The Newtown bee., 1892-07-22
The Flag Of The Free.

"Ihere, Will, doesn't the room look nice? I finished that mat, last night and had just money enough left to buy those shoes for Mamie. Won't she be surprised?' "You're a great woman, Kate, and I'll have more money for you, next Saturday night"
 II hope so, dear; but we mustn't stop to talk, for Eve eggs and bacon for breakfast, and they're done to turn. I'ye been up this two hours. The firing woke me and l couldn't get to sleep again.
 Kate Shewel was noble woman; but she had made the mistake of marrying, expecting by loving kindness and pa- tience to win Will from his fondness for strong drink, but learned too late that the power of appetite controlled more than love.
 Intervals of hope, when the mans bet ter nature asserted itself and the crav- ing for liquor was kept in abeyance, alternated with weeks of gloom, poverty and despair, at which times the husband was more like a besotted fiend than anything human; and Kate's daily life was sorry substitute for the dream of happiness to which she had looked for ward.
 Both parents united in woIshiping their golden haired little Mamie, now in her fifth year. Will had obtained work, some weeks previous to this Fourth of July morning, and the money he had placed in her hands, the preceding night, had enabled her to make the little home more inviting than usual :; but she looked forward with apprehens- ion to this holiday, fearing some tempt ation might prove irresistible to easy going Will. Breakfast oyer, he rose from the table, saying as he but on his hat:
 ''rm going down street. I won't be gone long, Kate"
 Don't go, Will; stay at home today" she said wistfully.
 NDon't fear, little woman, he replied, ssI'm all right, but I saw something at the store, last night, I'm determined to have for you. l can't keep secret worth a cent though. There's a clock down at Beyers just like the one gave you, the first Christmas after we were married. I broke that one myself, when was-a little 'oAer the bay; but thank goodness, I'm done with that sort of thing now. I won't be long; don't worry"
 55z '
 He stepped briskly along, happy in the thought that he was once more master of himself. and could purchase a gift for his wife, with money honestly earned. So engrossed was he with his own thoughts, he took no note of the gay appearance of the surroundings. Up and down the street, as far as the eye could see, the windows and door ways and every turret were bright with fags-the stars and stripes in all sizes and qualities.
 Noticeable above all else were the saloons that thickly besprinkled every block. Though scarcely an American name appeared above the doors, the owners seemed to be ultra patriotic, for bunting and flags dropped and waved in gorgeous profnsion over each and all of them.
 As Will hurried along, thinking what a pleasant day he should have with Kate and little Mamie, familiar voice called:
 ssHullo, VIII; we're you go?V you don shtop to dhrinks P
 ssCan't stop this morning, Al; I've other business on hands
 ssSo? Vat you tink of mine vlags? Dere de finest on de street !'' mistake. must hurry along, though.''
 .sNo? Ven I nall up dem vlags tink to myself, I'd be glad to hear Vill