The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-14

THE Fourth" echoed John. biankiy
"The Fourth whatT' a.,
why, the Fourth. The Fourth uay
OF July"
What happens them ~,
Teddy CAPPED with astonishment Inc
fact that a far away gre1t-sreat ~ anu aho.
father had written his name upon that
immortal document, the Declaration OF
Ir1ependence, and that his four great
grandfatbers had been In the patriot
army, had been held before him all hs
short life as reason why he himself
should strive to be a good and brave boy.
1t was lucky that Grandfather Granger
came that very moment through the gar
den gate He always went Thursday
morning precisely at 3 O'Clock to the
pos.-office for the Jefferson county Re
corder Teddy ran out to meet him.
cato emphasis, "the boy from across the
road is in the barn. he doesn't know
about the Fourth. He never had one
''Mebbe some o his folks did along
with grim smile. You'd better be
careful. He's Britisher."
Yes, a little one" admitted Teddy.
But he's going to live here always,
so he'll have to turn American
I'm ask his grandfather, and your
Aunt Dinah can ask his aunt, and you
can ask him, TO spend the Fourth with
u.s." said grandfather, after an ias'ants
reflection.
and can I have lots of crackers?'
Eyes; reasonable lot. But 1t wont
be proper to bang too many when your
company is Britishers,' argued the grand
father.
II was current in Chester that Teddy
Granger was a epoiled boy. He had never
been to- school tor one thing, though he
was seven, and. as he SAID, going on
eight" Then Grandfather Granger tax
ed with him about all sorts of matters
including the state of the nation. lie
was an only grandchld. His aunt was
SO devoted to him she had refused TO
TO Africa as a missionary. At least, peo-
pie said that was the reason Then
Teddy had never been whipped in his
life The average Chester little boy was
whipped a good deal.
The Fourth day of July dawned cloud
less The last half of the night had
been made hideous by certain boys ana
men who thought it fun to blow horns,
under tired peoples windows. Most
grow-up people came to breakfast cross
and sleepy. Even Grandfather Granger,
who was, at heart very patriotic, admitted
But after he had his coffee. and had
gathered pinks. polyanthuses, balm, roses,
honeysuckles and syringas for ten DO
pots" he told Teddy that take ii all in
an. !'as old Fry did the fish 1.-THE Fourth
is ahead of any day in creation
The invited guests arrived at precisely
five minutes of one, the dinner-hOur ana
just five minutes later they left the slip
perry depths Of the parlor chairs, and were
seated i'm the wide, old-fashioned dining
room, over whose walls ran wreaths of
roses of every color not excepting sreen
and into whose windows looked real
roses, making the whole place deliciously
sweet.
The two grandfathers and the Two
aunts speedily became cosey and talka-
tive; and by the time the strawberry
short-cake was brought In they We're
visiting like old friends instead of new
acquaintances between whom the Atlantic
ocean had rolled only month before.
Teddy and John went out by the cur
rant bushes after dinner to fire off crack
ers, arm in arm like two brothers or TWO
loving cousins.
You see it was your King George who
began it," explained Teddy, when two
packages of crackers had been Consumed.
and they had seated themselves on the
bench on which stood the leach barrel.
"He made US pay Observation-Disclosures
was something mean about tea" Teddy
wished his memory was better Just at
this point. Folks wouldn't stand it. ana
they flung all the tea out of The ships
into Boston Harbor," he concluded after
an instant.
II never heard of IT," said John, who
was unrolling spent cracker. Anyhow.
a king has a right to do just as he
pleases."
mo- he HASN'T contradicted Teddy
mpatienty. mo. street We fit. and bled,
and died in the Revolution. cause kings
haven't any right TO be mean TO folks.
That's why your King George got wal
loped, and our George Washington was |
made President"
I'VE have a Queen in England" said |
John prldefuily. He had some powder |
in his left eye, and had eaten too many |
or the half-ripened currants He felt both |
cross and hectoring.
We don't want any queen" retorted |
Teddy. kicking viciously at a pig-weed !
that had escaped Pat ScuIly's hoe, He. |
too, had eaten too many unripe currants !
wed rather have President than any !
than anything"
John crowded his chubby hands into |
the pockets of his blue breeches
Hunt! he shifted. Anybody can be !
president. My grandpa says SO. But a |
queen Is born--a queen"
Teddy's black eyes snapped. His black |
mar seemed to stand up straight. His I
cheeks grew as red as his brown skin /
permitted. He forgot that John was not |
oniy ms guest, but a stranger In a |
strange land. He turned upon him. mt |
ing out his chin trying to be provoking !
Hun! Your grandpapa." he Initiated /
J0hh accent, don't know ANYTHING, ]
de never could be President. nor could
you A man must be born In this conn
Try Tor that and people must like him 70
vote Tor him. Kings and queens get
their heads cut off sometimes folks hate
them so. But no President ever had his
mead cut Off-cO nnyUp'