The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-06-30

with a dissatisfied eye at the table,
where his wife had set out bowl of
raspberries and milk, bilious-look
ing slab of cold salt pork, heaped
around with beet greens, and half a
loaf of rye bread
There amt no sense in settin'
table," said he. I'D jest as soon eat
my victuals off the pantry shelf"
1T seems more sociable-like to sit
down. said his wife, pale, faded lit
tie woman with light-blue eyes and
hair already beginning to turn gray,
although she was not yet forty years
old.
ITS all a waste O time, gettin' ready
and cleanin' up said he, beginning to
eat like famished ocelot.
Mrs. Drummer was over here this
mornin',' said Mrs. Jarrett, pouring
herself out cup of weak tea, sweet
ened with maple sugar and drunk with
out milk, because the creameries gave
three cents a quart for all that the
three "blanket cows" yielded.
''Eh?' said Hiram. What for?'
"Well, she's goin' over to East Hill
w SpChtt - vi ~ uiy anu ohC CuI Y
take that little Fresh Air child with
her; her grandson's so i'll and can't
bear the least bit of noise. And shs
thought perhaps we'd be willin' to hev'
him here, jest for day.
"She's mistaken, them said Hiram,
with his mouth full of pork and greens.
Il don't set no store by children, espe
cially that sort O child!'
Mrs. Jarrett looked wistfully at her
husband, but made no remonstrance.
She knew from long experience how
useless it was to set up her wishes
against his will.
Hiram Jarrett was very tired that
night when he went to bed, but his
last words were a sheer and cavil at
the prevailing folly.
Judge Dingley, indeed!' said he.
And Fourth OF July Grafton! don't
blieve Judge Dingley's great-gran' Their
carried a musket at Bunker Hill as mine
did"
"Then you be proud O the day, after
ALP" said Mrs. Jarrett.
Il don't b'lieve in maxim such an all
fired fuss over it, said Hiram, shortly.
The Fourth of July dawned, red sun
shining through a vail of mist. Hiram
rose and proceeded to his work, as usual.
Mrs. Jarrett went to a neighboring viii
lage, where she had sister as hard
working and down-trodden as herself.
Betsy is cleanin' house." said Mrs. Jar
rett, by way of excuse to her husband,
land if l help her day p'r'aps she'll
come over in blackberry time and lend
me a hand with the jam"
Mr. Jarrett had been across to the
fur pastur," to put the cows into new
grazing grounds, and was returning by
the short cut through the Widow Brim-
mer's apple-orchard, when the sound of
distant cannon struck upon his ear.
They've begun with their toomfool-
cry Already" said he to himself. but
it sounds sort O. pleasant, too. Won
der if it sounded that ere way to my
great-gran'ther at Bunker Hill? And
there's flag up on the top O. Deacon
Saltonstalls store. guess I've got as
good right to fly a flag as he has, if
Halo! Who be you, little lsln?"
A child, seven or eight years old, a
fair-haired, blue-eyed little creature,
was sitting on Mrs. Brimmer's doorstep,
looking solemnly up at him.
I'm Johnny JONES'" said he
There's nobody at home. I was to
stay here, right by the door, until she
came back. My dinner was in paper,
but was hungry, and I've eaten it up.
Is it past dinner time, please?"
Its a quarter of ten, pre-cise-ly,"
said Mr.. Jarrett, consulting the huge
silver watch which had belonged to his
father before him. 80 you're the city
child, are you?"
II live on Avenue b." said the little
boy, with Mrs. Riley. Top floor, right
hand side.''
81 pose your folks are sort O. lone
some without you," said the farmer,
looking curiously at the little lad, as if
he we're some new variety of insect.
81 haven't any folks" said the child.
''My father and mother are dead. I'm
to 60 out in the rag-andbottle wagon
with Mr.. Riley when I'm big enough"
Whats them sticks heaped up on
the grass?" asked the farmer, swallow
| ing down an unaccountable lump in
his throat.
Those are my firecrackers," said the
little boy. I'm playin' at fireworks
The long ones are my rockets, and the
clam-shells are pinwheels. Ishould be
quite happy if wasn't so hungry"
| Poor little, soft-voiced child! Poor
little makc-believe of dry sticks and
stones! Mr.. Jarrett gave himself q
sudden jerk as if he fain would get free
from some unseen demon, who was
dragging him in the other direction.
'Come home with me, bub!'' said he
II live jest across the big medder, yor
can see the chimbleys from here.
guess we can find some berry pie ane
new milk over there. And / say
FINN Hing anea si1v in his s,oclxotl 1ef,a