The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-14
GENERAL MOLASSES. :"

riOus battles which resulted In star
spaDgled banners and Fourth of July
celebrations The winter he was twelve
years old brought him, as a Christmas
gift, a "History OF the Revolutionary
War;" dearly priced, yet q source of woe,
for he lived in it day and night. The sun
might shine-it mattered not; and his
dreams were all of strife and bloodshed,
drawing from his brother To N, his unwill-
ing bedfellow, the indignant remark,
"That youngster thrashes the British ers
all over the bed, and I'll be hanged il I
stand it much longer" He was an odd lit
tie chap,small and frail, with straight light
hair, blue, solemn eyes and inquiring nose,
and mouth around whose childish curves
world of thought lurked and fingered
Peaceable, but no coward, as his boyish
friends could testify; resenting an insult
with all his puny might, he yet loved not
contact with their dirty fists, for he
dreamed of more glorious wounds than
those healed by the application of brown
paper and vinegar A mighty spirit ruled
that fragile body, and within his own
snug corner he would sit for hours por-
ing over warlike deeds, especially those
of our heroic forefathers, while his eyes
would flash and his heart would throb as
he imagined himself mounted on foam
ing steed, dashing down the rocky
mountain slopes like brave Israel Put
man, or sweeping over the breastworks at
Stony Point as "Mad Anthony Wayne"
in the face of bayonet and blazing IAN
| non; but on, on to victory! Absent
minded at all times, his young friends
we're teasinely aware of his peculiari-
les and always on the watch for new
developments, and that particular win
ter his wandering wits were never failing
| fun for them and two tall brothers and
petticoated atom of sister, whoee hoy
denish ways were a terror to her mother
and friende. "Thst girl should have been
the boy" was a familiar sound to her
eare. All! il those wise ones had only
known how devoutly she wished she
had be en- born a boy, whose freedom of
trowsers over forbidden fences and Joy
of unwashed hands were constant
source of envy,-they certainly would
have refrained from fostering the sense
OF injury whichfed her soul.
Oh, those brothers and tibet sister how
they Sormented Willie's young life while
the glamor of the Revolution hung
about him. Errands on various pretexts,
always resulting disastrously, met him at
every turn. and his only solace was the
imaginary world in which he lived, fought
and bled with exalted soul.
One morning he sat as usual, his book
upon his knees, his fancy glowing with
the roar of cannon, beating of drums,
and rattle Of musketry which quite ex-
tinguiehed the motherly tones calling to
him to "run to the nearest grocery and
buy some molasses."
He sat entIanced until his long-suffer-
ing parent appeared before him with
fioury hands and indignant voice, ex-
claiming, why, Willie, never saw such
boy I want some molasees immediate
ly. Bridget forgot to order it this morn
ing. Go quickly; my cake is waiting"
handing him as she spoke dollar bill.
The smoke of battle cleared away as he
rose to his feet smiling, for he was a
sweet-tempered little fellow, and loved
his mother dearly. jug in hand he care
fully hid from certain domestic vandals
his precious history and started down
the street. He ran around the first cor
ner, but soon his feet moved less rapidly,
as the fascinating picture of Lord Corn
wallis at iectly presenting his sword to
the Continental leader rose before his
visionary mind. On he went slowly, the
commanding tones of Americas great pa
triot echoing in the air and line upon
lire of veteran faces rising before him,
while the flag of freedom waved grandly
over all. In lucid moment he spied
several rivulets OF molasses tricklins
down the jug. His sense of neatness
was offended, and he thrust his hand
first into one pocket and then into an
other in search Of slate sponge or stray
example paper, which he would have
been pleased to see performing mental
office. His fingers closed at last about
small piece of paper which answered
his purpose nicely, and hinging it careless
ly aside he walked on, again revealing in
those warlike sights and sounds which
thrilled his soul. AS he neared the gro
Gerry, mentally brandishing his glittering
b'ade at the head of column of infant
ry, he dropped the jug and Suddenly
recollected his errand OF peace. Into his
pocket his hand went for the money-it
was not therel He searched again and
again, but the dis nal fact remained-the
dollar bill was ABSENT
At last it flashed across his now col
lected mind that he had disposed of his
wealth by the wayside, so, turning back,
be luckily found it, clinRing to vagrant
stone, yellow as the Tiber, and sticky as
sin. Eyeing it ruetully, he wondered il
it would be received as legal tender.
There was no water at hand to remove
the sticky mixture aud he stood perplex-
ed. A happy thought struck himl He
looked around. Apparently no pryinR
! eye was near, so-must l record SO igno-