Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-11-06

ksA.M the. the only only, scion sen.s .
that had so stirred the tranquility o.
the household as had his meek reques
for the use of the old mare and tn
buggy, with which to take Pheb,
Jones to ''the Fourth" at Ka Bob.
Jehial understood the lay of tn:
fand well enough to know that his
startling petition should be put IL
along with the first seeds of spring, il
order to ripen definite decision by tn.
time the smoke and tumult of In
dependence Day began to ascend from
the Ia Bob public square, which was
to him, the grand theatre of all truly
metropolitan events.
Jehial had conceived this daring de-
sire to distinguish himself as a man
among men while casting ''sheeps
eyes" at the back Of Phebe's bowed
head during the long prayers that con-
stituted the bone and sinew of the
weekly conference meeting" at Zion
Church.
1t must be confessed that there was
little courage about his first conscious
wish to celebrate the glorious Fourth
by SO bold stroke of gallantry. 1t
was simply wish. But as each warm
spring day spread its seductive in
fuences about him, and he strobe
across the steaming field in the wake
of plow or drag, his longing grew
stronger, and he nursed it into sturdy
resolution.
But, somehow, his courage was
stronger when alone in the field than
when face to face with his father, at
home.
1t seemed as though the right OPP
portunity for approaching his father
with the proposition never would pre-
sent itself, and he delayed the dread
ordeal from day to day.
At last the handbills announcing the
order of exercises for the great cele-
bration at ka Bob appeared. 1t WAS
to eclipse all former celebrations i'll
magnifcencc, and each special attrac-
tion was discussed with as much zest
and relish as though it was not pre-
else repetition of the programme that
had been advertised year after year,
until every adult knew Just which
features would be presented and which
omitted.
''Ma, I wuz Jest a-thinkin' I'd like t
go t. that Fourth of July down t Ka
Bob" said Jehial, to his mother, as
she came out to the old we'll sweep for
a bucket of water, where he was wash
ing the plowed ground from gaunt
feet.
"Why. of course! Is'pose we're all
going" she replied.
''But / don't mean that. wuz
thinkin' I'd like to go alone and-and
take some one," he stammered.
eco alone and take some one 7
Why, child, who ever heard of such q
thing? What on 'arth do yon mean?''
"S-c-h! here comes pal" exclaimed
the timid Jehial, in an undertone, rs
his fnther emerged from the barn,
looking like a rural conception OF
stern justice, with the exacting bal
ances, as he lifted an fashioned
blueneck yoke to his shoulders and
stopped to hook pendant arm into the
pail of froth-hecked pail of milk.
When they were again alone, Jehial,
without looking up from his labor of
sblution, resumed the conversation.
.Yes, ma; I'd like t take Phebo
i the Fourth; but I amt said nothin'
T. pa bout it. I kinder hate to, some
how. Can't you have little talk with
him bout it?"
"Well, s'pose I can," replied the
mother, 'but I'm sure 1 don't know
what he'll think bout it"
Accordingly, after Jehial had re.
bred, she laid the proposition before
her husband.
'Lord-a-massy, Mary! What n
ldeel That boy abowin' Square
Jones's little gal round on Fourth OF
Julyl Why, he's nothin' but colt,
an the whole town would be apokin'
fun at the little fools. An, what's
more, no Jayhawk's got any call to be
mixin' with the Jones after all the
trouble that we've had with the old
Square over that line fence. It's all
poppy-cot. I'm willin' that Jehial
should go t the Fourth. but 1 don't
want any gal business bout it. Why,
Mary, Jest think of that youngster's
takin' a horse an buggy an gal
round there where they'd be a-shoot-
in firecrackers an anvils, and a-snap-
pin them pesky little torpedoes
faint no place for horse, let alone
trustin' it with boy that's got a gal
aboard. He'll break his neck an thu
gals too"
But you remember the time when
you took me to the Fourth at Busti,
and you weren't any older than Jehial,
and hadn't had any more experience
with horses than he has"
This was an argument ad hominem
that the father had not counted on.
He gave it several moments of silent
consideration and then took refuge Id
his las platitude.
"Well, it amt safe"
The mother of Jehial was quick to
Tee this sign of weakening, and fol-
owed up her successful attack, at dis
erect intervals, until the matter finally
tame to head.
After protractcd night session OF
he domestic executive committee, 1t
vas determined that Jehial should at
Iend the glorious Fourth, with full
,ower to act.
Jehial cheerfully accepted fifty cents
rom his mother, and made his way to
Squire Jones's to obtain the consent oj
he Jones family.
As he entered the Squire's gate and
passed up the narrow gravel walk be-
ween the balsam trees, vainly laborlne
10 formulate his request in graceful
words, and commit them to memory
before reaching the door, he would
have gladly exchanged his task for that
Of breaking Canada pair of steers,
blowing ten-acre field, or teaching q
trio of calves to drink. How his heart
ihumped as the soles Of his cOwhide
boots grated on the coarse gravel oi
The walk. He imagined that it would
,o+ .oau, On hard wera IL not for the