Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-06-19


chases in butter anu eggs.
The sun at length grew weary Q
his hot journey, and his spirits begaI
to flag. Slowly he sought his westtr
home. All in crimson and gold cam
out the lords of the bed-ehamber,
welcome him to his rest. He retiret
in glory, and lovely evening, with he
gentle dews, succeeded him, to minis
ter to the parehed earth. She wa.
hailed with joy by thousands. AnC
among those who earliest sought tn
scene Of the appI oaching display wer
Ben and his family.
In the course of their shopping
they had wandered to a remote par
of the city, and were obliged to trave
long distance again to reach thu
Common. The tired children hung
their heavy heads, aud it seemed L
both father and mother as if nothing
in the world but frelCOrks could keeI
them on their feet longer. AS il was
they went with We ary steps and slow
When they reached Park street, Ben
pulled out his watch. Ii had kept up
within half an hour. Ben ''reekOned
that was smart for the old 'un;" so,
shaking it again, by way of eneour-
sgement, he replaced it, carefully ad-
justing the chain, in order to have il
show to The best advantage. This he
had afterwards occasion to remember.
Early as 1t was, the Common was
already crowded. Our party could
not get near enough to the pond to
investigate the wherefore of the mys-
teriOUs fountain so they eOntented
themselves with watching its spark
ling jet, above that sea of heads.
Cant we sit down ?" said Mrs.
Ben. az can't stand any longer, for
all the fireworks in Boston,"
''Yes, we must find q seat, some
how; there are some empty ones
'tOther end Cf the Common; let's take
'em while we can. The fire things
will look better furder of, and We
shan't be so likely to get hit "
This salutary fear expedited Mrs.
Ren's movements somewhat, and all
the remote seats she chose the reno
test.
Thus accommodated, with their at
tention divided between the strange
and busy scene before them and the
tired children with them, time passed
The babies cried,-were
stuffed with cake and candy, any,
thing to keep them still cried again,
fell asleep-woke-eried again, and
begged to go home. What pleasure
could it give to their weary little eyes
to see fireworks? A sweet nap in
their own little beds was far better
than any display the whole world
could get up.
~ shall be glad when it is over
with" said Mrs. Ben; "the children
are getting cross as pipefs."
They'll begin now pretty. soon"
said Ben "here, give me the 10Y,
and I'll walk about with him."
81 don't see how you can stand 1t, u
said his wife; my feet are "a big as
two, now walking on these hard
stones"
AS Ben passed back and forth, lal
ling the heir in his arms, q man near
by, who was whistling, looked up
and remarked,
81 reckon we shall have it. afore
long"
Have WHAT said Ben.
THAT ar shoWsr, out yonder."
"Whe-W-w," said Ben, standing
stock still, and surveying, for the first
lime, the black and mastering clouds,
Them looks plaguy like il; but it
nay all blow round 'tother way;
here is do tellin', and 1 kind o'reckon
t will, as long as it is the Fourth.
TT won't scatter till we have q taste
If il, said the man,
AS ifto verify his words, the wind
'ose suddenly, bowed the heads of the
proud elms, an d rushed on. Another
md another gust. The low thunder
,rOwled in the distanee-the clock
truck eight. Amid great shouting,
which drowned the wind and the
hunder, rocket went up, and an
ther. Easter and faster came the
torn. The great elms bent before il;
he Lightning flashed; the thunder
athered, peal upou peal; it burst in
ne tremendous crash over the heads /
( the wondering crowd. Instantly, !
3 if this vera the signal for the open
lg of heavens flood gates, the rain
CURED down in torrents. One mo-
lent of breathless CONSERVATION was
lcceeded by one of indiseribable con-
lsion. The immense crowd scattered
) if by magic; they ran over each
ther; men shouted; women scream
! children cried. Another flash
mother crash. Can that struggling
lrong escape alive? What will be-
)me of those little children?
"That beats all mater! :" said Ben,
ter the second peal "none Of these
can go ahead o. that :"
Up TO this moment he had been
oking on with intense interest. as
3 was remote from the crowd; but
ow the liyiag tide was sweeping by
m, and he found he must fight
anfully, if he would keep his flock !
geIher. He took a child on each
Oulder, his wife clung to his arm,
ID, thus breastiDg the living waves,
. kept his own, and brought them | ,
fely to the shelter of a corner. Here i
stopped moment to recover breath
d think.
Mrs. Ben was crying; the ehildre
ere crying. I'VE never shall get
,me alive" said she; 81 am wet to ,
Y skin.n
La, yes. we shall, too" said Be !; :
won't rain so long, and, besidsa !
} nothing but summer rain ,-'twont )
rt nobody" :
why, I'm all of shiver," said
) wife. a
well, you cooled off too quick"
d Ben; ',sit down under this tree, 4
q I'll put my coat over you and the -
ildren." I,
Il think I can shand here safely ! !
said a gentle voice quite !.
ar. =
Ben started; he thought he reeog- = I
.ed the voice, and the next flash of :,
htning told him he was right. II y
s the voice of the stranger lady. A -
ltleman was with her. Ie
L want to know" said Ben, eff a
IT'S you?" q,
%, here are my friends, of whom I a, q,
d you," said the lady. NOW / -
III be quite safe by them, while you ~
! a carriage" n.
Safe; guess you will! You Ia
.dn't be a mite afraid to leave her," e,
/ Ben to the gentleman. "There ~
MT nothin' touch her while I am u
hin gunshot, III promise you "
tn !,
He will take good care of me" y, ~
the lady. do bring an empty n. IN
rage, for these good people must az az
try to walk to the depot in this -,
int. They must ride with US. To- N
I reckon we must ride, at some 90
|" said Ben, "for my wife is clean 5o
t out.n Nc
he gentleman left hastily. Ben "C
red the little girl gently, and made hi
at for the lady. -
| do wish 1 had something or 9TH 90;
D put over you,n said he. "Iid G -.i
- fI-illn af Ii Alnrn..LA - W