The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-07-01

II was intensely sultry with banks Of
white clouds floating aimlcssly here
and there across the electric blue sky.
lie ramblcd toward the disputed land,
thinking, and chuckling as he thought,
how neatly he would outwit his enemy.
His heavy boots swished through the
uncut grass before reaching the moved
section. cold day when anybody gifts
ahead of me-" he unused, IAN to-day
amt chilly. Mighty good time to de-
clare my indepcn-wcll, what's that?"
A curly head rose from the bending
grasses and windflowers before him. al
most at his very feet. 1t turned and a
round, babyish face looked up into his
bronzed and harsh one.
"Well, little one, where did you drop
down FROM"
"From mammals house." replied a
sweet, girlish voice. Its lonesome
over there an ruined away"
who is your mother?"
Just mamma. Are you a soldier?"
The child took in with eager chances
the semi-military appearance of Me-
lanchthon's attire.
mo, I'm celebratin' to-day
why are you doing that?"
Don't you know? It's Fourth of
July when we licked the Britishers-
didn't you ever celebrated"
No" replied the little one, lets do
it,"
The settler was puzzled yet attracted
by this odd little creature before him.
He could not imagine where she had
come from, as he knew of no such chill
dren in the neighborhood. He offered
to take her back to his cabin, but she
refused to go and insisted that he bring
the materials for a celebration to her
and hold the proceedings there in the
midst of the prairie
Finally, away he trudged back to the
cabin, leaving her watching his course
with wondering eyes. He took the har
from the wall and reSurrected from
among some old keepsakes a few fire.
crackers and torpedoes. There was an
old fife there and he took that also and
putting together lunch he started to
find his audience.
A comical figure did Melancthon
make plodding through the palpitating
air. 1t had grown sultrier and the
clouds were moving faster, but he did
not notice it. A full-throated Bob
White balanced himself on broken
sunfiower stalk and called to the eager
traveller, but he heard not. There was
mingling with the image of the little
one waiting youder thoughts of sun
nv-faced sister who back in the old boy
hood days had played with him by
the waters of Lake Erie He had
scarcely thought of her for years, and
now the old pang that nearly broke
his boyish heart when she was taken
from him and laid to rest came back
again.
A pearly drop twinkled on his beard
as he leaned over the child
Are you crying?" she asked, notice
ing it.
"No-no-it's mighty hot an sweat
easy" was his gruff response as he rat
tied the fife and threw the flag on the
sod
Now, we'll eat first and then cele-
brate."
So he spread the bread and butter
and poured ont the creamy milk, and
soon they were meeting on the com mon
level of appetite. 1t seemed more and
more to the grizzled settler as if thirty
five years had dropped from his shout
ders, and he ate with the gusto of boy
Now for the celebration" he ex-
claimed when the lunch was finished.
1T won't be big one such as they have
over ter tn city, but it'll be just as lively
fer its size
A dry sunflower stalk. a remainder of
the previous years weed-growth. served
as a fiagpole, and upon it the tattered
banner was hoisted. The wind was
variable and the flag veered from side
to side, uncertain which way TO extend
its folds
Melancthon showed his charge how to
fire the crackers, and shook with laugh
ter at her gay cries of half-startled
mcrriment. Then he allowed her to
break the torpedoes against his great
rough boots and enjoyed her wonder
that he did not finch from the ordeal
Then, when there were no more ex-
plosions possible, she sat down beside
her entertainer and he played on fife
the old marching tunes: Yankee
Doodle" America" and other patriotic
airs
Il learned EN- when l was young"
he explained. spreading the big blue
army coat to make her more comforta-
bic, IAN l amt played in a good while"
Then, while her curly head rested
against his arm he told her of those
times when he was young, which to-day
seemed very near to him, of the little
sister dear, of the celebrations, of the
war and of the fearful battles
The curly head nodded, and nodded,
and nodded, and when the story-teller
look for the big blue eyes they were
hidden. The child was asleep.
Al the same moment he noticed that