The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-28

oDCCI II WI. AlsAh AOOhCu
round he'd got jest as good one
in 'Meriker for ten dollars!" cried
'Phrastus. They can't beat US on
anything!"
Having reached the ground safely,
King George stamped his royal foot
and shook his curved horns. Then, as
Mr.. Turner entered the yard by side
gate, the ram dashed forward with un-
expected quickness, knocked his new
owners feet from under him and laid
him fat on his back
He's got a good smart temper" re-
marked one of the assistants, as King
George appeared ready to charge the
entire force.
SERVES Mr.. Turner right for spend
ing so much money on an old British
sheep" 'Phrastus whispered to Harvey.
Aunt Priscilla noticed with surprise
that 'Phrastus neither whined nor
pleaded when she reannounced her
Fourth of July edict. She repeated
the command in order to keep her own
resolution firm. for she dearly loved
the motherless boy, mischievous as he
was
You hain't been giving him money
for frecrackers or dossying him up,
have ye, Benz" she inquired of her hus-
band.
No, amt, responded Uncle Ben.
But jest think ont, Perscilla! The
heft of boys livin' is rumpus, and to
choke him off on the Fourth! it's-well,
it's plaguy cruel! He'll bust"
mo, he won'ti You jest let him
alone, benjamin Arbuckle. It's time
he learned that eats and wash-b'ilers
and other folks had some rights on the
Fourth of July 5 well S boys"
where you going, 'Phrastus?" she
demanded, when the Fourth had at
last arrived, as quiet in their imme-
diate vicinity as if it had been Sun
day.
Down 10 Mr.. Turner's wood lot to
sail my boats"
He had the boats conspicuously
tucked under his arm. Aunt 'Scilla re-
garded him with a mixture of remorse
and suspicion.
You amt fred off your pistol yet?"
Nom; don't wanter. Once amt
nothin'. It'd sound as if it'd lost itself. :"
Your pas flag is there on the table. {"
That's had too much powder
Already" 'Phrastus had carefully
studied up this smart speech in ad-
vance.
Hum Aunt Priscilla shifted.
"Well, go long then. If you go to
that p'rade, sir, you know what you'll
get"
''Ain't goin''."
"And if 1 hear of your hanging round
any of the other boys houses, you'll
catch it,"
"Yes'm."
'Phrastus slouched of with an air of
deep-seated melancholy till the barn
was between himself and Aunt 'Scilla's
remorseful eyes. Harvey had more
than kept his promise, and 'Phrastus
executed the final steps of war-dance.
"Ain't he good, thought I'll hunt
dogs for him all day. Look at these
two big fellers! They'll do for Long
Toms on the Chesapeake"
1t was not yet nine o'clock, but there
was every promise of a hot day. The
leaves hung motionless; the cattle
were already seeking shade. 'Phrastus
rubbed his arm across his perspiring
face.
Wonder why it's always SO awful
hot on the Fourth? Maybe cause
there's so much fire everywhere
Wouldn't it be fun to have a snow
fort?"
He beguiled the way by delightful
fancy of flying snowballs. each carry
ing a lighted fre-cracker, until the
climbing of the last fence brought
him into the edge of the woods.
Through the pond, a shallow drink
ing place for sheep, a small brook
flowed. 'Phrastus sat down under a
tree, and padded his bare toes in the
water with a sigh of content.
If there was only jest one other
feller with me, wouldn't it be prime?
But then he'd have to be the British
and get beat, cause I'm bound to be
'Merican."
'Phrastus had planned naval en-
gagement that should reverse a fact
of history. One of Uncle Ben's favorite
stories was of the ship Chesapeake,
when the English ship Leopard forced
her to strike her colors in time of
peace. Uncle Ben's grandfather had
been a sailor on the American vessel,
and the story Uncle Ben 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 into the bank be-
hind her. Truth compels me to confess
that 'Phrastus showed very little
generosity toward his imaginary foes.
The Chesapeake was a full-rigged
schooner, at least eighteen inches long,
with two rows of tirecracker guns on
either side. The English ship was only
third as large-a block of wood whit
tied roughly into the semblance of a
boat, with one crooked, wobbling mast
Her complement of guns was a meager
half-dozen-three on a side.
'Foryou're bound to be blowed skyer-
higher, anyway, you old Britisher,"
said 'Phrastus-
The two big frecrackers were placed
in position at the Chesapeake's bow
and stern, and the commodore, joyfully
striking match, stopped down to fire
his guns.
Whacki 'Phrastus shot out into the
pond, turning a somersault, and scat
tering matches as he went. His lire
of motion was directly across the Ches-