The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1899-06-29

Truman EIufurd, generally known
among hi comrades as True Eiuc, was
"Sgit,dIy announcing thi dismal news
to Rob Trip and Tcnncy Cote. in his
fathers ntsfr.
There no patriotism in thcrry6cld.
They've an forgotten how uur fathers
Tough, and blcd." said Rob Trip. who
liked q" read nothing hut stories Of bat
tie and meant To- fight something when
he grew mp, II it were only Indians.
"a viii hr ~ rtiil M Sunday. know.
What 10 the Fourth of July, without
racket" ,aid Tcnncy Cole, dcjectedly.
Il 70 YOU. hoys something ought to
be- dome" said True.
That Nu- what the boys liked about
True. ~" was alwnyE ready toe do some
thing. Older people wrrr inclined TO
think be WIS a little too ready 90 dI
mischief but the boys were generally
ready 10 follow where True led the way.
we might ring the church bell, said
True.
That wasn't much 10 do. Rot thought:
IL sounded rather tame. still. ii would
be- fun TO wake the stupid Ghcrryfcid
people ont of the maps which they had
nn business TO he having ON Fourth of
.luly morning, and startlc the select.
men, who had decided that there should
hr no ringing Of bells.
How could We get into the church ?''
asked Tcnncy Cole, who wns OF a prar.
teal turn Of mind.
"l'rrak in, of course" replied True.
cpullN "NoG can't expect 20 have al
that fun without we'll, without hear
ing something about IL nficrwarl ",
could break a window IN the porch: Hud
when Ne once got hold of the rprc.
wouldn't we make people think the hr',
WIS hcwiichcd! They'd blame Sandy
MrNic for not being on the watch. zoo.
II would be n good Joke ON the old rns.
cal He's got us into enough trouble by
telling ~ us"
Truc's father was rnminr from che
oack part OF the store, W she boys low
cred their voices and walked quietly
out NJ the door; while behind the coun.
ser. from the STOPPING posture In which
he had been measuring for himself a
gallon ~ mo!asscs, arose Sandy McNic.
Tie hooked after the boys, with all the
shrcwd little wrinkles IN his face draw
ug themselves up into hard knots.
~ good joke ON the old rascal, eh 81"
he muticrcd. There's never any know
ing how joke may turn out. my fine
fellows! You're fixing Fourth Of
July celebration for yourselves thatIl
he more thar you bargained for, II I'm
not mistaken"
The boys went on. all unconscious
that Sandy Movie had been a listener
10 In" conversation that was certainly
not intended for his ears.
at would be q good thing II we could
get into the church without breaking a
window" Snid TeBhey Cole. There's
little Rose McVie 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 II for US. Rosy. and
not let anybody know II. II We gave you
the greatest lot Of candy you ever saw.
and "a bunch of torpedoes for io-mor-
row."
Rosy was n very small person, with a
very large appetite for candy. to say
nothing of a strong desire 10 celebrate
With the proper amount Of noise abe
anniyerSary of her country's iudepcnd-
ence. Her eyes grew big and round
Of the ailuring prospect, and she nod
dcd cmphAtically her willingness 60 IN
dertRkc the errand. So Il was settled
that she should bring them the kry
that night, after her father had hung
up his coat In The closet, No there would
I've no danger that he would go there
again and discover the absence of. the
key,
That afternoon Sandy Movie and his
sou, a stout lad of is. paid visit 10 tl,e
church. Archie, the son, came out,
looking very warm and tired.
''fiettcr have let them do Il, and then
make them smart for II. than TO take
a,i that trouble" he grumbled. .or
just give their fathers hint OF what
they arc up TO-"
Since they are SO ford of Jokes, I'm
willing they should have biz of a enc. "
said the sexton, rubbing hIs kafsds,
gietfuily. They'll catch II fast enough
for breaking the church window"
Rosy Movic stole out of the hanne
that night after dark and delivered the
church key into Trnc's hands, rrcelv-
leg In return an amount OF candy and
turIsrdDeN that had ccat a Iarr. ahar..
Of the boys Fourth of July saxingx.
Tut they were M satisfied that 4 wns
money well spent, for they had lenxacsl
from sad experience that the rssu,ts
u bfraking windnws were never ANUS
ing. -
II was about haIf-psst four o 'elo1ltor
tae morhinE Of the Fourth whens tlse
three boys unloekrd the church door.
Il was very quiet for q Fourth a Juiy
r's0rning. xow and then casne the
bxsgias q gun. the feeble porpias