River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-06-27

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.
Hes 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 firecraclxers 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 a boys Twin is rumpus, and to
choke him off on the Fourth it's-well,
it's plaguy cruel. He'll bust"
NO, he won't. You jest let him
alone, Benjamin Arbuckle. It's time
he learned q cats and wash-b'ilers
and other folk had some rights on the
Fourth of July 5 well s boys"
Where you going, 'Phrastus?" she
demanded, when the Fourth ad at
last arrived, as quiet in the 4 imme-
date vicinity as if it had been Sun
day.
Down TO Mr.. Turner's wood lot TO
sail my boats"
lie had the boats conspicuously
tucked under his arm. Aunt 'Scilla re-
garded him with mixture of remorse
and suspicion.
You amt fired 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 al
vance.
HUM Aunt Priscilla shifted.
swell, go long then. II you go to
that p'rade, sir, you know what you'll
get"
Amt goin"
And if hear of your hanging round
any of the other boys houses, you'll
catch it,
"Yes'm."
'Phrastus slouched off with an air of
deep-seated melancholy till the barn
was between himself and Aunt 'Scilla' S
remOrseful eyes. Harvey had moe
than kept his promise, and 'Phrastus
executed the final steps of war-dance.
Amt he good, though. I'll hunt
dogs for him all day. Look at these
two big fellers! They'll do for Long
Toms on the Chesapeake"
II was not vet 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 hove a snow
fort?''
lie beguiled the way 10y delightful
fancy of flying snOwballs, each carry
ing a lighted fire-cracker, until the
climbing of the last fence brought
him into the edge of the woods.
Through thu pond, 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 sigh of content.
IF there was only Jest one other
Teller 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 a naval en-
gagement that should reverse a fact
of history. One of Uncle Ben's favorite
stories was of the ship Chesa peal5e,