The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-08-28
Thusle's Fourth Of July. !
was different from any other Fourth

u
of July. There wasn't q man, woman. o
Child in bayfield, whose blood did no
Jingle" not only because OF the birthda,
of our nations liberty, but for the glori
Gus anniversary Of old Bayfield, town it
self One hundred years old on this day
Little Thusie Basset wouldn't have beel
in the least surprised if the sun hat
stood still. 1t woulu only have beer
just what ought to have happened on this
"Centennial Day"
The day was everything that couk b,
desired, Ea,ly the crowd began to as
semble, and the village green was gay
with the happy folk who came proudly
from their SIMPLE homes. Was ever any
thing quite so tine--the singers marching
into the dilapidated old church with
their books; the tables in the grove Of
fine naples just little distance off fast
becoming Respondent under the fingers
eff ambitious matrons and rosycheeked
maidens; the grand new band, blarine
and drumming so ioyously that lazy
farm horses came hurrying up the steep
hills 10 be there in time; the little stream
ers of red, white and blue bespanglins
the harnesses; the big flag floating from
the church belfry; the cannon booming
on the village green.
Thusie just clasped her hands and
sighed. She had run and raced herself
most TO DEATH as Aunt Martha observed,
thus early in the day. She had fallen
down and scraped the skin off from a
large place on her knee; she had torn g
hole in her best frock; but what cared
she for such slight mishaps9 Was she
not part and parcel of this glorious
Fourth Of July: Tired as she was she
swung her own small flag bravely, and
glanced with pride at the little bunch OF
red, white and blue ribbons that Aunt
Fanny had pinned on her white dress
and then away she went again, her small
figure curvetting and frisking in and out
as she ''celebrated'' with the other child
rem.
"Thusie, Gene here." called Sarah
Jones. IS I want to tell you something.
No, Nellie Smith, you amt comi'n !!
You'll so and telln And Sarah dragged
Thusie of, and with an arm around her
waist and persuasion in her voice she
told Of secret--O, such great one!-
and enlarged enthusiastically upon it to
the two or three other girls who were
graciously allowed to join.
"Now you see, girls, this is what we're
going to do. Don't you never tell
CERTAIN true, black and blue, hope may
die If don you must say; because, you
see, it's great secret"
80, no SARAH" said timid little Frasie
Newcomb, ' that's Wicked"
"Poh! no, you goosie! it don't mean
anything"
What Sarah wanted them to say it for
if il didn't mean anything, the girls
didn't clearly see; but they repeated the
magic words.
There now! I can tell you with some
comfort" said Mss Sarah, seating herself
on the grass in sheltered nook, which
example was followed by the others till
they formed a circle; then, in a low voice
and with many mysterious gestures, she
unfolded the wonderful news.
"Well, girls you know the fireworks
tonight? Well, you all know we can't
see anything on the Green. the folks
crowd and jun so; so we-that is, us five
are going up into the old belfry !"
"O-O!' screamed two or three of the
girls. ..~- -. .
Ssh! if you don't want all the boys
coming"
"But, Sarah. don't see how" said one
Of the girls. They won't let us. You
know Deacon Smith said nobody must go
up there; 'twan't' safe, he said. He said
the old she'll would break through or
tumble off, if great crowd got in"
"Anybody knows better than that, and
besides, we amt crowd! I guess tain t
coming down for five girls! And Just
think how we can see the rockets and
comets from the big windowW
TT would be Splendid" said Roxy
Thompson, ''but should be frightened
most to death, Sarah"
"And isn't there mice--and things?'
timidly asked Lucia Russell.
Thusie said nothing. She knew her
mother never would hear to the lovely
plan. Besides, she was to go with the
rest OF the family to "Uncle Johns" O,
dear! if she could only do as she was
anind to, like Sarah. ~. ...-~-E
Besides it will be dark, Sarab,' pur-
sued Lucia ,~- =.
mo 'iwon't; it'll be as lights any
thing: Why, the fireworks go shooting
up, whiz! bang! all through the sky"
and Sarah suited the action by an ex-
pressive Hirg. five seen 'em when I
went down to Boston last year." And
Sarah descanted on the glories and won
ders in store fos them till she got them
wild with delight and ready for any
thing. Having head for continuance,
she had the plan ready for getting into
the church.
''You know girls,'. she said, "the've
decided to ring the bell when they're
ready to set off the fireworks. Well
when Joe Vance goes up to ring it, we
must be all ready to creep up after him
He's awful slow, you know; and besides
he'll be making such noise with the
bell he can't possibly hear us. And I'm
going to have my pocket full of candy
and we can sit up there and see the whole
thing just elegant! So, Thusie, you b
sure and be here. We're to meet under
the big oak tree. And Frasie, if 70,
tell, therell be the most awful thing
happen to you! And Su, don't wait t
wash all the dishes for your Aunt Betsey
she can do 'em for once. And Tidy
eff you want any dinner, come along
they're all sitting down." screamed Rol