The Charleston advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1894-189?, 1894-07-01
"And If hear of your hanging round any of
the other boys houses, you'll catch itv'


"Yesm."
seated melancholy till the barn was between
himself and Aunt 'Scilla's remorseful eyes,
Harvey had more than kept bis promise, and
'Phrastus executed the final steps Of war Dance
"Aint he good, though! I'll hunt dogs for
for him all day. Look at these two big fellers |!
They'll do for Long Toms on the Chesapeake y"
1t was not yet nine O'Clock, but there was ev.
cry promise of hot daY. The leaves hung mo-
tionless the cattle were already seeking shade.
'Phrastus rubbed his arm across his perspiripg
face.
"Wonder why It's always so awful hot on the
Fourth9 May be cause there's so much fire ev-
erywhere Wouldn't 1t be fun to have snow
fort?"
He beguiled the way by delightful fancy Of
flying snowballs, each carrying lighted fire.
cracker, until the climbing of the last fence
brought him into the edge of the woods.
Through the pond, shallow drinking place
for sheep, 3 small brook flowed. 'Phrsstus sat
down under tree, and padded his bare toes in
the water with sigh Of content.
eff there was only jest one other Teller with
me, wouldn't 1t be prime? But then he'd have
to be the British and get beat, cause I'm bound
to be 'Merioan."
'Phrastus had planned naval engagement
which should reverse fact of history. One Of
Uncle Ben's favorite stories was OF the ship
"Chesspeake," when the English ship "Leop
ard " forced her to strike her oolors in time Of
peace Uncle Ben's grandfather had been .
Uncle B IN loved to listen to as a child, he loved
to tell to 'Phrastus.
But 'Phrastus had determined that those ships
should meet again on Mr.. Turner's pond with
very different result
He began his preparations. The five cent flag
rendered the chesapeake top.heavy; so he
stuck it In the bank behind her. Truth COM
pels me to confess that 'Phrastus showed very
little generosity toward his imaginary foes.
The "Chesapeake" was full. rugged schooner.
at least eighteen inches long, with two rows Of
fire-cracker guns on either side. The English
ship was only third as large-a block of wood
whitfield roughly into the sembance Of boat,
with one crooked, webbing mast. Her compile
ment Of guns was q meager half dozen-three on
q side.
"For you're bound to be bowed sky er-higher
anyway, you old Britt her." said 'Phrastus.
The two big fire.orsckers were placed In posi-
ton at the Chesapeake" bow and stern, and
the commodore, joyfully striking match,
stopped down to fire his guns.
Whack 'Phrastus shot out into the pond,
turning somersault, and scattering matches IS
he went His line of motion was directly across
the "Chesapeake." Both her slender masts
snapped, and the stately vessel careened till her
whole armament slid off into the water.
'Phrastus's first thought, as he emerged puff
ing and sputteripg, was that the heat had ex
ploded the fire crackers all at once. But when
he got the water out OF his eyes, he saw that the
British had received unexpected reinforcements
King George XII, arriving unperceived from
the rear had disposed of the American oommo-
dore and now turned his attention to the Stars
and Stripes, which he damned into the bank with
repeated blows of his woolly head.
The patriotic blood Of 'Phrastus boiled.
"Git ont of that, you old British ram j.! Le'
my flag alone I'll hit you with rock, will ~
Re dug vainly about with bis fingers in the
muddy bed of the pond, but found nothing
larger than small pebble. Meantime King
Georges pointed feet were trampipg his ammu-
milton deep into the SOIL 'Phrastus lifted up
his voice in reproaoh and lamentation.
"You're the meanest, meanest old sheep that
ever was We did beat you, we did, We did
Oh, my OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
sp'ilin' every last one l wish they'd bust
and turn him wrong side on. ou-out."
The howl drew King Georges attention to the
pond. He stood moment with lowered horns,
and then plunged threateningly forward, draw
La hia feet tnuohad tina