News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-05
THE WARDEN'S NOTICE.
BY ALLAIRE,
BY ALLAIR z,

"OF all the mean, fussy things I evel
heard, that is the worst, " said Donal
Steed, as he threw open the door of the
schoolhOuse.
whats up7 What's mean9" ques
toned the group of boys and girls
standing near the window waiting fol-
the assembly bell to ring.
''Why, the Wardens have declared
that no firearms or fireworks shall be al
lowed in tine borough This Fourthl'' 4
perfect silence, lasting for minute,
was followed by exclamations and pro-
testations from the several members OF
the group.
'It's perfectly abominable," said
Fannie Pierce, land we will not pay
any attention to them. Well fire off as
many crackers as we choose, in spite OF
the old fossils"
'The fine of the violation is fifty dol
lars, Fan" said Donar, grimly.
"Well, what are you going to doG''
asked Sanford Fetherington, bright,
brown-eyed boy. and a great favorite.
''Surely we want little fun"
This is what they call free coun-
try" broke in Dick Hanford. "a
queer kind of freedoml Why, Just
think, the Fourth of July is to celebrate
the signing of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, ard lot of old fellows who
have had all their fun, and have got old
and nervy, say that we shan't make any
nOise I'll show them they can't boss
me-" And Dick walked angrily away to
his seat
The bell rang, and soon all were ap-
parently engaged in their lessons. But
when the class was called upon for reci-
tatlons the teacher was surprised to find
them so poorly prepared. She felt COM
PEELED to send them to their seats to pre-
pare their lessons and recite at recess.
When the noon hour came, q thor
oughly subdued group settled under
the elm tree at the side of the school
house
"a year without Fourth, " declared
Kitty Halbert, ''would be almost as
bad as a year without a birthday"
Worse" laughed Dick Hanford.
"For girls soon give up having birth
days" A general laugh followed the
sally, and they all felt better.
"Well, Dick, what do you propose to
do7" asked Donar.
"Same as usual. Do you suppose that
I'm going to save my pocket money for
four weeks, not spend one cent, so that
can have good stock of fire. crackers,
pin-wheels, sky rockets, and all the
other things, and then have my fun
spoilt by lot of grannies in trousers
Not much"
"Thats all very fine, but how are you
going to help yourself9 That's what
want to know"
'I'm going to do just as 1 always do.
I'll fire off all the crackers l can get,
and when night comes Pll set off the
fireworks
''No, Dick, when night comes You'll
be languishing in Jail, as they say in the
novels, for the Wardens mean business
this time" said Sandford.
''BOys, what is the reason the War
dens have issued such an order? Donar
said it was because they were 'nervy, ,
but that's a silly reason, and can't be
true" and Kitty Halbert paused for
breath.
"Why, I suppose it's on account of
the danger from fire" said Fred Hond-
low, who had been very quiet during
the discussion. 81 heard father saw
that the town had grown so during the
past two years that if a fire should
break out it would soon get beyond
control. You know we have only one
engine, and the fire pumps are at the
extreme end of the village, and only
one near the town hall and the stores.
The Wardens are afraid of fire."
''NOnsense, Fred There is no more
danger of fire than there ever was. y said
Dick. Isuppose the next order will be
to put out the kitchen fires, and eat cold
victuals."
"Oh, Dick, you'll be savage then ~
laughed Kitty Hanford, who was Dicks
cousin, and knew how he enioved eat
ing good things.
"Well, ] don't see that this talk set
ties the difficulty, and there goes the
bell. Let's meet here after school and
come to some decision, " said Donar, as
the group started for the door.
"All right, was the answer. And
the close of school found them again
under the elm.
81 move that we make Fred. Hond-
low chairman of this contention. y said
Dick Hanford, who had recovered his
good humor and looked ready to agree
to anything that promised good time.
''All in favor say 'Aye.'n
The vote was unanimous.
~ move that we make Kittie Halbert
secretary" said Donar. 'sAll in favor
say Aye"