Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-07-16
CORRESPONDENCE.
For the Gallipolis journal.
Fourth of July on Swan Creek
A Picnic i'm the VVoodsf

"A IIC-NiC III the WOO0Si
EDITOR JOURNAL: = For several
days previous to the above date we
looked about in every direction to see
if any preparations were being made
to celebrate the day which each year
brings to our minds SO forcibly page
in the history of our nation-a ma
tion whose great patriotic heart must
swell with pride and gratitude at the
thought of how strong and great the
Republic has grown, and how vastly
our national circle has expanded, un-
der the free and independent system
of government which was established
on this day. Some one has said
that it looked ungrateful to treat this
day precisely like all other days in the
year, and we rather incline toward
this opinion. We like to hear mar
tial music and good speeches, and we
like to see stars and stripes floating
on the air on this day, and we like
also to see smiling faces, and white
dresses, and gay ribbons, and fancy
neckties in profusion-in short we
think it should be annually set apart
as a National holiday. However,
there was dull prospect for any such
display this year. The hot dry
weather seemed to have supplying
effect on the people of this and sur
rounding vicinities, and in reply to
the thousand and one queries which
were duly suggested for days before
hand as to how the Fourth should
be spent-the same dull answer
don't know" ''the weather is to
hot" would be listlessly drawled out,
and l thought should be compelled
to stay at home and dream of the
Fourth, the gay, bright Fourth, as it
should be; but my dream was scarce
begun, when at about ten o'clock on
the morning of this eventful day, a
friend came rushing in with flushed
face and eyes beaming with pleasure
able anticipation, and announced
Picnic not two miles distant on the
bluffs of Swan Creek. We repaired
thither in the afternoon and found
jolly assemblage of all ages and sizes,
men, women, and children, all seem
ing to enjoy the occasion immensely.
There was a commodious swing
where they swung in pairs and trios.
We noticed some of the young mems
arms slightly out of place" as they
were waited to and fro in the air be-
side their partners, yet they did not
seem to mind it in the least, and it
was not considered necessary to call
in surgeorto set them right. They
grouped about meath the cool shad-
ows of the wide spreading trees,
sang favorite airs, had friendly walks
and friendly talks, and all went
''merry as marriage bell"
A good housewife who resided not
far distant, brought quilts and pill
lows, and made pallet in the shade,
whereon the drowsy babies slumber-
ed sweetly, while their tired mo
thers took an airing in the swing,
by way of recreation. The old
folks were there to guard their
children and grandchildren in their
innocent amusement, and to see that
the affair was conducted properly.
There was one little girl who pouted
and>hid her face because the big girls
kept swinging when she wanted Gin, -
but her grandma thought she had
been in quite often enough, and l
thought if they were all like myself
the little girls might have ''full
swing" because swinging always
makes me faint and dizzy.
We saw one fellow who seemed to
be possessed with a severe attack of
dizziness, and it was evidently at
tributable to some other cause than
swinging, because he never once APP
preached the swing, and yet he went
zigzagging and fence-cornering about
the grounds, and drew quite as much
attention as a clown in a circus.
This is the second intoxicated man l
have seen since the Temperance
movement began, and he went stag
gering about and singing in gut
tural tones the familiar lines-''I
once was lost but now I'm found"
"Was blind but now l see," l men
tally exclaimed, still lost to mans
exalted sphere! still blind to the ser
pent that turks in the poisoned cup,
still blind to the subtle snares that |
lie hidden about his path to lure him
on and drag him down to ruin. The
day passed off pleasantly with this
one exception. The drunken fellow
disturbed no one half so much as he
disturbed himself, and yet we felt
pang of regret at beholding him
thus. MAGGIE MILES.