Fair play., 1899-07-01

the town, drinking in tine country air,
leaning out and smiling at every
stream, peering up wistfully at tho
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 a 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 OVID
way; SO Mr.. Daggett did not spend an
idle day. He found a 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
a garden beautiful"
"Yes," said the old man, II can work
q garden, but that amt enough to pay
my board"
Later in the day Mr.. Daggett made
his way to the woodshed and cut upa
pile of wood that astonished Mrs. PosG
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 aint
enough to pay my board"
vy,nrnsr, a
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 thres
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 ]
was hungerin' for and more. Liberty
and freedom" he muttered, "and all
| over in day" |
1T wasn't that way with the United
States" remarked Mrs. Poss, proudly.
NO." said Mr.. Daggett, looking
down, 'it 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 to 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 1t an escape, after all? Out
side the gate was pony carriage with
the lamps throwing a brightness on the
road, and there was man opening the
gate, and at the gate was girl with
yellow hair and q great mastiff close
at her heels.
"Oh, I'm so glad you've come out!'
cried Julia Gregg. II didn't dare to &c
in. Mary and saw you this morning
with that old man. l forgot all about
him, you know, until nearly week
and then we agreed that he had giver
us up and forgotten, too, and we vert
expecting so many visitors, and-and-
when l saw you this morning knew
you had heard me promise that day
and that you knew had broken my
promise, and that you had gone anc
done it yourself. told mother Oh
about it, and she says you must come
to sec us. She wants to know you
I've been seeing you in the post office
and different places all my life, ano
when was little l used to cry because
1 didn't have black eyes like yours
but I 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. hasnt
he? The old man, mean."
"Yes," said Liny. Il think he has for
gotten"
Then the girl who was not Americas
enough to shake hands with people IN
the manner of the president of the
United States, put a hand on each side
of Liny's face and kissed her quickly
saying again: II didn't know you were
so good" Then she laughed and ran
and jumped into the carriage, and the
pony was turned around sharply.
And ever so many hearts were happy
on old Mr.. Daggett's glorious FOURTH
Louise X, Baker, in Housewife.