120309.fb2 1634: The Ram Rebellion - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 23

1634: The Ram Rebellion - читать онлайн бесплатно полную версию книги . Страница 23

I don’t know whether your ram can make the world safe for democracy.

But Veleda Riddle has decided that Grantville needs a chapter of the League of Women Voters. It was that pile of offal down by the slaughterhouse that the Garbage Guys didn’t haul away Friday a week ago that made her decide we need one.

We didn’t have one up-time, so she’ll sort of be inventing the way she wants it to work instead of just copying the one that used to be. She’s put your ram (head only) on the stationery, along with the motto, “Might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.”

When Veleda gets going, smart people get out of her way.

Your friend,

Mary Ellen Shaver

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Dear Mary Ellen,

I’ll be writing Veleda to volunteer my services, such as they are. I’ll be happy to help with the League of Women Voters. I have to agree, some things need to be fixed around here.

Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do.

Your friend,

Flo Richards

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Dear Veleda,

Mary Ellen Shaver tells me that you’re planning to start a chapter of the League of Women Voters here in Grantville. I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be happy to help.

Please let me know if I can assist in any way. I certainly agree that some things need to be fixed around here. I do wonder, though, if the ram’s head logo on your stationery is absolutely necessary. Wouldn’t an eagle or hawk be more expressive of the organization’s goals?

Your friend,

Flo Richards

* * *

Dear Flo,

Thanks so much for your offer to help. The next meeting is Thursday the 17th at 1:00 p.m. at the public library. The topic is horse manure.

I would really like to keep the ram on the stationery. The Air Force already has taken falcons and eagles. It is only the head (I do remember the furor about President Clinton and the bison on the Department of the Interior seal), and he has such a belligerent expression. When my grandmother used to leave the house to give the city council a piece of her mind, she always said as she went out the door, “Might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.”

Think about garbage collection. It will help keep your mind off your troubles.

Your friend,

Veleda Riddle

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Dear Veleda,

I’ll be happy to attend the meeting as scheduled.

Regarding the letterhead, well, it’s your project, so I’ll agree with your plan. I can’t say that I really care for this ram motif that seems to have consumed the area. I just don’t understand how sheep could have acquired such a reputation. They’re fairly stupid animals, after all.

I’m a bit anxious to do something about the horse manure problem, myself. Maybe it should be collected and composted, rather than left lying on the streets. Perhaps we could require the type of collection bags horses wore in New Orleans, back up-time. J.D. and I were there on our second honeymoon, and it really seemed odd to see horses wearing those odd looking bags under their tails. Of course, those horses were pulling those romantic carriages. At any rate, something must be done.

Troubles? I don’t have any troubles. Do appreciate the thought, but life’s just fine here.

Let me know if you need anything.

Your friend,

Flo Richards

* * *

Dear Flo,

We’re all looking forward to seeing you at the meeting.

The city council was feeling so pleased with itself for closing the main streets to vehicular traffic during the day. But they have to open them for deliveries at night, of course, or all the stores would go out of business. So come start of business the next day, there it is-making outdoor Grantville smell all rustic. And, if anyone steps in it, making indoor Grantville smell all rustic for the rest of the day. Not to mention what the rural roads look like, and the streets in Deborah!

The Garbage Guys say there’s no real market for it. Or, at least, that there’s some market, but not enough in Grantville itself, so that it doesn’t pay enough to cover the costs of collection and transportation out to the farms. Sort of like recycling used to be.

Your friend,

Veleda Riddle

* * *

Dear Flo,

I hear you’re planning on doing something about the horse manure problem. May I suggest a money-making idea? I’m not yet sure where the best location would be for a composting operation, but I know that as a gardener, I would pay for manure composted with straw.

I know someone from one of those new chemical firms was also stopping by to see if he could get my chicken manure for a nitrate farm. Have they stopped by asking about sheep manure?

Anyway, the gardens need good compost. I might even buy some if it were delivered. The nitrate farms need good manure, too, and might even pick it up, free of charge.

Your friend,

Fran Genucci

P.S. Are the Methodist ladies planning on hosting the Catholic ladies this month, or is that second Saturday of next month?

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