The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-07-04

dress and broad-brimmed hat, stood
waiting for Jerry to bring around the
old Chaise which had been in use thirty
years, or more.
Will and Jamie could afford to be
pleasant after the magnificent joke
they had played on her.
Don't scream when the firecraclkers
go off, Beth, for people will think you
never saw any before"
"rell us all about every thing, Beth,
and be sure to bring us red balloon"
"Oh, don't forget some peanuts"
begged Will, ''it will be the only Fourth
we will have
81 wish you would go, the Fourth is
more for boys than for girls" began
Beth, but Jamie interrupted her: "You
can tell us all you saw, and that will
be fun for u.s." and he gave Will a
nudge.
Beth and grandpa rode off in the high
old chaise, Beth with her pockets filed
with ginger-snaps, while under the seat
was a well-filled lunch-basket. She
sang little songs of happiness to the
nodding clover and daisies along the
road as they passed, for day in town
only came once in long time, and be-
sides, this was the Fourth of July,
when all nice things happened. They
lived far from neighbors, and the out
side world seemed very wonderful to
her, so she was glad when the long
drive came to an end, and the streets
of the village appeared.
But what deserted look they had!
Tired and sleepy-as though after a
day of pleasure the whole town had
taken resting-spell. Along the road
were scattered burnt frecrackers and
empty paper bags.
Its dreadful quiet for Fourth of
July, isn't it, grandpa?" and Beth
looked very anxious.
Mr. Downs drew in old Whiteface,
and called to man in q store:
''Where does the celebration take
place?"
The man laughed "Why, old man,
you are day too late for the Fourth,
we had all that yesterday. Where. have
you been, anyway"
Beth gave a little gasp and her yel-
low curls mingled with grandpa's white
ones as she sobbed ON his shoulder.
1.-The almanac said so," he repeated
over and over, 81 never knew it to be
wrong before. There, little girl, well
do something else just as nice, Well &C
-" then, as his eye caught flaming
poster of lion and an elephant in a
deadly conflict, ''yes, We'll go on to
Paxton and see the menagerie, it shows
there to-day; that will be great deal
I, 1o4 Ac ,,Nic1y al
Beth dried her tears. "Oh, how
splendid! / wish VIII and Jamie were
here. We never any of us saw a really
truly lion in our lives"
Old Whiteface was put into a stable
for the day, and grandpa and Beth
boarded train for Paxton What g
wonderful, never-to-b o-be-forgotten day il
was for her The crowds of people
the band of music, and cage after cage
of new and strange animals She clune
close to grandpa when the lion shool
his yellow name and gave frightfuI
roar, and when the elephant waved his
long trunk high in the air, and clappeG
her hands with delight at the antics o1
the monkeys.
"lt would be just perfect if the boys
were here. / am so glad, grandpa, that
we lost the Fourth"
Will and Jamie spent a restless day
An uneasy conscience is never a com
Portable companion, and their magnifi
cent joke looked almost like false
hood to them, and to do anything tc
make their little sister shed tears was
not manly, look at it in any light they
might. They had to watch their chance
to replace the almanac, and their laugh
at the thought of how mystified grand
pa would be when he came to consult
it again was faint one.
They were at the gate, one on eact
post, to watch for old Whiteface, ant
when she was seen swinging up the
road they called out:
'Tell us all about it, Beth. Did yor
scream at the tirecraclsers? Where arc
the peanuts? ND you see all the cele
bration?"
The fun of their joke had all re
turned, and they kicked their heels
with delight.
81 didn't see any frecrackers," an
swered Beth, but, boys, the lion was
splendid! / heard him roar, and the
monkeys were so cunningW
VIII and Jamie looked at each other
What did she mtaa? Where was there
any lion?
wasn't it queer? The almanac odi
wrong, and we lost the Fourth sc
| grandpa took me to Paxton to see the