Squire Hardy was in the sitting-room talking to his wife. "To think of his kickin' just because the little schoolma'am is bound to celebrate the day! Her askin' for nothing except leave to use the schoolhouse! Confound him! The rest of the Germans'd be patriotic enough--they are all 'round these parts--if Schmidt wa'n't so everlastingly down on us, and used his influence with the rest!"