The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-08-24
The Old Cannon.

"Hip-hip-hurrah! Three cheers for
Doctor Richmond" shouted the boys.
- tell you, fellows" cried Phil An
son, 'Hle's a brick, he hasn't forgotten
he was a boy once, and thought the
Fourth of July was the best day in
the year.
"Whoop-ee-woh't we have a tall
time. Imove we Oegin about three
o'clock in the morning, and shake the
. folks up lively with our racket" pro-
posed Fred Grims, PhiPs roommate
and chum. "We'l begin with torpe-
does, then the small fre-crackers, and
then the amor crackers, one at a
time, and at last a whole bunch of
them at once. Well show you what
it is to be an American. Ally, old
boy, you never saw such times in Eng
land, | can tell you" and Fred slap
ped a delicate, fair-haiI ed little lad on
the back, whose eyes sparkIed at the
treat in store for HIM.
Recreation hour Is nearly up" said
| Steve Patten, ''let's go buy the crack
ers now, have fifty cents earned to-
wards them"
81 have twenty-five" echoed anoth-
er.
"And l have twenty-five, too"
| came from a third. and away all ran
across the playground and down the
! one street Of the little village to the
store, where, after a great deal OF bar
gaining, their purchase was made.
The school at WestfeId was the
work OF a man who in early youth
had planned a school where the poor
est boys could have the instruction
and wise training so often accessible
only to the rich. For years he had
! labOred for it and at last it was an
accomplished fact, and DR.. Richmond
was able to give to others what he
earnestly longed for in his W youth,
and gained only after a severe strug'
Gle.
The BOYS were in doubt whether
they would be allowed to have a whole
holiday on the Fourth, as the final
examinations we're to be held in q few
days, and there was hardly moment
to spare from their lessons. But DIR.
Richmond, remembering his own boy
hood, had gwen them permission to
have all the fun they could on that
one day, and then sestled dc wn to work
afterwards.
81 have made q big find whispered
Phil Arson to Fred Grimes, on the
way back from the store. You keep
mum about it and / will tell you"
just as though ! couldn't keep
num- said Fred, Indignantly, II can
do that as we'll as you can"
"Don't get mad" said Phil hastily,
"and I'll let you help me. / found a
cannonl think ofthat; a real cannon!"
''Where?" asked Fred, excitedly.
Buried in the sand just above the
narrows. 1t will be just the thing to
wind the noise up with, after all the
crackers are gone. See | bought some
powder, after the other fellows had
left the store"
chats iollyl" exclaimed Fred,
admirIngly, 1T takes you, Phil. to
think up something worth while. :
ut viii be the most fun to see Ally
Preston continued Phil. "The poor
little innocent hardly knows what
L bHC GSNIpn lDs GtAlA FWlACn VIC SUM OA
the old cannon won't he jump9 ha! hal
| can see him now-he says to me,
which end do you light the crackers,
Phil.?"
Hal hal hal" laughed both boys.
I'D iksto see him try to light
both ends OF a cannon, said Fred. as
soon as he could speak for laughing.
Here comes Steve Patten; can't we
tell him7"
Suppose we do" said Phil. "The
old thing is heavy, and he can help
pull it up to the playground" and
beckoning him to one side, the three
held a whispered consultation.
a short time before q number OF or.
phan boys, sent from Manchester,
England, had been received at the
school. and among them Ally Preston,
a trail, delicate boy, the favorite of
the whole school, on aceount OF his
gentle, winning ways. At the same
times$he was sESsuSiect of much good
natured i~estine, Tor he had spent his
whole life, before coming to America,
in a quiet English village, and his cogG
slant wond@gment at aaI the new and
strange things that he saw caused
AlICu mtEEtulcub among Ills COmphu-
ions. The little fellow was ia culver
OF excitement, and could hardly wait
until the time came to begin the firing.
That evening, after prayers, DR..
Richmond detained the boys q mo.
ment.
II forgot to say this morning, that
no firearms OF any kind, not even a
toy-pistol, will be allowed amongyou.
You may begin our noise as early as
you WISH. and we older people viii
have to stand it, but on no account
will I permlt powder to be used.
Go0d.EisAt, and d Ssarry Fourth 70
You ALL
As the boys fled up the long stair,
case TO their rooms, Phil and Fred
gave each other a significant wink.
THAT spoils it alllv they said.
Soon alter three o'clock, ghostIy
figures could be eean stealing across
the playground. casting long shadows
10 the moonlight. When ali were as.
sembied, Phil gave the signal to begin
the firing.
ra..af - - 49,