"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"Take your time Addy, there's no rush, something could be worked out in the interim. Not had to see where this would be a big decision, but my thought is, if this is what you decide that is right for you and Weedy, well, we'll get it done." Speed said.
"Now, I can't say that we'll ever rival a city of the size of St. Louis, but we'll be big enough. Maybe too big. One can never tell about these things." Phin contributed, "Now take your copper mines, that will bring in men and their families to work the mine, more folks, more homes to be needed, more of everything for that, matter. A bigger school to be sure. Maybe a bigger church as well. So that will bring celebrations of all kinds to our town" He paused, "Now who was it said something about Founders Day?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Founder's Day? There's a cause fer kickin' up yer heels!" Addy laughed. "Good time, just before plantin', an' new foals, pretty flowers everywhere, good time ta celebrate, doncha think?"
Planting season, harvest, calving, branding, a long stretch of hard work for most folks. "Might be somethin' ta get th' season started with a festival, I know Mrs. Pike'd be proud ta prance out her pretty horses." She shrugged. "Some music an' dancin'...been a long time since Christmas an' a time ta Independence Day...could be just th' thing ta shake off Winter!"
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Founder's Day? There's a cause fer kickin' up yer heels!" Addy laughed. "Good time, just before plantin', an' new foals, pretty flowers everywhere, good time ta celebrate, doncha think?"
"So, we got any idea of when this town was founded?" Phin asked. "Might not be til August!" He laughed, About all I really know on the subject was ol' Ishmael Thornton and some other fur trappers established the trading settlement sometime in '08. That would lead me to believe it would have to have been in the spring.'
"Seems to me that would be about right. Getting the settlement set up and running as fast as possible, but with no actual date we would be free to just pick one, and that would mean getting the Town Council's blessing." Speed acknowledged. "I mean, if we were to start something like this, we would have to present the idea and whatever plan for it that we put together."
Speed realizing that it would entail some planning if it was to become something of an annual event for the town. Yet he also believed it would be worth it.
"None of this is something that can't be done, and rather quickly, it's not like it would require a whole lot of events. Enough for a day long celebration." Phin added.
Shaking her head, Addy snorted. "Why ask th' council? I say we just start plannin', can't stop us, can they? An' if they object ta callin' it 'Founder's Day', we just call it somethin' else."
All easy to her, but then, she didn't understand the politics about such things, nor did she care. "Can have a parade, a potluck supper, maybe a horse race, heck, all sorts'a them kid races...potato sack, three-legged, an' what not?"
"What about a circus?" The soft suggestion came from the back of the room, as Tully stepped closer, holding a newspaper. "I read somethin' 'bout a circus comin' to Helena." She held up the paper, hoping her input wouldn't be unwanted.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
"Well, hello Tully, it is good to see you, especially in a better surrounding. Yes! A circus. That would be something, wouldn't it, and i believe that it could be possible to bring it here at some point." Speed agreed, "Wouldn't it?"
"Come Tully sit by the stove here and have some coffee." Phin offered, "A grand idea! Yes, most certainly A circus! Far and away, a much better choice than any medicine show I ever saw!" He grinned from ear to ear, "Girl I believe you've hit on the answer! We can for sure look into that.
Then Speed thought a moment, it was clear that Addy didn't get the politics of most situations, even those that would benefit the community so he said; "Addy, since we have a town government there are certain things that require their approval, and in most cases, it just needs the idea to be presented, and then, it's Matt Wentworth asd the others to see how they can help with this great idea, like the circus, or the parade. It is a simple matter, and their help could be invaluable to what we want to do"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Addy's nose wrinkled up in disgust at the thought that they'd have to involve the town council, but Speed knew about those things more than she did. "I reckon we can put it to 'em."
She gave Tully a smile and a nod as the girl settled into a chair, clutching her coffee in a nervous death-grip. Phin was doing a fine job with her. A few months ago, it would be rare to see the girl out in the daylight, especially with more than one person around, but not only was Tully getting more bold, but her reading was improving.
"I like th' idea of a circus, but how'd we get them here?" Addy asked. They'd have to contact the circus, and that would involve knowing where they were -- might be something in the new article Tully had found -- and would they just come, or would they want some money up front?
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
"I reckon we can put it to 'em."
"Now, that's the spirit Addy, Get everyone involved with the idea." Speed encouraged. "We know it's ours, we'll just let them think they're players in this idea."
"I like th' idea of a circus, but how'd we get them here?" Addy asked.
"Therein lies the problem, now maybe they have some information in the ad that tells how to contact them. I \mean, if people want to hire them, and that is what we would have to do, then there is bound to be a way to get ahold of them." Speed advised. "Makes sense don't it?"
"That it does, is there any contact information in the ad Tully?" Phin asked as the young woman pulled up a chair to join them. "Speed's right, they do have to advertise to get folks to hire them: flyers and the like. Bet there'll be flyers galore in our mail soon enough!"
"Oh, I don't know," Tully muttered in a near-whisper, looking like she was ready to fade into the wall. But she put on a little smile and passed the paper to Addy, who in turn passed it to Phin.
"Reckon they'd have th' schedule there, right?" Addy suggested, "Maybe we could wire 'em in th' next place they're goin', see if they'd wanna come here, as long as they're in th' area?"
It would really be something to have a circus! The pictures, basic line-drawings, showed an elephant, clowns, ladies in skimpy outfits standing on the backs of galloping horses...
"I'd surely like to see all them things, if we can. It's worth askin', right?" Or they could go back to the plan for a festival.
"Every town needs a newspaper."
Phin looked at the paper and the advert for the circus. "Hmmm, yes yes here it is, 'The Harry Orman Traveling Menagerie, Caravan, and Circus. Wire us' - say, this could actually be something that we could put together. We'll get some information on when this 'Founders Day' is andthen see what can be done. Yes, yes, 'wire us at our office in Baraboo, Wisconsin, reply in forty-eight hours.'" Phin was elated, and there was time.
"Why Tully, I believe you've hit on something here. Caravan means they would be coming by wagons. A mite slow, but we have no railroad, but, I too believe this is something that can be done." Speed said. "Get old Hector to wire Orman and see what can be done. Of course, we may have to take a date that they have available, and that may or may not coincide with the actual Founders Day."
"Surely would be worth lookin' into," Addy commented. "Give us some time ta figure on th' logistics...we'd need a big field ta set up in, I could run folks from town if it's too far. Wonder how much they charge?"
She really wasn't sure if the town had to pay up front, or if the circus made their money from charging admission, or eve some sort of combination of the two.
"I hope we can do it," Tully murmured, looking at the others, "I'd truly like ta see some'a them creatures."
Phin had done a fine job of helping Tully to trust him, at least, so she no longer hid during the day, although it was still unusual to see her among this many people. But she knew Speed and Addy were good people and not a threat. Still, it was difficult to stay calm and resist the urge to go back to her room. But this was what Phin would want, and she knew it was 'good' for her, and she really wanted to be 'normal' some day.
"Are they really real? That...elephant, an' critters such as big cats an' giraffes?" It all sounded like tall tales to her, but she did hope such oddities were real!