Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
HOW THE fourth CANE BACK
WRITTEN FOR THE EVENING STAR BIZ
JOHN HABBERTON.
ICoPyright. ISgl.l
ICopyrIght, MI
ST WISH THE FOURTH WOULD COME

two or three acquaintance to keep the side
walk raj in front of Leatherton's store from
feeling lonesome. Leathertons was the mos
popular of the several general stores on TIL
main street of Berryburg and Leatherton
competitors declared it was all because OF thu
unrivaled attractions which its front offered q
summer loungers. All along the outer edge
the sidewalk ran n rail just high enough TO 81
upon in the attitude dearly beloved by mer
who spend much Of their home leisure In or
nanentIng with themselves the tops OF fences
there was a lower rail just low enough to &C
comnodate boot heels. and over all n couple
Of mulberry trees cast q grateful shade during
the warm summer days and, according to many
frequenters Of the place, kept the dews o,
evening from the men who gathered after dusk
TO smoke and gossip
The Fourth Of July?' queried Leatherton
himself, who leaned against the door frame OF
the store and chatted with the crowd while
keeping eve on his competitors doors 10
see what might be going on in the way OF after
noon business 'sYou won't have To wait very
long. Mr.. Purley. If that's any comfort to you.
The Fourth IL only about week off. wonder
whose house or barn will burn down this time
and Who II get into the lOck-upT
''Oh, yes,' said the old man, the day Will
conn according to the almanac. unless judg-
nlent dsy should steal march ON It But the
Fourth amt the Fourth any more-not the
way II used to be in the days before the war.
Therell be lots Of them internal hre-craekers
and plenty OF drunks, i suppose, but IN
lonyia' for one of the Fourths that used to
mean somethin'. Most OF you fellers was too
young 90 get anythin out of II To remember
some Of you WASH born. but reckon Leather
ton can back me up when i say that there
nOthin' now in the way of celebrations that
can hold n candle to them days
That's q fact" sail the storekeepef.
'tsIsin the flag in the mOrnin ut sunrise,
continued the old native, an every man an
boy IN town In q ring around the pole all ready
10 heller an cheer when II got To the top, an
women standIn in doorways an hangin out Of
windsrs all around. to get a look at the dear
old rug. Likes not, too. we'd have cannon
TO Ere a salute; We Il have 1t If there was one to
be borrowed anywhere; the young fellers in
town didn't make nOthin Of trampin twenty
miles to . town where there was n cannon, big
OF little. that could be borrowed or hired, an
draggin' 1t here by hand. They didn't care
how heavy 1t was, the bigger the better, an
then all chopped in 20 buy the powder
''Iact," asserted the storekeeper. with a sigh.
I've sometimes sold two Kegs of powder a day
for of those cannon to hire. No money to
be made that way nowadays-though did use
10 make il a rule to sell II at about cost when
IL Wa wanted for IA cannon on the Fourth"
Ard the professions! Gosh exclaimed
the oil man. The town band. when we had
one. hfe and drum when We hadn't. an a-playin
muse that everybody knowed, instead of the
Kind Of stuff that bands play nowadays. Then
a great big wagon full of gals in white an rib
BON. one gal for each state, an q little wagon
load Of smaller gals to signify the territories
an al Of them in white an lots of ribbons,
too"
Pact" again said Ieatherton. with sigh
over business which had declined. Some
times I've sold as many a. ten rolls OF ribbon
ON . single Fourth-some red, some white and
some blue, dozen yards to a roll Lots of the
big girls that stood for the states bought
mighty nice stuff for their white dresses. too.
such goods cost u good deal more money then
than they do now. but there wasn't any beat
ing down the price-not for that day, any,
how"
Il reckon that was So" the old man said. II
know when my gal. that was aiterward my wife.
WAS picked out to ride in the wagon to repre-
sent our state just bought her whole piece
OF each kind Of ribbon-red, white an blue
an .Od colt was mighty fond Of to get the
money to paw for EN- with tell you there
was love OF country IN them days"
And love of gals. perhaps" mildly intimated
Clay BuTnItt. healthy-lOOking young man
who lsaned against the rail
Don't seem TO be either kind now" said the
old man. at which some of the others looked at
Clay, Who flushed and scowled. But the older
man continued His mind was not inclined to
leave Ihe blissful past to starye on the barren
present 1t used TO be the biggest chance a
young man could have to show of. for a lot
rode horseback In the procession and the very
fines; young man in the town was always picked
out TO read the Declaration, an faint no small
Job read that old paper right either. The
felleT that was To do II would study on 1t we,k s
aheai until he almost knowed IL by heart.
know Young man that had il by heart SO
that as hardly had To look in the book whs he
got OIL the platform. III bet you there ain n
young man in these parts today that can say
any Of II of hand"
You'd lose your bet. Mr.. Purley," said CLAY
Burnitt respectfully, vet with something in his
voice which made the old man look at him in
quirIngly, and with some sign of approval as he
saii:
lis that fae.7 Hurrah for you, then-thats
what saw"
The young man seemed greatly pleased by
this remark and Leatherton winked at him
encouragingiy. at which he looked somewhat
rheepish.
I'D give everythin' I've got seems to me-"
said the old man. rising. Ito see one Of those
old fOurths come back again, bat 'spose til, re
amt 10 Use hopin. Decoration days this side
OF the Ohio. an memorial days down south
wherever I've been, seems TO haze run the
Fourth out Of peoples heads. It's burned
ornery shame-thats what il is."
That's where you're right, Mr.. Purley," said
Clay.
The old man sauntered homeward. Leather
ton followed him with his eyes u moment or
two and then remarked:
Bag offer the old man made. Clay He'd
give any thing he's got. Did you take that
luY'
The ether loungers looked keenly at the young
man, bat got In return glance indignant
that they made excuses to depart.
Bag offer, Clay repeated the storekeeper
1rs-yes; i heard YOU. Mr.. Leatherton."
well, don't you see a chance of business in
m lie thinks 50 much of that only gal Of his
that suppose he treats you as he does every
body else among the Young fellows. but if
was a gOod-looking young bachelor and on the
inside track, like l believe you are, Id give
him the kind of Fourth he asks for and then
demand the pay-every cent Of it. or pound
of II 1 suppose 1t would have to be in that
case"
Thunder. Leatherton." said Clay, looking
someS lat embarrassed and ~ II lac would like
tO charg re the subject Il believe everything
l. business matter of-fact business to your
eyes"
"Of course il is" said the storekeeper $50
~ IL 10 every body else, too, though some pre-
tend II isn't Statesmen, preachers, girls
But that neither here nor there. Ill make n
straightforward bargain with YOU right now
lou want to marry Luce Purley-confound it,
man, stop blu-hIng; there's nothing wrong
about II; every young fellow in town wants 10
marry her. Well. her father likes YOU about as
well a. be likes anyb body else. but she all the
family that : left to him As for me, 1 want to
wake up my business a little; there's scarcely
anything doing at this season of the wear Let
You ard me get up an old-fashioned Fourth:
there l-n { much time left. but II can be done
by hard work. You do the work and III supply
En.Ku I a q.