The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-10-04

savage grip of o new boot and there
was moment of suppressed emotion
that could not be described by a guide
book.
The lamp was lighted A moment
our ewes turned to where the sky-born
clories of our flag burned, and then
proudly, iovously we lifted it from the
floor Alas, its earth-born glories had
burned through. There, before our
gaze. raggedly, yet distinctly limned on
the light ground of the carpet, like the
wild wreaths from cannon mouthings
loud, ''Liberty and Union" looked up
at us. We felt that while the sentiment
was patriotic and proper, yet it was out
of place on a sitting room carpet in the
home of citizen of refined and quiet
taste.
All eyes at last turned on the speaker,
and felt that as / had mixed the paint
and lettered the legend myself, some
explanation was necessary. So told
my sister she might have had more
sense. Then l told John any boy OF
half his age would have known that
paint would run through, and con-
cluded by saying that told them so.
This explanation was considered emf
nently satisfactory.
| took some benzine and tried to
obliterate the patriotic sentiment that
lay like Freedoms soil beneath our
feet. l could not destroy the ''Union;"
that was, and is Impossible, but /
clouded it all over that end of the room,.
mixed it in with Liberty and run the
whole thing over two breadths of carpet
Somehow the coming dawn seemed
several hours nearer at hand than it was
n moment before. Few and short were
the prayers we said, but we climbed out
on the roof and run that flag OF the
brave to the masthead, and smiled Bit
terly to see its splendors fly in triumph
over that nocturne in lampblack down
on the sitting room carpet. We bitterly
thought Of the morrow as we separated
for the night, and with heavy hearts we
boys crept into bed and wondered if we
couldn't lay it onto Charley or the cat.
A single mellow note, like the soft call
of a joyous bird, came ripping down
the hall from Mollie's room.
"She's laughing again, y said John
in tones of awed amazement.
"Then. said, ''She has fallen out O
the window. Nothing else funny coult
happen tonight"
But boys thoughts are the wind
thoughts, and the griefs of boyhood are
transient Daylight saw us dressed ant
ready to shake up the neighborhood
, We planted our cannon on the cisterl
, box, pointed it at the summer kitchen
/, and touched it off with a long piece o
t paper.
She was all our fancy painted her
, She went with bang that would hav
! excited the envy of Langtry, and wok
! every dog and taxpayer in. the Secon'
| Ward, and Sanford street ran out an
| began to shrek ''Firep' There was
| whirr like the rush of cyclone as on
| battery recoiled, and went tumblini
n through the air between our heads
: hurting clear across the yard an
knocking board off Neighbor Shut
+ fence. We went into the Kitchen. Tn
stone marble had banged through tn
# light woodwork, knocked glass pitche
Il in more directions than we had time
count, split porcelain kettle an
q ground itself to powder on a sturd
q little iron pot that sat on the stove.
q We felt so much relieved to find OF
J powder'was gone that we began 10 sa,
with one accord, that we were 90 ing
|. put in twice as big load next tim
Then we went around to the front {
q the house to wake up the girls TIL
g simple feat we easily accomplished /
IS throwing a cluster of about two doze
% tire-crackers in through their open vii
\ dow. Then we ran around to the sic
m porch and waited for the fusilale al
le screaming to begin.
. 81 wonder if Mollie will laugh nowF
q said John.
ID don't remember whether she did
~ not. | know that if there was any II
~ y seemly levity during the performance
ls the following act in the drama of Ii
1s erty and Union l took no part in
10 We heard the lire-crackers begin a II
ne Ting fusilade and then they we
D. drowned in a chorus of shrieks; then
az man down street halloed ''Fire!" and
n man I'D street shouted ''Fire!" IL
~ excitement and enthusiasm appeared
IN be growing more general in its chara
If ter and ''Liberty and Union" sto
10 doomed right up and touched the hig
" est figures of the open board, 234
he We rushed around in front to get fl
al view of the tableau, and saw mo
H. SIllOkC blull VIC Slpjootu SOulh C'tS
m pour out of one pair of windows, even
nj the curtains were on fire. The ra'
NO was of short duration; the fire W
he quickly subdued with no very serio
d, damage, and Liberty and Union bro
no down to 42B on the next deal, falling
348, offered at % and closed at 164 b
ar When we went in to surrender {
an stock and resign our seats on the boa
RI the Sanhedrin was contemplating
nd plant on the carpet.
mo- Dearly beloved, i am growing 0
nv and soon the place which now knows
he will know me better than it did whe
g first came here. But in all the chang
nm scenes that have checkered my reckl
N. career and spring clothes, | have ne
i'm seen such another Fourth of July
We that which spread its glittering wing
Inv the full orbed glory of cloud
mi dawn, lluuered for few brief nome
,er in bright atmosphere of buoyant h
he and laughing Joy and then sat down
rk the dead emhers of a blighted drei
nd with ashes on it, head and dust on
an lips. and wrapped itself in clouC
cs- gloom rs rs big as gospel tent.
What no, Eliogarbalus! Sackcl
rvs and tear jugs for two!-RobeH j. b
5affe an Rr0DL,lty1l Enq{P