The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-07-10
The Fourth at Vinegar Hill.

The Fourth at Vinegar Hill.
The only fourth Of Jnly.celebration
held in this neighborhood, was at
Mt. Pleasant or Vinegar Hill, engi.
neered by Rev. Burgette Short, min.
lister in charge of that circuit. When
we reached the ground the Rev.
Short was entertaining himself and
several boys tossing and catching a
ball, the primary lesson of the base
ball player. After while the Rising
Sun Band put in an appearance,
with their wagon decorated with flags
and bunting, and enlived the scene by
several patriotic airs. There were
but few on the ground and the prin-
cipal amusement was-among the
boys-tossing and catching ball /;
and several of the girls took hand
at ball play, proving to be excellent
catchers. But she must throw an
overland ball. The physical law of
her being declares that. The.old play
of jumping the rope was fayorite
amusement. This was varied at in
tervals by an athlete game called
pully-hauley which consisted of two
contrasting parties composed Of sew
eral girls on each side selling oppo-
site ends of the rope and dragging
each other around the ground. The
party succeeding ia dragging the
other down was declared victors and
took the cake. There 'swas lots of
fun in it, beating the high grass and
sack race all to pieces.
The church choir led by Rev. Short
sang some lively songs. The Rev.
is singer too and his choir proved
good second. In the mean time
the ice cream and lemons were got
IN place wnere tables had been erect.
ed outside the church, but still no
speaking or anything like an organ.
lied meeting, the band by way of
variety sandwiching the diversions
by an occasional tune, in the shade of
the trees. The afternoon wore away,
and five o'clock came, with length
ening shadows. The day had been a
glorious one; one of those days with
''Heayen and earth reconciled.'
Milking time was drawing near,
and that irrepressihle farm APPETITE
both warned the visitors it was time
to be moving, and old dobbin was
backed between numerous shafts and
hitched in, while others who had
come "a foot back" began to file out,
promising to return after milking
supper.
Mr.. Saml. M. McCardell who seem.
ed to be the most active spirit in
trying to reduce chaos to order and
prepare for the night performance
when the real fete chanpetre was to
be enjoyed, took the band to his
place, which is close by, and fortified
them for the evening performance
with substantial supper. BY way
of reminder of "the day we cele-
brate" a few cannon crackers were
fred which made the horses jump
and the girls sqneal. We left with
the milk maids and we're not present
at the night entertainment, but re-
porter gives the following graphic
description, which, barring q few
DRINKS who ornamented the ground
to represent high license, rounds out
the history of the glorious fourth as
celebrated at Vinegar Hill:
At s o'clock the speaking began,
the band wagon making an excellent
platform. Rev. Burgette Short made
a few remarks and then cleared the
track for Mr.. Knowles of Seaford,
Del, who discoursed for haitian hour
or SO in a manner which was highly
instructive to those of the audience
who had not opened the history and
geography since they had laid them
on the closet shelf, quarter of
century ago. Mr.. Knowles was fol
lowed by the famous -silver-tongued
orator of Basin Run, Mr.. ]. T.
Graham.