The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-07-01

{ guess we can find some berry pie and
new milk ever there. And l say
| (fumbling uneasily in his pocket, let's
go round by Austey's store and see
what he's got left. calculate you an
me can hev a Fourth o. July by our
selves, as well as other follls!'
Little Johnny rose straightway up
and clasped his small hand around
Hiram Jarrett's horny forefnger.
How it thrilled at the gentle touch!
! How many years was it since child
had confdingly taken his hand like
that.
! Mr.. Austey could scarcely believe
his eyes and ears, when old Farmer
Jarrett came in with the little Fresh
Air" child jumping at his side and
asked for six packs of firecrackers. four
Roman candles and three pin-wheels!
land say" added the old man. some
what sheepishly, Il guess We may as
well give me one o them cheap flags
while you're about it! Ny great-grand-
father fought at Bunker Hill, and Mrs.
Jarrett's great-uncle, he was a sailor
aboard the Constitution when she It
that battle with the Guerrero, that's
put down in every cofnmon-school his
| tory, and if we hain't right to nail the
| old flag over our front door don't know
who has"
So they went home through the wild
rose-spanglcd woods and across the
summer-scented meadows; little John
ny fitting on in advance with the flag
streaming above his yellow head like u
meteor, the proudest and happiest Of
small creatures, while Mr.. Jarrett fol-
lowed with the parcel of fireworks.
Il dare say I'm an OLD fool" said Mr..
Jarrett to himself, rs his hard face
beamed at sight OF Johnuy's satisfac-
ton. but l dunno's there's any law
ag'in' man bein' an old fool if he's 3
mind to-onee year, ct least"
3irs. Jarrett was amazed beyond
measure, when. on reaching home in
the purple twilight, she discovered 4
pin-wheel revolving in showers of fiery
sparks in front OF the door, and saw,
set out on the table inside, the jar of
plum jam that was only opened when
the minister came, the tin box of gin
ger snaps, pitcher of milk and one
solitary section OF the raspberry pic
which had been baked for the morrow's
dinner; whie little Johnny's face, light
ed by the blue coruscations, and Mr.. Jar
rett's beaming visage just behind were
study TO behold.
oh" cried tho child, clapping his
hands Il do SO love the Fourth of July!
And love Mr.. Jarrett, too, and Mr.. Jar
rett's mother!7 (Which was his way of
accounting for the kind old lady with
the streally white hair.
''Waal, Eunice, s'pose you think I'm
crazy" said Mr.. jarrett, rather sheep
ishly. II don't know as 1 blame We.
neither" And he explained to her how
this singular paradox had brought itself
to pass.
I'm glad of it." said Mrs Jarrett,
heartily; land I'll go to work and get
you jest as nice a tea as know how; n
berry shortcake, and some flannel
cakes, with maple strip; jest as your
old mother used to make 'em. Come
here and kiss ne, little boy. Bless US!
how strong you smell OF gunpowder."
Its the Fourth of july" said the
child, joyously; land there's three packs
of frecraclzcrs left"
At nine o'clock they took the little
boy back 20 Mrs. Bri mmer's cottage.
Its pretty solitary comm back
without him, CHI, Eunice?" said MIR.
Jarrett. as he held open the gate-an
unwontcd piece of courtesy-for his
wife to pass through.
"Yes, it is" said Mrs. Jarrett.
- child does sort o. brighten up a
house, now, don't hep
''Oh, yes.'' Mrs. Jarrett fervently an
swered.
81 was kind o. thinlzin', if you didn't
object, Eunice, that we might adopt
the little chap" blurted out Farmer
Jarrett. He hain't 10 relations be-
longin' to him, it seems, and he's nice,
docile boy"
ut does seem as If the Lord meant
some one TO take care of him, Hiram"
answered the wife, almost afraid to let
her husband see the thrill of joy that
convuised her features. She had been
longing all these years for some one to
love and cosset, this childless, mother
hearted woman.