The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-03

cdn save yc GrOuDle, slr, III ye ike, "
said Dennis for l know both Of 'em by
heart, an say 'em off as easy as me prayers y
You do?r exclaimed Swingleton, with
| such emphasis and with face so solemn
that the boy seemed half inclined to admit
that he had done something wrong. "You
do?" the man repeated, putting his hand
into his pocket. Then here's a dollar
| for you to spend for fire crackers on the
Fourth. There's nothing else in the book
to which you'd call my attention, is there?"
IF you please, sir, l can show you the
picture of all of 'em a-sign.n' the Declara-
ton dad says it's grand sight, cause
twas such plucky piece of business Here
they are; there's Jefferson, and that one
that's barefooted all over his head is
Franklin, an'-oh. yes, here's picture of
John Hancock's signature the kind
of writin' I'm a-goin to practice on till I
get it,
limits handsomer signature than
mine, isn't it?n
II amt sayin' it's any better, sir" said
the boy, tinlidly; "but-but it looks as if it
meant lots more"
Very well; now go ahead at committing
your Fourth of July song to memory you
may sing it, too, ii you want to- or whistle
it,
So sudden and great acquisition of liberty
was more than the boy could comprehend
in an instant, so he went outside and turned
two haDdsprings to assist him. As for John
Swingleton, he slowly read and reread the
two old writings which long before he had
committed to the oblivion of his mental
rubbish heap. Then he looked intently for
some moments at the shabby woodcut which
Dennis father regarded as grand
Next morning the impecunious Truegate,
who still was in default of interest and
principal, was terribly frightened by receiy-
ing call from his creditor in person, but
amazement replaced his dread when he
learned that the visit was made to him, not
in his character of debtor, but as a men,
Der OF the Committee of Arrangements for
the celebration OF the Fourth Swingeton
asked many questions, waived the intima-
ton that perhaps he ought to have been
consulted earlier, and finally he completely
astounded Truegate by asking, with an
affectation OF modesty quite unusual to
him, as the founder of the village, to have
place on the programme so that he might
say few words. Then he inquired whether
any preparation had been made to regale
the more material part of the inner man
and fer fire. works and he again startled the
committeeman out of his small remnant of
composure by offering to provide, entirely
at his own expense a grand breakfast on
the green, to be eaten Immediately after the
ceremonies, and to give display of fire.
works in the evening.
Mercy" said Truegate, while reporting
the Interview to his wife, 'he knocked me
clean daft by saying he'd give me as much
additional time as l might need to catch up
on the mortgage said nobody mind should
be troubled on the Fourth, if he could help
it. What do you suppose has got into him."
Religion, may be, suggested Mrs. True
gate, II don't know what else could make
man of his kind care any thing for the
Fourth OF July, or any thing else but his
property and money"
Truegate's amazement was quietly but
quickly distributed among the villagers,
and augmented almost daily in the week
that preceded the Fourth One day the
villagers were excited by the arrival of the
caterer, who came from the city twenty
miles away, to prepare the promised break