River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-04-02
An Incident of the Day We celebrate
[From the Burlington Hawkeye.l


The anniversary Of the birthday of the
Father of his Country y as duly cclebra.
ted by two boys who will be second edi.
tons Of the immortal G. w. if they only
go on. They are good boys, model Bur.
lington boys, in fact, and it does not de-
tract from their goodness that they have
few, say TO or three. human faults and
iailings. Yesterday afternoon it was no.
ticed that they we're unusually good.
They stayed in the house and talked
about Washington. and how he broke the
mule and girdled the sassafras tree, and
how good he was, and what pity it was
he had no middle name. Along in the
afternoon their mother sent them
to the church, where there was
to be festival, with a basket
filled high with sweet homemade bread
and cold boiled ham and roast chicken,
and one thing and another. They took
hold of the basket and plodded soberly
and goodily toward the church. AS they
started up Fifth street they saw boy
coming toward them whom they knew.
He was the son OF neighbor, the black
smiths boy, with whom they had a feud
of long standing. For on divers occa-
sions he had caught these good brothers
out separately and had rudely assaulted
them, and fairly pounded the hair off
their heads. He was little too healthy
for either Of the boys alone, but the pair
had sworn to make it lively for him if
ever they lighted upon him together.
So as soon as they saw him they put
down the basket and gave chase. He
girded up his loins and fed, but the boys
oyerhauled him after chase eff about two
blocks. He was exhausted with his run,
and the brothers climbed him with
out a moments hesitation and wat.
tied him right merrily, the while he
yelled, till he was black in the face.
Then the victors, joyous returning from
the fray, with light steps sought their
long abandoned train. Imagine their dis.
may when through the gathering twilight
gloom they saw somewhat less than
10000 dogs, half buried in the basket,
dividing and deyouring the sutler stores
contained therein. There was precious
little left when the dogs were driven
away, and the boys went home exceeding.
ly sorrowful, but hopeful. Their mother
met them at the door, and took the
empty basket from their hands.
"Who did you give the basket to!' sh,
asked.
"Mrs. Featherstonc, dear ma" replied
the oldest George Washington.
"And what did she say 7" asked their
mother, for Mrs. Featherstone is an au-
thoritv in church festivals
'0h y chorused both George Wash.
ingtons, "she said it was the incest basket
that had come in all the afternoon.
"And," added the younger George,
feeling that he wasn't doing himself JUS
tice if he didn't get in an independent
statement, "Mrs. Lamphreys said she
would rive anything in the world il she
could make such white bread as yours ;
she said it was wonderful how you done
it."
snow, did she say that" cried the de-
lighted woman. for at the last sociable
Mrs. Humphreys said her bread was like
Eastwood slabs.
sand Mr.. Middlerib," cried the elder
G. W, fearful lest his younger brother
should find favor and be exalted over
him, "said there wasn't such chickens
anywhere in the State of Iowa outside Of
that basket"
And then the younger held the edge
again and the older Clipped one, and the
younger saw him and raised him, aud
then the older came in, and the younger
siaid right by him, and they told all
manner of things and compliments about
and from all manner Of people who were
at the church. until the good woman, as
tonished and delighted at her sudden
popularity, determined to 60 to the socia-
BILE. although she had not intended to do
so. She went, and she looked in vain for
her cake and ham and chicken. She re-
turned home at an early hour and reused
her young George Washingtons from the
sweet, innocent sleep Of childhood. Then