The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-06-29

IOfe tue USUAL DTeukllEt nOuf.
Bob and Ray and Dick Boyer had
bad glorious ii ne, and before break
fast was ready had worked so indus
triously that more than half the pow
der aud crackers were gone.
After breakfast the first thing on the
programme was procession. There
were only three of them, to be sure,
but they felt MS big as brigade. Bob
had new drum, and he thought he
could play Yankee Doodle" in great
style. Ray blew the horn and carried
The flag, while Dick marched along
carrying his wooden sword as he i'm
sgined his father did at the head OF
the regiments when he was in the
war.
With swelling hearts the little
heroes marche till they thought it
was nearly time to get ready for the
picnic, then they filed in through the
big iron gate aud drew up IN front of
grandpa and gave him q military sa-
Lutte.
"Well. my little soldiers" said
grandpa, smiling, as he laid down his
paper, edo You know what day you
are celebrating?"
Fourth of Julyl" they shouted in
chorus.
"Woll, what is the Fourth Of July?"
asked grandpa.
"Why-why-" said fve-year-old
Ray, stammering and looking puzzled
Its frecracker day"
Grandpa laughed 80 hard he must
have thought it very funny.
"You are more than half right, little
man. he said. "But come, Bob. it's
your turn"
'It's a great big holiday, grandpa,
when we have the very jolliest time in
the year"
"Now, Dick, what do yon say?
Grandpa's big boy ought to have q
very wise answer"
Dick Strengthened himself up and
looked very important.
why, SIR" he replied, con the
Fourth of July, 1776, we signed the
Declaration of Independence and then
we whipped the British"
''And you know good deal about
those times, Dickf"
II ought to, grandpa, when you
fought in the war, and mammals a
daughter Of the Revolution, and had
four grandfathers fighting in the Rev
olution!"
Never mind, Dick, I won't ask
you to tell us about it. I was only
going to ask il I had ever told you
how my grandfather, Jack Boyer, kept
the British from taking the powder
n{ill?"
"Oh, no! Do tell u.s." they cried.
"All right. Sit down. It's q short
story, but it will keep us quiet till the
carriage comes" said grandpa.
When they were all ready grandpa
began his story.
lyon remember the ruins Of that
old mill I showed you the day We
drove over to the Brandywine last
summer? Yes? Well, that mill used
to belong to my great grandfather in
Colonial days, and he made gunpow
der for the King aud the people in thu
colonies. But when we declared oul
independence John Boyer was one OF
the first to join his fortunes to the pa
triotic cause. Now the little powder
mill ran night and day, making pow
der for the Federal Army. Delawar,
and New Jersey were right in the
heart of the battle ground, but by
some good providence the British
never succeeded in destroying til,
mill.
"But they would have done so q
able to make out very we'll what he
intended to do. General Greene ant
Lord Stirling were around there, too
with n great many troops; but no har,
fighting was done very close to hi
home. About the last of June Lor
Howe withdrew his troops from tina
once if my grandfather. Jack Boye,
had not been boy of rare pluck an
wit. I've heard him tell about it
dozen times, and always with pride.
During the spring and summer {
1777," he said, lord Howe had bee
marching around that part of til
country, aud General Washington la
been watching him, and hadn't bee
part OF the country and Geners
Washington left also.
''The most OF the time there la
been q guard of 5000 men near til
mill; but as there seemed to be Il
immediate danger, the usual guar
was taken away, and only % corpor
with twenty men left in charge. Fl
several days there was no disturbanc
and just before the first anniversal
Of the Fourth of July my great gram
father went TO Philadelphia al
brought home q beautiful silk fla
There were but few of them then III
they were highly priced. The Peep
of the country roundabout intend,
to celebrate the first anniversary
the Independence in fine style. The
was to be barbecue, and speakil
and music from the graudstand, ov
which the new flag was to float.
ION the evening of the third t
arrangements for the fete were CO
pleted, and q great time was anti
pated. But just as the Boyer fam
were at supper, q terror-stricksn Z
colored man burst into the room,
eyes starting from his head, and
teeth chattering with fear.
"'Oh, Massa Boyer, dey's conf
dey's comin'p
'Who?' cried everyone, starti
from the table.
faithful man.
You're dreaming, Nose said
grandfather. Lord Howe and ,