Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1895-07-11

Mr.. Secretary do the invitin'. But you
an the other little chap be on hand here
at this Office by sun-up. Don't forget
Knucks glanced at the Secretary i'll
quiringly and got reassuring nod. He
flew for home as fast as he could possib-
ly go, wholly unmindful of the heat,and
told the glorious news. Jim Immediately
sat up in bed, declaring that he felt
we'll.
But, what's potlatch? p he asked
presently.
u Dunno answered Knucks. But
it's something good
Next morning mob ofchildren stood
collected at the door of the Fresh Air
Society before the sun rose. They were
all boys. Such crowd of weaklings as
they were-white faced, skinny little
fellows-but every face ashine with
eagerness.
While MIR. I[allet had been issuing
the invitations the glver of the pot|atch
had been equally busy. He had strobe
hither and thither, made purchases and
sent telegrams.
Presently all was ready. Across the
ferry they were bundled into the cars
and variety of boxes of all sizes were
thrust into the express Car and away
they went.
It was still early in the forenoon when
they reached their destination-a pretty
green powered country village that Mr..
Hallet had recommended-and there
was a brass band at the depot to meet
them.
Were here, fellers,' cried Mr.. Joplin
to his boys. This is the place. It's out
in the open air, and todays the Fourth
of July. Yell all you want to. The
band will now play
The musicians headed the procession
of whooping lads to pleasant grove
Just outside the town. The boys who
couldn't run, walked, and those who
couldn't walk rode in long wagon on
top of the boxes that had come from
the city.
In the coolest, shadiest spot in the
grove long table was set, almost stag
gering uLder its load Of delicious eata-
bies.
>The first thing said Mr.. Joplin's big
voice, Us to eat. Some of us didn't
have as much breakfast as we wanted,
an mebby some Of US didn't have any
at all. So eat now, fellers, an talk Ia
ter on
All those urchins fell upon the long
table almost like as many ravenous
wolves. And then in moment Jimmy
whispered something to Knucks, and
Knucks hoped over to where Mr.. Hal
let was and whispered to him:
'Mebby we oughtn't to eat too much
sir. 1t costs lots of money and mebby
Mr. Joplin
MIR. Joplin is the owner of big cat
tie ranch out in Colorado. He can af-
ford this answered Mr.. Hallet,
We didn't knew. His pepper and
salt suit looks kinder-well, We've
didn't know, said Knucks.
And when Mr.. Hallet told the man
from Colorado whet Knucks had said
Mr.. Joplin laughed big, hearty laugh
and then he looked himself oyer, then
colored, and then he laughed again.
When they had all eaten and were
filled, Mr.. Joplin stood up at the head
of the mighty breakfast table in his
seedy pepper and salt and SAID rather
awkwardly:
u asked Mr.. Hallett to make you a
speech, but he says I've got to do it, |
hayen' much to say. This is the Fourth
Of July. It's the proper thing to read
the Declaration Of lndependand on the
Fourth Of July, but the only Declaration
of Independence we're going to haye
here is that we're going to do just ex-
actly what we please all day long. We
are going to yell as much and as loud
as we please. There are two big boxes
of frecrackers over there and were
going to help ourselves to all we want
and shoot till they're all gone. We're
going to eat again at o'clock aud again
OF 6, and we've got to keep busy in the
meantime or we won't have good appe-
tites. After dinner the ice cream free
zers will be opened and every feller will
grab a spoon. There are four or five
barrels of red apples-the heads will be
knocked in pretty soon and we'll fill
our pockets and hats. This is my pot
latch, h,understand. and everybody takes
all he wants and does what he pleascs
with it. Fall into the brook ifyou want
to, or eat yourselves sick, or break your
arms; it's all right. A doctor goes with