Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-07-15
THE INNOVATION.


and so. too, was the heart of every-
body else about the table that morn
ing. Even Miss Praiseworthy Wash
ington. the generals cousin, was
thankful, and it was hardly to be ex-
pected that she. having been educated
in Europe and having once been pre-
sented at court should express extra
ordinary jubilation upon this ami
versary OF the violent withdrawal
of the colonies from the protection of
the mother country. Yet in spite of
poison OF Toryism that still fingered
in her system. Miss Trustworthy
Washington was proud OF her cousin
George; she loved particularly to dis
course OF him to others as IA valorous
Indian fighter-his early campaigns
with the lamented Braddock were as
familiar to her as the homely. every
day scenes about Mount Vernon.
i Mr.. and Mrs GUSTS had come all
the way from Baltimore. and their
two children were with them Upon
the latter Grandma Washington
bcamed benignantly this Fourth OF
July morning
'Gran'ma Is going to give you
something nice after eakfast." said
she; something very nice, but very
terrible. Promise gran'ma that you
will be good children and do just what
he tells you all day long"
The mystery was about 10 be solved.
1t had been kept profound mystery
for more than n week-yes ten days
ago DR. Preston aud Col. Page Gull
pepper had returned from Philadel-
phia bringing with them among other
goods large p ne box, securely nailed
and hoopcd and impressively labeled;
Mrs Gen. Ge )rge Washington-Ex
p.oslves Handle with Care" This
strange box and its mysterious con
tents had been sto ed in a remote shed
and tho Trustworthy body. servant.
Uncle Gabriel, had been instructed to
guard it iealously by day and nv
night. No one but grandma and tho
doctor and the colonel knew what WA
in the box; even the general had been
kept out OF the secret and it worried
him good deal for, although he let
on that the mystery merely amused
him. he was really vexeJ TO tbinl,
that something was going on which
he knew absolutely nothing Of
Now, however it transpired that
the mysterious pine box contr,aed
fireworks first fireworks over
seen in that part of tho country. Mrs
John Adams had told Mrs. Washing
ton the previous winter all about the
wonders of "a pvrotcchnic display she
had seen in PHILADELPHIA and so
when DR.. Preston and Col. Culpepper
went to Philadelphia to purchase their
semi-anuual supply of rum and other
luNuries Mrs. Washington instructed
them to procure for her a goodly
quantity OF fireworks, wherewith she
might surprise and delight the gener-
al and the grandchildren on Fourth of
July. There you have in a nutshell.
SO to speak. the sum and substance of
the mystery.
If they are explosives said Gen,
Washington lit is proper that
should examine them diligently to
learn whether it may not be unwise
for the children to deal with them. :"
This seemed so sensible q sugges-
ton that committee consisting of
the general Parson Weems and Col.
Culpepper adjourned Immediately
after breakfast to the remote shed.
where, under the Argus eyed surveil-
ance OF Uncle Gabriel, the no longer
mysteriosu pine box was stored. In
due time this august committee re-
ported that in their opinion it would
be sale for the children to deal with
said explosives. provided. however
that said dealings were conducted I'M
der the careful supervision of some
cautious person or persons of mature
years and Judgment Accordingly.
Uncle Gabriel and Grandma Wash n.y.
ion and Mamma Custis were duly con-
stituted a committee OF safety. and
under the prudent direction of these
three Master Custis and little Mistress
Gusts were soon disturbing the peace
and dignity of Mount Vernon with the
petulant popping OF certain explosives
called torpedoes and the more i'm pres
sive donations of other explosives
called Chinese crackers.
This brisk cannonading If we may
so term it served the purpose not
only OF delighting the children. but
also OF recalling to the gentlemen
seated upon the veranda overlooking
the lawn the tragic scones OF the late
war and many an interesting Incl
ueht ana anecdote thereof was passed
by Col. rage Culpepper and Dr. Pres
ton ana Gen. Washington himself-a
conversation OF which good Pnrson