The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-11
Fourth of July at Beaver Brook.


ada Carleton stoddard in Harper's Young People.I
"Not n fire.crscker," Mr.. Marden had said
looking sroud on bis hsli-dOzen bOys-"nOt
single fre-crscker, nor pin wheel, nor rock
ct this year, boys. You come pretty nigh
burnin up the hull town las. Fourth, an
don't want TO run moro sech risks. Eajy
yourselves SIS wells you can other ways n
that Now mindT
That was how and why-because of this
Introduction Of everything that goes to mako
Fourth Of July different from fourth Of
August or any other dsy-the BOYS hap
per ed to think OF going up the river fishing.
They were down on the river bank, lying
at full length on the green grass, when Jed
Msrden said, medita.ively, tossing pebble
into the water, "These'll DO 10 fun staying
here, hoys, 'thout we can fire of things"
Bud Rose laughed. He could never be Sc
rious. Its because We fred of Jennings
barn last Fourth that everybody's so down
on our celebrating this year" said he. 81
wonder how the old thing got afre, any
how7"
easy enough, rejoIned Jed; "there was
q heap of straw al around it, and 1 don't
s'pose we were over n above careful. The
old shanty wasn't worth ten cents, bu. It
came near burning up everybody elses build
ings"
so it did. After all 1 don't blame folks
much. There amt such sight of fun 10
swapping crackers, anyhow"
"But what shall we do2"
Charley Stevens looked up then. All this
time ne had not spoken, but lsy gazing out
on the river. 81 move We go fishing up on
Beaver Brook" said he ''Start before day
light, snd stay Till after dark
Second the motion. H0orsyl"
bolt-upright. Charley laughed. "Moved
and seconded that we, the stirring youth %
Brsyton, celebrate tomorrow by going iss
ing. All who favor this will please say"
"Ay"
''The molten is unanimously carried said
Charley, shaking back his hair.
! think IL was myself. So woald you if
you could have heard that roaring assent.
There was no hallway work with the Bay
ton boys. They were al on hand the mex.
morning, with their lunch baskets, not ex.
actly before daylight, but sufficiently early;
and they could not resist the temptation TO
give several prolonged whoops a. they
showed the old scow out from shore
"Thatll let em know we're 'round,p
laughed Charley Stevens. "rhere, boys,
back up. I've left my pals
'.What pailsf"
why, said Charley, al promised to save
some of the smallest FISH, il they weren't
hooked too much, for Lsurie's aquarium, and
l brought along couple of pals to keep
EN- alive in. There they are on the bank
Back water"
"Nonsensel'
Bot Charley was firm; aud Jed and Bud
and Vet, who were taking the hrst turn at
the paddles, pulled rod or two back TO the
shore, not without little grumbiing, and
h. a
al had very good reason TO remember and
be thankful for this. Then they pulled
steadily away up the river, through the
light fog which the rays of the morning sun
had not yet scattered, trolling their lines,
and catching few fsh By the way.
al would have brought q fryirg-p9n,"
said Dean Marden, pulling IN speckled
trout, "but father said 'twouldn't do to
make fire this weather. EVerything's Try
Sc finder"
"And Beaver Brook isn't more'n two
miles from the village through the woods"
said Charley, msditatively. wind blows
right that way, too"
"It's four miles By the river, il it's an
inch" ssid Vet Adams; for the river Ger
tainly msds wide dsto1r.
ats crooked as a rams horn" declared
JEFF Cannon, wpiDg the preparation from
his face. "a fellow has 10 pull all the wsy
round Robin Hoods barn 70 gas anywhere"
Cha ley laughed. Were almos. to tbs
mouth OF the brook now, said he. There's
the old pine.
And IN q few minutes the SEQ =, propelled
by three pairs of stout arms, swept grAudly
around the point OF land and into ,aYer
Brook, on one side, Just a. a light b'rca-5ark
canoe. holding two men, shot out on the
other side.
"IndisnsI" exclaimed Charley, in q tone
Of grest disgust. There's camp OF EN-
down the river somewhere. We WON'T got
any fish here, boys."
Charley was right. They fshed for half
an hour, waiting patiently for a nibble,
which they did not get
"We'll have TO CO further up the brook"
feid Charley ard accordingly the cd seOw
was once more set IN motion.
How pleasant il wasl They ran along in
the shade OF the Willows that skirte3 the
brock, their paddles dipping lszily, and
their fishing lines trailing In the deep still
wGter- /. was very warm n the sun, but
there was smart breezs blowing, s1d
prospect Of showers later on.
Suddenly Charley felt = jerk on his line
that taking him unawares, nearly pulled
him of MS seat.