Director Donald stated in reply that B. Webster Legal was a member of the auditing committee as well as himself, and, doubtless, knew the bill had been approved of long ago, but that there were no funds with which—
“Order!” shouted the chairman, punching his goldheaded cane vigorously into the floor. “I sustain the point of order made by this corporation’s attorney. Let us now proceed with the deliberations of weighty and progressive questions.”
Gen. Ira House sat propped back in his chair in a retired corner of the room, and until now had maintained silence, save the fetching and labored puffs of his cigar, which almost completely enveloped him in a cloud of smoke. As he straightened himself up, he pushed his chair in front of him, elevated one foot to the seat and rested his left elbow on his elevated knee. He wore an expression on his face becoming a philosopher. "Mr. Chairman,” said he, “it seems to me we’re drifting.” He looked wise and waited a moment for his remark to take effect. “Drifting,” he continued, “is weakness. If we drift, we scatter; if we scatter, we fall. Now, gentlemen,” he continued, “we must not drift. There are important business matters awaiting our attention. I hold in my hand a letter from a party who wants to know if Waterville would not be a good place to start a foundry. Now, gentlemen, do we want a foundry at Waterville, or do we not? That is the question before this meeting.”
As Gen. House sat down, the crowd cheered him lustily, stamped their feet, clapped their hands, and cries of “Good!”
“That’s business!” “That’s the talk!” were heard on all sides among the citizens who were listening with bated breath to the proceedings of the Town Company’s meeting.
“I move,” said Jack House, “that we want a foundry at Waterville, and resolutions to that effect be prepared, inviting the party, whoever he is, to locate his foundry here.”
“Order, gentlemen!” shouted the chairman, again clearing his throat. “Mr. Secretary, please record in the minutes of this meeting, if there are no objections, the unanimous vote in favor of the foundry, and prepare a set of elaborate resolutions, which we will sign, inviting the party making the inquiry to come at once to Waterville and locate his foundry.”
The throng of citizens broke into cheers at this announcement, and the word was soon passed through the throng to the outer circle, that a foundry was to be located at Waterville. Presently, three cheers and a tiger were proposed for the new foundry, and the deliberations of the Town Company were necessarily delayed until the cheering had ceased.
Marcus Donald, addressing the chairman, said: “I have received a communication from the owners of a sash, blind and door factory, who seem quite desirous of casting their lot with us. I suggest the importance of taking official notice of their communication.”
The throng of citizens waited almost breathlessly, and with a fair degree of patience, to see what was to be done in regard to the sash, blind and door factory. Judge Legal moved that the suggestion offered by Director Donald be acted upon, and that a resolution favoring the sash, blind and door factory be voted upon. As he sat down, three other directors seconded the motion.