The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-12-11
Our Young Folks.
THE GRAND PROCESSION.

4, "oS oL11lHS Ou log III
the wood-shed, gloomily listening to
her brother Joe. who was talking with
much en- N1siasm.
i" For i you, SIR" said he to Elsie,
1T ism every boy who'll get chance
to be In that procession tonight, sir.
There IL be a thousand torches, and
speeches, and fireworks; and the train
leaves Porter's Corner at six O. clock;
and MIR. Hill says to me, you be on
hand, Joe, you and Jack Stone, and
you may go to Portland along of the
"Continentals'' and march each side
OF the flag, and wear white rubber
ct:apes. and carry a torch apiece if you
ike.' It's to be the biggest show of
the season, and"
81 can't CO." burst in Elsie. Just
because I'm girl can never go any,
where or see anything"
"Of course not" assented Joe.
cheerfully. "Girls never can. [ 90
because fathers in Ohio, and I'm the
man of the family. 1 declare Ishouldn't
wonder if half the people in Portland
should think Jack and 1 could vote
when they see us percessinq. Three
cheers for Haniieldp'
HantieldP HanfieldP That did not
sound quite right. Joe meditated.
HanfieldP Well, never mind. There
was no time to waste over names. If
Joe would help toward the election Of
a President of the United States he
must be off and away for Jack Stone,
or the two wo Id miss the train.
And ElsieP Poor little Elsie was left
forlorn. She was quite alone, for hel
mother had gone to visit sick neigh
Dor, and would not even be at home fol
tea.
"Oh, aChy shouldn't a girl do just
what her brother does, and have some
funp" thought Elsie, bitterly. "Or else
why wasn't | born boy?"
She sat close to the andirons in front
OF the wood fire, and more and more
dismal did she grow. She had nearly
come to wondering whether it was real
ly worth while to live if one had to be
only a girl, when the front door burst
open, and in bounced Master Joe.
"Elsie," cried he, grasping her by
the arm, ''here's your chance. You car
60"
"GoP goP' repeated Elsie, flushing
crimson with excitement.
Joe hurried on. 'Jack Stones sick
Earache-both ears-onions on EN-
here's his cap who'll know you're no
a boyP-tuck up your skirts ON will
this big cape-comep'
Elsie was beside herself. 'sMothel
wouldn't let me-" she half gasped
sEl)i1 chQ pUar COW Won f11r1ctpftC i1 ~.
gued Joe. Like as not We'll be bacl
before she is. Don't be goose
There's no time to talk. Hurry! hur
ry! You won't get such another
chance"
Down the road they flew, and reached
the station just as the Continentals'
came marching up with fife and drum
''Here we are, Mr. HILL" said Joe
presenting himself and his companion
"All right" said Mr.. Hill, too bus,
to pay much attention. keep will
the rest of the men. How are you, Jack
my boyP"
There was no time for the make
believe "Jack, my boy" to answer
The engine was pulling and painting
Elsie was swung on the train, wher
Joe and she tucked themselves away o.
back seat.
The Continentals' were in the bes
of humor, SO were the "Philbrick Pic
neers," who, gorgeous in their Zouav,
regimentals, came crowding into tn
car at the next station, to crack joke
and talk politics. Pretty soon the trail
stopped with a jerk, and everybody wa
out in a twinkling.
There were shouts of command. TIL,
"Continentals' and " Pioneers" fell init
line. Torches were lit A host of boy
set up shrill yells. Joe and Elsie were
twitched into place by energetic Mr.
Hill, and ordered to hold up their head,
and keep time to the music.
"Isn't it funp' thought Elsie, step
ping briskly along, and grasping hel
torch with both hands.
If one hundred torches were "fun. >
what could be said when they reached
Market Square, where the grand pro
cession was to form, and where there
was a blaze of light such as Elsie haC
never imagined! Bands were playing
horses were prancing; some one set ire
to sort of powder, and 10! the whole
street was rosy red.
Now everything was ready and the
march began. Whole blocks on each
side were festooned with bunting and
Chinese lanterns; candles twinkled in
every pane; all the gas burners die
their best; Roman candles shot out
colored stars; rockets went up with 9
fizz.
"Hurrah! hurrah! hurrahm The
procession was pausing in front of bic
house. Somebody was making speech
Nobody could understand half he said
No matter. "Hurrah! hurrah! hur-
rah!' Elsie shouted with the rest, and
trotted gaily on.
"No reason in the world l shouldn'
have come, like any other boy! Hur-
rah!'
Up one street and down another, each
more brilliant than the last, Elsie
marched on, till suddenly small, then
larger, pain began to make itself felt
in one of her feet.
"It's my new boots" said she to
herself. "Why didn't change themP'
III stamp hard and then I shall be
easy"
But somehow she was not easy. Up
one street, down another. 1t was not
so much the pain in one particular spot
now as the general ache, not only in
her foot, but in her whole body.
''rm afraid Pm growing tired"
She glanced at Joe. That worthy