River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-08-29
Thusle,s Fourth Of July.

JnUSIe<S F0HFln OF Julys
1t was different from any other Fourth
of July There wasn't man, woman, or
child in Bayfield, whose blood did not
Jingle, not only because OF the birthday
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 been
in the least surprised If the sun had
stood still. 1t woui1 only have been
just what ought to have happened on this
Centennial Day.
The day was everything that could be
desired. Eaily 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 fine--the singers marching
into the dilapidated old church with
their books the tables in the grove of
fine naples just httle distance OFF last
becoming resplendent under the fingers
eff ambitious matrons ana rosycheeked
maidens; the grand new band, blariDg
and drumming so ioyously that lazy
farm horses came hurrging up the steep
hills to be there in time; the little stream
ers of red, white and blue bespangling
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 aud scraped the skin off from a
large place on her knee; she had torn a
hole in her best frock; but what cared
she for such slight mishaps9 Was she
not part and parcel Of this glorious
Fourth of July2 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
rer
Thusie, ccme here" called Sarah
Jones. 81 want to tell you something.
No, Nellie Smith, you amt comm
You'll go and tell And Sarah dragged
Thusie off, and with an arm around her
waist and persuasion in her voice size
tod Of a 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 wei
going to do. Don't you never tell
ciertain true, black aud blue, hope I may
die if dor you must say; because, you
see, it's a great secret"
60, no Sarahn said timid little Frasie
Newcomb, that's wicked"
Pohl no, you goosie! il don't mean
anything"
What Sarah wanted them to say it for
if if didn't mean anything, the girls
didn't clearly see; but they repeated the
magic words.
"There now! l can tell you with some
comfort" said Mss Sarah, seating herself
on tie grass in sheltered nook, which
example was followed BY the others till
they formed circle; then, in low voice
and it'll many mysterious gestures, she
unfolded the wonderful news.
swell, girls! YOU know the fireworks
to-nightl 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-Or 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 sand. He said
the old shell would break through OF
I II cG, = -,-Ir =,
"Anybody knows better than that, and
coming down for five girlsl And just
think how we can see the rockets and
comets from the big windowp
1T would be splendid" said Roxy
Thompson, "but should be frightened
most to death, Sarah
"And isn't there mice land things2n
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 0,
dear if she could only do as she was
amind to, like Sarah.
Besides it will be dark, Sarab,' pur-
sued Lucia
"No won'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 fiirg. five seen 'em when l
went down TO Boston last year" And
Sarah descanted on the glories and won
ders in store for 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.
'sYou know girls she said, "theve
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 r'm
gong TO have my pocket full Of candy,
and we can sit up there and see the whole
thing just elegant So, Thusie, you be
sure and be here. We're to meet under
the big oak tree. And Frasie, if you
tell, there'll be the most awful things
happen to youl And Su, don't wait to
wash all the dishes for your Aunt Betsey
she can do EN- tor once. And Tidy"
IF you want any dinner, come along;
they're all sitting down. screamed Rob
Davis, poklng his head into their retreat
with a whoop that made them jump.
Away they all ran. and fireworks and
belfry were soon forgotten in the glories
of that tabe-a real Fourth of July
celebration tablet Flowers, pyramids of
cakes and flags flying from the apex,
cOokjes farts iced Ioaves-eyerS cook
had done her best.
Sunset was coming on before the last
left the tables, and even then Thusie had
scarcely thought over her promise. She
only vaguely realized what forbidden
thing soc and the others ware going to
do. | think if she had really and fairly
upon t, she would nave refused
to have anything to do with the whole
thing and stood firm. "My think always
comes Afterwards little girl once said,
and it's most always a sorry think
Well, the sun went down. Great gold
and red clouds came out all over the sky;
there was one cloud nearly white, with
deep red borders and a rosy center, on
the blae patch that had been so bright
through the day.
"See, it's put on red, white and blue"
call Henry Carter, and all the children
rsuhed to see.
sThusie,' said her mother, as she drew
her little girl who was racing along with
the others towards her, ~ am going home
now to put Grace to bed, and when you
get ready you run right along up to Uncle
Johns. Aunt Fanny went an boTr ago,
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