Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1883-07-11

below attracted her attention. She ran
down and opened the door at the head
of the basen 1T stair, when a volume
of smoke rus ned up, while at the sa ne
instant a voice on the street shouted
'Firep
1t was true. The kitchen dresser,
under which Bridget had left her basket
of split wood and shavings for next
mornings fire, and above which hung
the match-safe, whence Master Tom
had been literally helping himself, was
all on fire, and the flames already COM
municating to the mantlepiece ar
furniture.
Before Mrs. Johnston could collect
her bewildered senses, or even realize
the danger, there was the rush Of a
crowd into the house, 2 Id tumult in
the street, followed ,y the rattle Of
fire. ,ngines and deluge of water food
ing the basement. In less than mo-
ment the fire was extinguished, and the
house saved. But, oh, the blackened
walls, and the broken windows and
china, and the ruined carpets
In the midst of lie confusion, Mr..
Johnston had rushed in, with wild
eyes and hair on end, bearing the two
lost children.
They had followed the seductive
music of the City Guards new drum
until unable to keep up with the crowd,
they had been left behind and taken in
to custody by benevolent policeman.
AS to Richard, a neighbor had re-
ported having seen him at Hansing's
Park, where the German companies
were practicing target shooting And
no sooner had Mr.. Johnston seen his
house and his family again in safety,
than, with many cautions and severe
admonitions to Tom not to leave his
mothers sight until his return, he
prepared to go in search of the remain
ing absentee.
He was spared the trouble. AS he
opened the hall-door, the street-lamps
being by this time lighted, he was con-
fronted with the spectacle of two men
carefully lifting his son Richard from
hack in front of the door, while ply
sician, whom he knew, was in attend
ance.
Mrs. Johnston had followed her hus-
band to the door. This sight, in addi-
tion to the trials which had already
unstrung her nerves, was too much for
her; she gave one shrek and fell faint
ing into the arms of ber husband.
When, in few moments, she recov-
cred, the doctor land kind neighbor
were bending over her.
Don't be alarmed, my dear madam
the former said cheertully. 1T is only
slight accident "a mere flesh wound.
master Richard ventured too near the
target, and received the ball into his
leg-that is all. Will be about again
in week or two. 1t is really nothing
of any consequence"
And then the mother, in her infinite
relief and gratitude, nerved herself and
turned to minister to her prodigal boy.
Richard, my son." she said TO him,
mildly, an hour or two after, did yo
not know you were acting wrong in
going so far away from home, and re-
naming all day, without your parents
permission
'Oh, but, ma, it was the Fourth o.
July, you know!'
That does not lessen the fault
We'll, / think it does, ma. When y
fellow has been waiting a whole year
for Fourth o. July, l think he might
be let alone to enjoy himself, and not
found fault with, as ifit was any CON-
mon day.
And you know, ma,' put in Tom,
it's the grandest day in the whole
year, and ought to he celebrated differ
emily from any other day. Why, didn't
it make this glorious country of ours ?
And it would be shame to grudge
anything to it after that. Who minds
getting hurt Fourth o. July7 Doyou,
Dick? p
No, indeed! Hoorah for Fourth O.
Julyp
Mr.. Johnston, down stairs with his
friends, heard the shout of patriotic
young America, and tears of emotion
sprung to his eyes.
There's no danger to the country
while our boys have such spirit as
that he said proudly.
While, at the same instant, his wife,
up stairs, sighed:
Il wish there were no Fourth of
July =