Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-07-01

morning when she drove away from
the town, drinking in the country air,
leaning out and smiling at every
stream, peering up wistfully at the
birds along the road. "The glorious
Fourth" he kept saying. "The glori-
Gus Fourth. Freedom, emancipation,
independence, that's what it means"
The old man was made very welcome
at the little house with the big gar
den, and Mrs. Poss had sumptuous
early dinner "in honor" as she said to
Liny on the sly, 'of both the freedom
of the United States and the freedom
of Mr.. Daggett."
He was told by his cheerful hostess
that he must enjoy himself in his own
way; so Mr.. Daggett did not spend an
idle day. He found n hoe and went to
work in the garden. Mrs. Poss discov-
cred him at the end of long row of
hoed cabbages, and exclaimed:
Laws, Mr.. Daggett, but you do work
garden beautiful"
YES" said the old man, "I can work
garden, but that amt enough to pay
my board"
Later in the day Mr.. Daggett made
his way to the woodshed and cut up a
pile of wood that astonished Mrs. Poss.
Laws, Mr.. Daggett," she cried, ad
miringly, but you certainly know how
to handle an aX!"
II can work garden and cut wood"
said Mr.. Daggett, but that amt
enough to pay my board"
"And him eating no more'n spar
row." said Mrs. Poss, in the middle of
long consultation which she and Liny
held in the front room.
They sat on the porch that evening
watching alternately the fireworks in
the grounds of the great house three
miles away and the rockets shooting
skyward from the city, and when they
had had enough of fireworks they went
into the house together.
"Well, I've had a glorious Fourth"
said the old man; there amt no doubt
about it. I've seen them things l
was hungerin' for and more. Liberty
and freedom" he muttered, "and all
over in day"
''It wasn't that way with the United
States" remarked Mrs. Poss, proudly.
NO." said Mr.. Daggett, looking
| down, sit wasn't that way with the
United States" But this Fourth of
| July had had to do with his liberty and
! freedom.
1--WE want the Fourth to be as good
to you as it was 10 the United States,
Mr.. Daggett," said Mrs. Poss. Laws,
Liny, you tell him straight out what
we do want"
ma and me would like you to stay
here all the time, Mr.. Daggett," said
Liny. Laws! don't thank me! If you
must thank anybody, thank ma"
Thereupon Liny escaped to the front
yard.
But was it an escape, after all? Out
side the gate was pony carriage with
the lamps throwing brightness on the
road, and there was man opening the
| gate, and at the gate was girl with
| yellow hair and a great mastiff close
at her heels.
''Oh, I'm so glad you've come out!"
cried Julia Gregg. II didn't dare to go
in Mary and L saw you this morning
with that old man. forgot all about
him, you know, until nearly week,
| hho lhCh VIC dSLCSu lhhI llS h$d given
us up and forgotten, too, and we were
expecting so many visitors, and-and-
when l saw you this morning knew
you had heard me promise that day,
and that you knew L had broken my
promise, and that you had gone and
done it yourself. 1 told mother all
about it, and she says you must come
to see us. She wants to know you.
I've been seeing you in the post Office
and different places all my life, and
when was little used to cry because
1 didn't have black eyes like yours,
but didn't know you were so good
The pony had shifted his position and
the lights from the lamps showed two
glowing cheeks as Julia Gregg asked
wistfully: HE has forgotten, hasn't
he? The old man, mean"
"Yes," said Liny, II think he has for
gotten"
Then the girl who was not American
enough to shake hands with people in
the manner of the president of the
United States, put hand on each side
of Liny's face and kissed her quickly
saying again: 81 didn't know you were
so good" Then she laughed and rar
and jumped into the carriage, ard the
pony was turned around sharply.
And ever so many hearts were happy
on old Mr.. Daggett's glorious Fourth
Louise r. Baker, in Housewife.