The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 18??-1882, 1881-09-02
TAKING HIS PLACE.
BY LILLE L. BARR.

1S~>
as a punishment.
How was l to know that just lit
tie bunch of fre-crackers like that was
going TO smash the goblet? 1 did not
think it would do anything but just
lift it up some.'
who told you to do such thing,
Charlie?' .44
Nobody; thought of it myself. Oh
dear i wish l had grandma, or an
aunt, OF somebody like that
what for, Charlie? J. am sure no
body could be half so good as mamma.
Il like grandmas and aunts. Eddie
Bates has grandmamma, and she al
ways get him out of scrapes; and Tom
Taylor has an aunt that does lots of
things for him. People ought not to
get married if they don't have mothers
and sisters to make grandmas and
aunts for fellows who are always get
ting blamed for nothing at ALL N
But. Charlie, you did break the
glass ttsJ .
NO, didn't either; the iire-crackers
broke it. Oh dear dear wish there
wasn't any Fourth of July, nor fire.
crackers, nor nothing What's the use
of vfire-crackers if fellow can't fire
them of? 1t was real mean to let me
spend all my money on fire-crackers,
and then not let me have any fun with
them. There's my pin-wheel too. i
promised Bates to fasten it to the top
OF the highest clothes-pole in his back
yard tonight t
Il am so sorry, Charlie dearT ts
And, Mary, i am SO dreadfully hot.
have got a raging fever; l know I
have 80
why do you not say you are sorryY
suggested Mary. 49,
Didn't l say so?-over. and over,
and over. And father just said he
thought bed was the best place for
boys who exploded fire-crackers under
goblets. If l was a father, and want
ed to kill boy, I'd do it out and out,
and not roast him to death in bed on
Fourth of July. l wouldn't for mil
lions of dollars send poor boy to bed
on his sisters eighth birthday But
what particular attention was due to
his sisters eighth birthday Charlie did
nOS explain.
You knew the crackers would break
the goblet So
No, / didn't; / never saw them
smash one. Didn't they bang, thought
And at the recollection Charles eyes
grew bright, and delighted express
sion illumined his sombre little face.
The next moment, however, he was
crying bitterly; and Mary, having
watched him a moment, ran down
stairs just in time to stop her father as
he was going out. #s,Ett,1 d
Papa, please forgive Charlie He is
so sorry, and he wants to go out so
much' F.4 tFsfttg
He must, have q lesson, Mary, that
will teach him not to be so destruc-
tive But he added, smiling, If you
choose to take his place, Charlie may
20 out FE
Mary bounded away to her brothers
room. Papa says you may go out,
Charlie. Get up, dear E1g 2.
Charlie needed no second bidding,
and he asked no questions. Five mill
utes later he was explaining to Eddie
Bates the principles upon which he
had blown goblet all to smithereens
in his back yard. ,.sg.e /,
What glorious Fourth it wasl
Charlie did not 60 home until tea
time. He would not have gone then,
but that his pin-wheel and the rockets
were under his clean shirts in the bot
tom drawer of his bureau, and must be
gone for. US fsr .-'..s .....,
Up stairs he ran, as gay as cricket,
and burst into his room. "Let me see;
they are in this one. Bother Where
did put them?'
what are you looking for, CharlieY
what are you doing in bedY ..4 81.
Taking your place
'Whatr
Papa said il / would take your
place, you might go out; and girls do
not care much. about the Fourth Of
July said Mary, cheerily.
sAnd you have been in bed all day 2
of course; papa said you were to
stay in bed all day. and i am taking
your place.
But you are not me-
But am your substitute
'Oh, Mary, you dear, dear, darling
sisterl You are better than all the
grandmothers and aunts in the world.
Catch them going to bed whole day
for fellow T cried Charlie, kissing her
proudly. ..--.--.4.. yygo..
Il am. very glad 1 took your place.
Charlie ..gu-.
you get up now, Mary, and I'll give
you my pin-wheel and my rockets, and
you and Ella Bates can fire them all off.
wouldn't be so mean as to let you lie
there any longer, said Charlie, begin
ming to remove his coat.
That will do, Charlie said papa
coming into the room. Get up, my lit.
tie daughter. Charlie has learned his
lesson, am sure
Indeed I have, papa, and am real
srory.'
That same evening Eddie Bates was
boasting to crowd Of boys about his
grandmother having saved him from
an evening of sorrow In his own room
when Charlie spoke up:
Grandmas and aunts are all vel
enough, boys, but sisters are heal
bettsr. You Just listen And in
voic. of pride and love he related hi
sistefs generous act.
And the gay little crowd gave Mar!
threeeheers and tiger, besides iirinl
of nAe starry rockets simultaneousl.
in heibonor.