it will in time. He ain't going to live forever."
"Well, the town ought to be glad to pay 'em in a few years. More folkswill come to live here if we have good protection from fire, and ifthe village gets bigger the taxes will be less."
"Well, I ain't going to pay any more," declared the miserly butcher.
Preparations for the picnic went on rapidly. Tillman's grove was onthe edge of the lake, about three miles from Lakeville, and socialgatherings were frequently held there in the summer time.
It was planned that the new fire department would parade through thetown, hauling the chemical engines with them, go out to the groundsand there take part in a competitive drill which Mr. Bergman hadarranged with the assistance of Bert and Vincent, and the chiefs ofsome nearby departments.
In order that there would be protection to Lakeville, in case a fireshould occur during the picnic, Constable Stickler was to be left onguard part of the day, and a man would relieve him at a certain hour,so that the old official might see part of the fun. In case of a fire,a messenger was to be dispatched on horseback, to summon thedepartment.
It was also planned to have the old hand engine in the parade, some ofthe smaller boys begging for the privilege of hauling this, a requestwhich was quickly granted by Bert and his chums.
"Going to parade, Moses?" asked Mr. Appelby of the butcher, theevening before the day of the picnic.
"Parade? Not much! I wouldn't be seen with them whipper-snappers ofboys."
"Well, those boys are all right, let me tell you. If it hadn't beenfor Herbert Dare and his crowd, Lakeville wouldn't have a fine firedepartment to-day, and your shop would be down to the ground. Andanother thing, insurance is less. I renewed mine to-day, and the agentsaid he could give me a lower rate, as the risk of loss from fire wasless now that we had two good chemical engines."
"If we had enlarged the bucket brigade it would have done just aswell, and saved a lot of money," declared the butcher.
"Oh, nonsense. You're an old fossil, Moses. Why Lakeville amounts tosomething to-day. Jamesville folks can't laugh at us any longer fornot having an engine. I'm proud to live in Lakeville, and I didn't useto be. Guess I'll run for mayor again."
"I thought you said you wasn't going to," said Mr. Sagger quickly, ashe knew he was pretty sure of the nomination, if the genial Mr.Appelby, whom everyone liked, did not enter the contest.
"Well, I've changed my mind. It's an honor to be mayor of a town witha good fire department."
Mr. Sagger said nothing, but he thought much.
No one could have wished for a better day than that of the parade andpicnic. It was a trifle warm, but it would be cool in the grove nearthe lake. The boys were up early, attired in their new uniforms, andafter an early breakfast headed for one or the other of the two enginequarters.
The two machines were polished so one could see his face in them.There had been but one fire since they arrived, and that was a smallone in an old shed. The engine in Cole's barn had been used to put outthe blaze, and the quick manner in which it accomplished the taskshowed the boys of what sort of work the chemical was capable.
The other machine was as untried as the day it came off the train, butit was known to be in good working order. It was planned to have adrill between the two Lakeville companies, to see which could quickestget to a fire from a certain spot, and the one which won in thatcontest, would enter another in which would compete the departmentsfrom Jamesville, Weedsport and Northville Centre. A prize of a silvertrumpet had been offered by Mr. Bergman for the company doing the bestand quickest work.
At last all was in readiness for the parade. Mr. Bergman had engaged aband, and, to the thrilling strains of a lively march, the twochemical companies, with their machines, and the younger boys, incharge of the old hand engine, stepped out, and began a tour of thetown.
How proud the lads were in their gay uniforms! It was the first timethey had all been together, and the bright sunshine illuminating theirranks, and reflecting from the polished surfaces of the engines, madea picturesque scene.
Herbert Dare led his company in front, and behind him came fifteenboys, dragging on the long rope. In the rear of the engine came fiveother lads, armed with axes and long hooks, which were part of the newequipment.
In the second division was Vincent and his company, while at the rearbrought up the smaller boys with the hand engine. Altogether it made afine showing for Lakeville.
After marching through the principal streets of the town, and beingadmired by the throngs that gathered, the young firemen set off forthe picnic ground. Thither, also, went most of the inhabitants ofLakeville, for it was a chance that might never come again, andeveryone who could, took advantage of it.
"Whew! But it's hot!" exclaimed Cole, who was marching along besideBert, no particular formation being maintained on the road to thegrounds.
"You'll be cooler pretty soon," consoled the young chief. "I wonder ifwe can beat those fellows?" he added, referring to the members of theother fire companies.
"I'm not afraid of the Northville Centre bunch," declared Cole, "butJamesville is a different proposition. The chief there is a hustler,and I understand they are pretty quick. They've had lots of practice."
"So have we."
"But not with the chemical engines."
"Oh, well, I guess we can make out pretty well. Thank goodness,there's the grove. I'm almost melted."
The boys found a goodly crowd already assembled. The Jamesville firedepartment had arrived, and they greeted the Lakeville boys withcheers. Soon after this the Weedsport and Northville Centrecontingents arrived.
Mr. Bergman had named a committee to see after the sports and games,and the members of this soon had things going. There were runningraces, walking matches, jumping contests, wheelbarrow and bag races,and tied-leg races, wherein two men, with their inner legs strappedtogether, did almost everything but run.
But what everyone was anxiously looking forward to were the firedrills. Though the boys of Lakeville took part in the other games,winning some of the contests, they waited with impatience for the mainitems on the program.
Very realistic contests had been arranged. In a big field, adjoiningthe grove, Mr. Bergman had caused to be erected six small sheds,constructed of old lumber, and filled with empty packing boxes. Tomake the fire burn more fiercely kerosene oil had been poured over theboxes.
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The idea was to let the two companies of Lakeville have a chance firstto see what they could do in the way of putting out a fire. They wereto start from the same place, race toward the burning shacks, and thecompany which first put out the blaze was to be declared the winner.Then a four-cornered contest, among the Jamesville, Weedsport andNorthville Centre firemen, and the winner of the Lakeville event,would strive for the honor of carrying home the silver trumpet.
When all was in readiness, with the two divisions of the Lakevilleboys lined up at their respective machines, Mr. Bergman set fire totwo of the shacks. In an instant they were enveloped in flames.Waiting until the fire was at its height, Mr. Bergman gave the word tostart.
"Now, boys!" cried Bert to his men. "Show 'em how we do it!"
"Run! Run!" yelled Vincent, to his lads, "We want the chance tocompete in the finals!"
With a rumble of the big wheels over the rough ground, the twochemical engines were hauled toward the blazes.