The Young Firemen of Lakeville | Page 9

Green Lake, hence the name. There was also a small
river which emptied into the lake, and which ran around one edge of
the town. Altogether it was a very nice place, but, like many other
towns, the principal citizens lacked a progressive spirit.
The town was governed by ten men, called the Selectmen, who were
elected each year, and who formed a sort of council. Then there was a
mayor. At the time this story opens Mr. Appelby was mayor, and
Moses Sagger was chairman of the Selectmen. Mr. Sagger had an
ambition to be mayor the next year, and he was working to that end.
"Well, Herbert," said Mrs. Dare to her son at dinner the day following
the fire, "I hope you don't get up to go to any more midnight alarms."
"Why, mother?"
"Because I was worried to death about you. I knew you would get hurt,
and, sure enough, you did."
"Oh, this burn? That doesn't amount to much. I'm glad I went, for I
helped Mr. Stimson save something from the fire."
"Yes, I heard about it. All the neighbors are talking about you. You
certainly take after your father, and I am quite proud, though I can't get
over how frightened I felt."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, mother, for I was thinking of a plan that
might save the village from any more such fires, and I might have to
take part in it"
"What do you mean, Herbert?"
"Well, I think the village ought to have a fire department, a volunteer
one at least, and I was thinking of organizing it."
"Well, Herbert, you know your poor father used to say the same thing,
but he never could get any one to agree with him. The men don't seem

to take an interest in such a matter, though I should think they would."
"I wasn't thinking of taking in the men, mother."
"Not take in the men? Whom would you have, then?"
"The boys--my chums."
"What! your friends--the boys you play ball with?"
"Yes. I think we could organize as good a fire department as if we had
the men, and I'm sure we could get out quicker on alarms, and could
beat the bucket brigade all to pieces."
"I'm afraid that's too big an undertaking for you boys, Herbert. Maybe
the men will get together, now, and do something, after this barn fire.
Perhaps they'll organize a department."
"I don't believe so. I heard that Mr. Appelby and Mr. Sagger were
talking about it, and Sagger and his crowd object to spending the
money."
"That's another point, Herbert. You'd have to have money to run a
department."
"Not much. You see we boys would serve without pay, and all we'd
need would be an engine."
"But engines, even the kind worked by hand-pumps, cost money."
"I know it, but we might get a second-hand one cheap. We could raise
the money somehow--get up a show, or have a ball game."
"Perhaps you might, Herbert. But I don't want you running into danger.
I'm sure you are thoughtful to take so much interest in the affairs of the
town. Your father used to be that way."
"Well, our house might catch fire some day, mother, and if I belonged
to the boys' volunteer department, we could put it out for you in a

hurry."
"Don't suggest such a thing, Herbert. I'm afraid we'll never have a
department here."
"Stranger things have happened, mother. I'm going off now to see some
of the boys."
Though this was the first time Bert had spoken to his mother about his
plan of organizing a fire department in Lakeville, he had been thinking
over the matter for some time. Even before the barn burned down he
had had the 'notion in his head, and, when he saw the futile efforts of
the bucket brigade, he determined to take some action.
As he strolled down the village street, on the lookout for some of his
chums to whom he might broach the subject, he espied Cole Bishop.
"Hello, Bert!" called Cole. "How's your burn?"
"It's getting better. What you going to do?"
"Nothing special. What are you?"
"Same thing, I guess. I was looking for some of the boys."
"What for? Going swimming or fishing?"
It was the vacation season, school having closed about a week
previously.
"Well, I wasn't exactly going swimming, but I want to talk about
water."
"About water? Say, you ought to see my force-pump. I put some new
washers in it, and it'll squirt fifty feet now. Come on over. I wish our
house would catch fire."
"You do? What for?"

"Well, I'd show you how to put it out. I've got my pump on the cistern,
and some hose ready to attach.