The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-04

that the heat had exploded 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 upper
ceived from the rear, had disposed of
the American commodore, 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 out of that, you old British
ram! Lee my flag alone. I'll hit you
with a rock, will"
He dug vainly about with his fingers
in the muddy bed of the pond, but
found nothing larger than a small peb-
BILE. Meantime King Georges pointed
feet were tramping his ammunition
deep into the soil. 'Phrastus lifted up
his voice in reproach and lamentation.
You're the meanest, meanest old
sheep that ever was! We did beat you,
we did, we did Oh, my fag-boo-
mf'r'crackers-boo sp'ilin' every
last one! l wish they'd bust and turn
him wrong side ou-ou-out."
The howl drew King Georges atten-
ton to the pond. He stood moment
with lowered horns, and then plunged
threateningly forward, drawing back,
however, as his feet touched the
water.
At the toward movement 'Phrastus
tnrned and ran. He reached the shore
as King George came galloping around
the curve.
Up the nearest tree scrambled the
small American. 1t was not very
large one, and received blow from
King Georges head that almost shook
the climber loose before he reached a
place of safety in the crotch.
For some time-'Phrastus said "the
hull mornin', but he was in no condi-
ton to judge-King George butted the
tree, bringing down upon himself
fresh explosions of fearful wrath, and
all the breakable branches 'Phrastus
could reach. Afterward he nibbled
about the vicinity, returning at inter.
walls to renew the assault, and never
going far enough away to permit the
escape of his prisoner.
Aunt 'Scilla's dinner was late, TO,
Uncle Ben went to the parade; but il
was an exceptionally good one, and
there was puffy little turnover al
'Phrastus' place. Aunt 'Scilla rang the
little bell, and Uncle Ben rang the big
bell, without bringing any small
nephew forward to eat it. 'After all
I've said," declared Aunt Priscilla, her
lips growing ominously thin and tight,
that boys been and gone to the
p'rade"
"'Tain't agin nature if he has" said
Uncle Ben. when you stretch q
string too tight, it'll snap"
''Somethingll snap" said Aunt
'Scilla. Her eyes did. 1--WE got to
train up that boy in the way he should
go, and l mean to do it. Don't you
dast say word, Benjamin Arbuckle
If he don't learn to go straight now
he'll go crooked all his life"
After dinner she cut two long lilac
sprouts and trimmed them with osten
tatious care. While she was washing
dishes in the kitchen Uncle Ben slyly
cut tiny slashes along the whole length
of each switch.
1t was the middle of the afternoon
when boy, with dirty, tear-marked
face and nlud-stained clothes, shuffleo
into the house. Under his arm he
carried dismasted toy schooner and
a dilapidated, five-cent American flag
80, Theophrastus Wilson," greeted
Aunt 'Scilla, you've been to the
p'rade, after all Very well, sir, you're
going to remember this Fourth of July
as long as you live. Come straight
here"
She hourished one of the switches,
and it fell to pieces in her astonished
hands.
Guess l shell member it," whined
'Phrastus. 81 hain't been t. the p'rade
i hain'tl l stuck up in tree this
hull everlastin' Fourth, with Turner'S
old ram a-buntin' at it, tryin' to shake
me down. I'd had to STAYED there all
night, too, likely, if Mr.. Turner's Pete