Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-06-28

Nothing new only the landlord has
been for the rent, and | have had to
draw on the debt-box again, and each
time it seems like a step further away
from your father. Oh, ! wonder If We
shall ever, ever accomplish his free
DOM
"Of course We shall!' cried Nelson,
more hopefully than he felt, "Checr
up, nanny! | am growing larger every
day, so can Don earn more; and only
just now Grandpa Darrah, the bell-man,
promised me a shilling if | will wait at
the State House door tomorrow and
give him the signal if independence be
declared"
And if it is, how your poor father
will fret and fume at being shut up and
unable to fight for his country. He was
always such a true patriot And the
unhappy woman turned away to her
sewing with a heavy sign. A lump, too,
arose in Nelson's throat, and he ate but
a snail portion of his sayory stew, Civ
ing the lions share to Penn, who en-
loyed II with nearly BuSto.
As he finished the last morsel Mrs.
Nelson looked up. THAT dog eats as
much as two men," she said.
"Buoae is such a grand, noble fellow,
mother, and | love him So"
$50 he is, dear, but | wish his appe-
tite was less" while into Nelson's mind
darted the young Britishcr's words:
such as you have no business with a
valuable thoroughbred
Was it true? Ought he to sacrifice
his dear companion and playmate for
the sake of the father lang uishing be-
meath the shadow of the law? He tried
to put the thought away, but the idea
haunted him and made him wretched
whenever Penn looked up in his face
with his soft, brown eyes or licked his
cheek with his warm, red tongue, as
though to ask; ''What ais you, little
maSter?'
But when, in the dead Of night, Nell
son awoke and heard his mother sob
bling in the next room and felt sure the
four g%uincas would appear to her like
four seven-league strides toward her
husbands freedom, he determined that,
although he could not put up with Regi-
maids overbearing manner, he would go
to Captain Cathcart, who, in the phrase
ology Of that day was said to be a gee
NAL, whole-souled Old England man."
and offer him the mastiiI on his sons
terms.
The next morning, however, he had
little time to consider his resolution,
for he had to be off early to the State
House, and already the streets were
filled with eager, excited groups, while
a feeling of hushed expectancy seemed
brooding over the quiet city of brother
ly love.
No fairer day yer dawned han the
4th of July, 1875, while, prompt as
Nelson was, the old bellman was before
him and ready enough to welcome the
boy to his little bclfry and to point out
the Congressman as they arrived one by
one at the State House; for the old
Friends Quaker garb covered a truly
patriotic heart, while his genial nature
made him q general favorite, and he
was dubbed Grandpa" by half the
town.
First come Richard Henry Lee, the
Virginia member who first brought for
ward the resolution to proclaim the
American colonies free and indepcnd.
ent States. Next young Thomas Jefer-
son, carrying a roll of manuscript, the
draft, no doubt, which he had drawn up
OF the famous declaration. Then Samuel
Adams, the Father OF the Revolution, v
in his customary suit OF reddish brown;
John Hancock, the president of the
Congress; Charles Thomson, the secre-
tary, who held the position for fifteen
years, and plain, sensible benjamin
Franklin; while, following in rapid
succession came Roger Sherman, Will
lam Ellery, Charles Carroll and the RESI-
OF the illustrious iifty-six.
"a vastly fine, thoughtful set Of men
are they not, Nelson Harding?' asked
the bellman.
Eyes, yes" cried the boy, flushed b,
the excitement Of the moment; and
feel sure they will do whatever is hes
for the country and descending hi
took up his stand close to the STATE
House door and patiently watched ant
waited, while Chestnut street becam,
one mass Of surging humanity and tn,
sultry July sun beat down with unrc
lenting fervor. Men wcaried and wan
dered off to the State House Inn or OLE
London Coffee House; children lifted u
their voices and wept, and women faint
ed from the heat and were borne off b,
kindly hands; but still our loyal littl
Casabianca kept his post, although tn,
hours dragged by on leaden wings, an
often from above came down the dc
s~pondent tone Of the old bell-man
whose hope was beginning to wavel
groaning: "Oh, they never will do II
They never will do it,"
About noon, though, there was
slight interruption, for a determine
four-footed creature came, making il
way through the crowd, and with a CT
2 Of pleasure Nelson recognized Penn
" bearing in his mouth q small basket, |
which Mrs. Harding had packed a ligt
o lunch for her son With q joyful bari
a the dog discovered his master and lai
his burden at his feet, while, as the la
patted his faithful creatures head b
moaned: 'Oh. Penn. dear Penn, no
can | ever bear to part with you!
Q only there was some. other way to bel
n my father.'
vi The bread md fruit however, SOC