Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-06-27

off obliv1ous of what was passing behind
the desks.
This day a fresh grievance had come,
through the suggestion of youngster at
recess that they beg lock of Miss In
dependence Days hair to light frecrack-
ers with tomorrow" Well, to have such
a name and red hair in the bargain, was
too much, and she grew more and more
raging. She had one of those strong in
tense natures, which bear long in silence
but once giving up, give up utterly for the
time. Bursting into the house, she threw
herself into her mothers arms in a pas
sion of tears, sobbing: why did you
give me such a dreadful name?"
Mrs. Day petted and soothed and drew
from her by degrees the story of accumu-
lated woes When she was somewhat
Quoted, she said: Il always meant to
talk to you about your name, Pen. dear,
but was waiting until you were little
older. l regret l did not do it sooner, but
l had no idea what my little daughter
was bearing.
You know your father and l lived in
England years before you were born.
Your brother, whom you never saw, lies
in a green church yard there. We were
poor, and life was pretty hard for us, so
we decided to try our fortune in the
United States. Everything prospered
with us after we came here. Your faith
er found constant work, and we were
very happy. l suppose that is the reason
why he became so devoted to his adopted
country. He used to say he was the
best kind of an American citizen; others
were born so, but he was one from choice.
Then the Civil War broke out and l could
see he was uneasy thinking he ought to
enlist, but he would not do,so until he had
saved enough money to keep me comfort
ably, and so matters went on until the
second year Of the war / remember it
was the Goth of March previous to your
birthday The last think he whispered
to me was: If baby comes call it indie
pendence. That name will answer for a
boy or girl, and it fits so well on Day
Il partly believe he meant it for a joke
to make me smile instead of cry, but
there was no time to explain, for the next
minute he had kissed me and was gone.
| need not tell you how lonely and anx
ious l was. The time went on to those
dreadful days in the first week of July,
1868. Yes, your father was at Gettys-
burg. How anxiously l watched the pa
perS anu on the lAIIu-I1dl Alue SSdAS
ago to-day-the evening paper brought
the terrible news to me, as to many an
other woman. There was the list of the
dead, and there was his regiment; there
was his company and there was his name
James Day. No other man named Day
in that company; there could be no mis-
take. He had been killed in the first of
the fighting | can see those fearful let
tiers now when l shut my eyes"
Here Mrs. Day broke down. and little
Pen could not say word, only stroked
her mothers hand silently. After a min
ute Mrs. Day controlled herself. Next
morning, the morning of July 4, you
came, my darling, my comforter, and this
is the reason you are Independence Day
could not give you any other name. You
are your fathers own child-his hair, his
eyes, even his intense nature, are yours.
Now that she knows, am sure my little |
daughter will be as brave as he was, and
proud of her name because of him. Re
member always, dear, not a boy of them
would laugh if they Inew the real story.
So it happened that when Miss lnde- !
pendence Day went to school on the
morning of July 5, there was certain
new dignity in the child's bearing; when
roll call came her soice had lost its petu-
lance and had gained an unknown sweet !