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Show THE KNOCKER'S PRAYER . Lord, please don't let this town grow. I've been here for fifty years and dur ing that time I've fought every improvement, im-provement, from school houses to sidewalks. side-walks. I've knocked everybody and everything, no firm or individual has established a business here without my doing all I could to put them out of Dusiness. I've lied about them, and would have atolen from them if I'd had the courage. I've done all I could to , keep the town from growing and never! haye spoken a good word for it. I've 1 knocked hard and often. I've Dut ahea ' on the childrens' slide and have made the marshal stop the boys playing ball on my vacant lot. Whenever I saw, anyone prospering or enjoying them-' selves I've started a reform t kill the business or spoil the fun. I don't want I the young folks to stay in this town anrl i I will do all 1 can by law or rule to ' drive them away. It pains me, Oh Lord, to see that in jpite of my knocking knock-ing it is beginning to grow. Now we have sidewalks and I shall be compelled to pay for those in front of my premises and ,hen they will try to mke me keep the walks free from wteds. This Lord, will be more than I can bear. It will cost me money, though all I have was made right here. Then, also, more' people might come if the town begin to grow, which would cause me to lose my pull. I ask therefore,' to keep this town at a. standstill, that 1 may continue con-tinue to be the chief. Amen. Ex. |