The Monticellonian., 1899-06-30

bell-because that little old sexton, Sandy McNie, is too lazy, l suppose"
 Truman Bluford, generally known among his comrades as True Blue, was eXcitedly announcing this dismal news to Rob Tripp and Penney Cole, in his fathers store.
 There's no patriotism in Cherryfield. They've all forgotten how our fathers, fought and bled," said Rob 1ripp, who liked 10 read nothing but stories of bat tie, and meant to fight something when he grew mp, if it were only Indians.
 ''lt will be as still as Sunday, know. What is the Fourth of July, without raeket?" said Penney Cole, dejectedly.
 "I tell you, boys, something ought to be done," s~fd True.
 That was what the boys liked about True. He was always ready to do some thing. Older people were inclined to think he was little too ready 10 dc mischief, but the boys were generally ready to follow where True led the way.
 We might ring the church bell" said True
 That wasn't much to do. Rob thought; it sounded rather tame. Still, it would be fun to wake the stupid Cherryfield people out of the maps which they had no business to be having on Fourth of July morning, and startle the select men, who had decided that there should be no ringing of bells.
 How could we get into the church 9" asked Penney Cole, who was of prac- tical turn of mind.
 Break in, of course," replied True coolly. You can't expect to have all that fun without-well, without hear lng something about il afterward We could break q window in the porch; and when we once got hold of the rope, wouldn't we make people think the bell was bewitched! They'd blame Sandy McVie for not being on the watch. too. It would be a good joke on the old ras- cal. He's got us into enough trouble by telling of us.''
 True's father was coming from the back part of the store, so the boys low cred their voices and walked quietly out at the door; while behind the eoun- ter, from the stooping posture in which he had been measuring for himself a gallon of molasses, arose Sandy McNie. He looked after the boys, with all the shrewd little wrinkles in his face draw ing themselves up into hard knots.
 "A good joke on the old rascal. eh 9" he muttered. There's never any know ing how a joke may turn out, my fine fellows! You're fixing Fourth of July celebration for yourselves that'll be more than you bargained for, if I'm not mistaken"
 The boys went on, all unconscious that Sandy McNie had been listener to the conversation that was certainly not intended for his ears.
 Tt would be good thing if we could get into the church without breaking a window, said Penney Cole. "There's little Rose McNie now. Let's ask her where her father keeps the key"
 Hanging on nail in the closet. un- der his coat replied the little girl. on being questioned
 Couldn't you get it for us, Rosy. and not let anGoody know it, if we gave you the greatest lot of candy you ever saw. and bunch of torpedoes for to-mor- row?"
 Rosy was very small person, with a very large appetite for candy, to say nothing of strong desire to celebrate with the proper amount of noise the anniversary of her country's independ- ence. Her eyes grew big and round at the alluring prospect. and she nod ded emphatically her willingness to un- dertake the errand. So it was settled that she should bring them the key that night, after her father had hung srp his coat fn the closet, SO there would