Dodge City times., 1891-07-03
"N////////U,

can tell us all you saw, and that will
be fun for u.s." and he gave VIII 4
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-flled lunch-basket. She
sang little songs of happiness to the
nodding clover and daisies along the
road as they passed, for a day in town
only came once in a 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 firecrackcrs 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 a man in a store:
''Wherc does the celebration take
placer"
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 1t to be
wrong before There. little girl, well
do something else just as nice, we'll 60
=" then, as his eye caught a 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 a great deal
better than a LOT of noisy firecrackers. -
Beth dried her tears. 'Oh, how
splendid! wish Will 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 a
wonderful, never-to- -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 clung
close to grandpa when the lion shook
his yellow name and gave frightful
roar, and when the elephant waved his
long trunk high in the air, and clapped
her hands with delight at the antics OF
the monkeys.
sit would be Just perfect if the boys
were here. lam so glad, grandpa, tina.
we lost the Fourth
Will and Jamie spent restless day.
An uneasy conscience is never a CON-
Portable companion, and their magnifi-
cent joke looked almost like false
hood to them, and to do anything to
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 a faint one.
They were at the gate, one on each
post, to watch for old Whiteface, and
when she was seen swinging up the
road they called out:
''Tell us all about it, Beth. Did you
scream at the firccrackers? Where are
the peanuts? Did you see all the cele-
bratiOn?"
The fun of their joke had all re-
turned, and they kicked their heels
with delight
Il didn't see any firecrackers," an
swered Beth, but, boys, the lion was
splendid! 1 heard him roar, and the
monkeys were SO cunning.'
VIII and Jamie looked at each other.
What did she mean? Where was there
any lion?
wasn't it queer? The almanac ras
wrong, and we lost the Fourth, SO
grandpa took me to Paxton to see the
animals l wished every minute you
were there, it was SO splendid!"
The boys climbed slowly down from
the post and went into the house. This
was something they had not expected
Beth had seen what they had wanted
to see all their ives-a real lion, and
heAsd it roar! This was the result of
their joke. There was not even q
sm;ae when grandpa walked straight
to the almanac and took it down. ex-
auEining it with puzzled face. Their
punishment seemed greater than they
could bear.
1t was = quiet family that evening"
grandpa, deep in thought. trying to
solve the unaccountable behavior Of
his faithful almanac; Beth, tired and
happy, and the boys mute with sur
prise at the ending of their magnificent
joke.-Louise Thrush Brooks, in Chica-