The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-26
Ills HAPPEST FOURTH
And How Harry Tremaine Spent il
in an English School.
[By Eliot Mccormick.l

| 1t was the queerest Fourth of July that
Harry Tremaine had ever spent in his life.
Half the day had already passed, and he had
not heard a fire-eracker nor seen flag
| Except for the almanac he would not have
| known that it was the Fourth; and the alb
sence of all those noises and sights to which he
| was accustomed made him feel home-sek and
| sad. of course he could not expect to find the
| day celebrated in an English school, but it
| provoked him that it was not, and the unceas-
ing questions of the boys about America added
| to his annoyance.
/ 1t would not have vexed him if their ques-
| tions had been intelligent, but in fact they
| were very stupid None of the boys knew
anything at all about the United States, though
some of them thought they did, and professed
! to doubt Harrys plain and simple answers,
while If he romanced and exaggerated they
were quite likely to believe him. Just now they
were particularly curious, and Harry found il
hard work to keep his patience.
| Il say, Tremaine,' Tom Owen had just re-
marked, Didn't you say to-day would be some
sort of holiday in your country?"
Harry nodded.
of July"
The boys looked mystifed.
But we don't know what that is" said
| Owen. Why is the Fourth more than the
| fifth or sixth?"
Harry had to stop and think for moment
what the Fourth really meant.
Why" he said, it was on the Fourth of
| July, 1776, that the Declaration of Independ-
ence was signed"
| "The Declaration of Independence" Owen
| repeated. Pray what was that?"
| This utter ignorance about things that Harry
| had always known was very trying.
"Oh dear!" he exclaimed "why don't you
read history? Why don't you learn some
| thing about American"
| Owen was disposed to be indignant.
Learn about America!" he exclaimed 81
assure you, Tremaine we know great deal
about it, There's your Niagara Falls for in
doesn't know it's in New York It VIII be a
favorite afternoon resort suppose, with you
New Workers"
! "Ay." remarked Dick Wentworth, and the
new suspension bridge between New York and
| Bro0kVille-how odd, you know, that all your
| towns should end in vile that crosses Just
below the Falls, doesn't it? It must be grand
| sight. Just fancy the two cities on either
! hand, and the great Falls rushing down be-
tween, and the bridge spanning the rapids
| belowi"
Owen nodded
"You see, Tremaine," he said, complacentlv,
"we're not as ignorant as you think In fact,
we know great deal about America There's
| your civil war now. That's been going on
about twenty years, hasn't it?"
Tremaine stared.
"Going on ]" he exclaimed "What do Won
| mean?n
| "Oh, not in your Northern States. of course. >,
| Owen hastened to explain but down South,
in Chilli, you know, and Peru see they had
another battle there only little while ago.
Seems to me your Government ought to be
strong enough TO put all that sort of thing down
| before this"
Harry did not imagine any one could be SO
| ignorant.
'sWhy, look here" he exclaimed: "that's
| South America. 1t hasn't anything to do with
the Southern States. Our war was over a
! dozen years ago.
Owen shrugged his shoulders.
ooh, WE'LL" he said, South America or the
| Southern States; it's all the same There's a
war there somewhere, know, because l read
about il in the papers"
But, Tremaine,' interrupted Charlie Fair
fax, who was younger than most of the rest.
and whose questions Harry answered more
! patiently, both on that account and because he
reminded the lad of his own little brother at
| home-"bu Tremaine, tell US about your
! Fourth of July. How do you celebrate it any
way?n
"Oh, we have fireworks and parades, and
! people fire off their guns and eannons and make
| speeches and read the Declaration of Independ-
ence. It's an immense day, Charlie, at home.
| IL only InOu9nE ABOUT lt III time, and the
| Doctor had let me, I'd have had my father send
ME some fireworks here"
| The boys looked at one another. while a
| larger one, who had not yet spoken, laughed
| rudeiy.
| We'll, you must be fresh" he said
| Harry's face flushed.
+ Why, what's the matter, CORVALLIS ?" he
| asked.
Whats the matter?" the other repeated.
'What is the Fourth of July anyway? Isn't
/ it the anniversary of the day when YOU de-
! clared yourselves independent of Great Brit
| ain?"
/ Tremaine nodded.
81 OF course it is" he replied; CHATS what l
said"
And do yon suppose we're going to help you
celebrate that?"
Harry drew himself up little proudly
Il don't know why you shouldn't" he said.
if you feel right about it,
| Well. we don't" declared CORVALLIS, "and
we never will. We don't take any stock in
America, at any rate. It's a nation of day-
| laborers; there amt any gentlemen there, you
know"
Tremaine's eyes flashed.
] Do you call yourself gentleman, Corn
/ wallis? he asked.
The Cornwallises have been gentlemen since
the conquest" the other replied, grandly.
Is that so?" Harry inquired. well, we
maven many OF your KING I; THAT'S q TACT"
CORVALLIS grew very red
''Pll whip you for that, Tremaine," he cried
rapidly beginning TO take off his coat
Harry did not move. His face famed. and
his hands were clinched at his side. If il were
necessary he would defend himself, but he had
promised his father that he would not get into
any fights and was resolved that CORVALLIS
should not make him break his word. The
boys meanwhile had formed ring, and were
looking on in keen anticipation of the affray.
why don't you take off your coat?o de-
manded Cornwallis, angrily
Pm not going to fight" said Tremaine
Cornwallis raised his hand and brought If
down OH Harry's cheek. "Now, we'll see il
you won't fight he said.
Harry's face grew white. He moved a step
forward, and raised his hand Then letting If
drop, he stepped back TO his old place.
q sha'n't fight" he said simply.
Cornwallis laughed tauntingly "You're a
coward" he sneered.
Some of the other boys repeated the odious
word and the ring widened and broke up as
CORVALLIS resumed his coat.
| you're coward, Tremaine,o he repeated
"all the Americahs ever knew were towards u
Harry could not trust himself to speak. and
as he turned away all the bows drew back Ia
let him pass. He felt that he was in disgrace
1t had been lonely enough before; how much
worse would it be now He went into the
school-room, and, sit6ng down to one of the
forms, tried to keep back the tears that would
persist III coming to his eyes. Presently he
heard some one come in the door, and then a
ehild's voice at his side said, :" Pm awful sorry