The southern argus., 1891-07-02
''wHY, OLD MAN, YOU ARE A DAY TOO
LATE!'

it look but minute to transfer the old
almanac to the nail by the door, where
the new one had SO lately swung to and
fro The boys hearts beat quickly
when they went in to dinner and found
grandpa studying the almanac.
lit is just as said, mother" " running
his finger down the page, 'the Fourth
comes on Saturday; you certainly can
not dispute the almanac; who ever
knew it to be wrong?"
Will and Jamie bent low over their
plates, while grandma brought forth
proof after proof to show that the
Fourth was on Thursday last year, and
consequently must be on Friday now,
as it was not leap year. Grandpa lis
tened with a good-natured smile.
swell, mother, l have followed the
almanac for fifty years, and guess l
will abide by it now"
Saturday morning came clear and
bright, and Beth, in her fresh white
dress and broad -brimmed hat, stood
waiting for Jerry to bring around the
old chaise which had been in use thirty
years, or more.
VIII and Jamie could afford to be
pleasant after the magnificent joke
they had played on her.
Don scream when the firecrackers
go off, Beth, for people will think you
never saw any before"
TELL us all about everything, Beth,
and be sure to bring us red balloon" :"
'Oh, don't forget some peanuts, >"
begged VIII, sit will be the only Fourth
we will have"
Il 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 chatsc, Beth with her pockets filled
with ginger-Snaps, while under the seat
was a well-filled lunch-basl<et. 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 n
day of pleasure the whole town had
taken a resting-spell. Along the road
| were scattered burnt firecrackerS and
empty paper bags.
tits 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 store:
Where 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 little gasp and her yel-
low curls mingled with grandpa white
ones as She sobbed on his shoulder.
"The almanac said SO" he repeated
over and over, 81 never knew it TO be
wrong before. There. little girl, Wei
do something else just as nice, we'll &C
-" then, as his eye caught flaming
poster of lion and an elephant in
deadly conflict, yes, We'll go on tc
Paxton and See the menagcrie, it shows
there to-day; that viii be great deaI
better than lot of noisy tirecrackers
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 stable
for the day, and grandpa and Betf
boarded train for Paxton. What
wonderful. never-to- be-forgotten day i
was for her. The crowds OF people
the band Of music, and cage after cag'
of new and strange animals She cluns
close to grandpa when the lion shooi
his yellow name and gave trightiu
roar, and when the elephant waved hl
long trunk high in the air. and claPpe'
her hands with delight at the antics 0
the monkeys.