The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-12-11
Our Young Folks.
THE GRAND PROCESSION.

Uur 1OuuS EVlAS' al
THE GRAND PROCESSION, +"
ELSIE BAKER was sitting on . log in y
he wood.shed, gloomily listening 70 = :,
ler brother Joe. who was talking WITH =,
much enthusiasm. =. 49,. "
For | tell YOU, SIR" said he to Elsie, 8
J. It isn't every boy who Il get . chance a
o be in that procession tonight, SIT;
Chere'll be thousand torches, ana
speeches, and fireworks; and the train .
leaves Porters Corner at six O'Clock;
and Mr.. Hill says to me, You De on
hand. Joe, you and Jack Stone, ana
You NAV 90 to Portland along OF tho
:. Continentsls" and march each sac
Of the flag, and wear white rubber
capes. and carry q torch apiece if you
ike It's to be the biggest show OF
The season, and"
Il can't co." burst in Elsie. "Just
because I'm a girl 1 can never 60 any,
where or see anything"
cheerfully. "Girls never can: l 60
because fathers in Ohio, and I'm the
man of the family. I declare lshouldnt
wonder if half the people in Portland
should think Jack and l could vote
wher they see US processing. Three
cheers for Haniiold"
HantieId? Hanaeld? That did not
sound quite right. Joe meditatcd.
Hantield? Well, never mind. There
was no time to waste over names. II
Joe would help toward the election OF
President Of the United States he
must be off and away for Jack Stone'
or the two would miss the train.
And Elsie? Poor little Elsie was LETT
forlorn. She was quite alone. for her
mother had gone to visit q sick neigh
Dor. and would not even be at home for
tea. ".'
"Oh, ,chy shouldn't . 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
" worth while to live if one had to be
, only girl, when the front door burst
open, and in bounced Master Joe.
"Elsie," cried he, grasping her by
; the arm, ''here's your chance. Youcan
. CO." . .,. 49,
"Gop gor' repeated Elsie, flushing
. crimson with excitement. . .,
( Joe hurried on. ''Jack Stones sick
Earache ears-onions on EN-
1 here's his cap-wh0ll know you're no
!. q boyP-tuck up your skirts-on witt
q this big cape-come! j
p Elsie was beside herself. ''Mothe
3 wouldn't let me-" she half gasped:
d "Did she ever say you mustn.t?' o.
a p,,ed Joe. Like nj not we'll be BAG
a before she is. Don't be . goose
N There's no time to talk. Hurry! hui
Il ~! You won't get such anothe
!. chance" i
= Her eyes flashing, her brain in
:. whirl. Elsie pulled the blue cap owe
:. her short curls. Her little petticoal
were quickly pinned up and covered b
the rubber cape. With her unlighte
torch over her shoulder, who would n!
have thought her . sturdy young
lie brother Of the boy who held her tisnt
to by the hand, and exhorted her not
nd let the grass grow under her feet.
N. Down the road they flew, and reach'
,e: the station just as the Continental
81. came marching up with fife and dral
III. "Here we are, Mr.. Hill" said Jo
,lk presenting himself and his companio
At IAN right" said Mr.. Hill. too BY
to nav much attention. Keep wi
The the rest Of tho men. How are you, Jas
I my boy?" e-1 - ..',. =. ,.,,i.-, :.
believe "Jack, my boy" to answ
The engine was putting and pant!ll
Elsie was swung on the train, VIII
.N Joe and she tucked themselves away
ind q back seat. t.
the The "Continentals'' were in the b
iva Of humor, so were the "Philtrick
!, to neers,'' who. gorgeous in their Zou
regimentals, came crowding into
ep" car ut the next station. to crack 10
an. and talk politics. Pretty soon the tt
stopped with q jerk, and everybody
out in a twinkling. d % 49,,
H There were shouts OF command.
"Continentals'' and " Pioneers fen
ome line. Torches were lit. A host Of
set up shrill yells. Joe and Elsie y
and fwitched into place BY energetic
vish Hili, and ordered to hold up their hi
and keep time to the music.
. "1sn't 1t funp'' thought Elsie, 9
can. ping briskly along, and grasplng
evP" torch with both hands.
II one hundred torches were III
haan what could be said when they rea'
s"rtv, Marked Square, where the grand
rinks cession was to form, ana where
- ~, "a was . blaze Of light such as Elsie
Ian. never imagined! Bands were pla!
% off horse: were prancing; some one Sc
. - to a sort Of powder, and 10! the v
the street was rosy red.
Now everything was reaay ano
. - march began. Whole blocks on
here aide were festoonci with bunting
"A III: Chinese lanterns; candles twinkle
ound, every pane; al 'ne k ~ U .Snt
' colored stars; rockets went up "
70 an. tizs. -, .,,..,.r,
when "durfan: nuItaa: :; nu t.a.t -
The procession was Pauslax AZ . ..o,.. y. -,
talk. house. Some3ouy w. 'nJA III II
look Nobody could un4eIstaI" ILL., ".n =;
ie that No mater: lI s0u:., u .ha "a" ..
duds! rah! E'sie snou'eu "l''' ''o ''''
~ trotted gaily on. ,,,.
. train "No reason 10 INC o .U.,. hc SiO
seeing have come AAe my o'"o'
ques. ran: 1850. ua ao,v, .nothe,
~ more brilliant than the last.
-..l>l n., <S01 o,,al6cnlv a small