Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-07-27
A Fourth of July Story.
BIT PAULISA.


Fourth and Ned Fletcher tossed his cap
to the highest branch of the old elm that
oyersbadowed the gate. There was no
second hurrah, and the boys face changed
! its EXPRESSION, for the cap had become a
/ fixture. and defied all attempts to dislOdge
/ it.
sHa. ha, ha,' the litter came from the
side pickets; your patriotism has gone to
roost early Why don't you hurrah again,
Ned p
/ He knew where to look for the intruder.
From thicket of syringas in the next
Lsard paeped pair of mischievous blue
i.z.$s.rsnd the curls above them were of
that peculiar hue charitably styled auburn.
Take care, Agnes, or your head will
set the fence on fire. said the vexed boy,
/ looking around for some means of regain
ing his cap. If ever fellow is in trouble
girl is sure to laugh at him
Agnes lip quivered-
didn't mean to vex you, Ned, and
I'm real sorry you've lost your cap. Here,
throw up my ball, you'll be sure to knock
it off. There it goes and the April-faeed
child clapped her hands in an ecstasy of
delight as the cap fell at her feet.
You are good girl, Aggie, and I'm
ashamed of myself | wish your mother
would let you 90 with US to see the pro-
/ cessions.'
Please ask her if can't, said the child
coaxingly f; or no, ask your mamma to
speak to her about it,
Ned bounded into the house, and few
minutes after, the mammas Perkins and
Fletcher, held an undertone consultation
over the fence, and then Agge was arrayed
IN white&ique with blue sash and slippers,
straw and snowy gloves, and was set
down toswait till the carriage was ready.
She looked from the window towards the
barn. There was Joe, Mr. Fletcher's man
of-all-work, and how slowly he walked,
Just as if il was not Fourth of July, and
there was no hurry. Would he never put
up that currycomb? What was the use OF
busting out the carriage every time 1t was
used Oh, dear, would he nerer be ready
Yes, be was driving around to the door.
There was rush of red, white and blue,
aud Aggie was seated beside Ned, just in
front Of Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, and away
rolled the carriage down the broad ave-
nues
Everything Is delightful except the
thought that dear papa has not come As he
promised to. Only think Of it. Ned. not
to see papa for a whole year
Is that the reason, Aggie, why your
mamma would not leave home to-day ?
Inquired Ned.
| Yes, she thought II would be 80 louei )
u gaaa i be e. .h..oul should come and 6nd 40 one
I Very often during the ride some rude
boy would throw fire crackers under the
horses feet, but they only snorted their
contempt, having seen Fourth OF July be-
fore. Then Joe drove them TO the park
and they listened to an Grafton, which was
the same old story-how the wild beasts
Tories, and Indians, tried to make hard
finish OF our forefathers and foremothers
and did not succeed because the power was
Gods and not theirs. There was music
and marching. and waving of banners
until Ned and Aggie quite forgot that they
were little children, and not whole regi.
ments. How they wondered that such a
delightful racket could give Mrs. Fletcher
4 headache. Ia the most retired part OF
the grove they spread the cloth, and eat
their dinner on the grass and thought
there had never been such tarts and sand
witches The fresh air gave them such APP
petites that Fred proposed that they should
take the grape bower for breakfast par.
Tor 4
II drove homeward in the lengthen-
ing shadows, aud Aggie wondered how her
mamma had passed the day, and if it was
quite right for her to have left her 81
lonely. But Mrs. Perkins had not been
lonely Who was that tall gentleman
looking so brown and happy, and waiting
for Aggie on the platform Who could il
be but Captain Perkins, her sailor papa