The Holly chieftain., 1901-06-28


with boys. And really, there was at
least one boy-and On an average two
or three-in every house on Meredith S
side, except in the Crosspatch Mans
house. Oh, dear me. no, there weren't
any boys there
On the other side of the street you
had to skip the "middiest" house and
Miss Quilhot and Miss Eromathea's-
oh, yes, and the ministers house. OF
which Miss Quilhot and Miss Eroma-
thea were old maids, and the minister
oh, no. he wasn't an old maid, but
I, you couldn't expect him to have boys
in the house, for how could he ever
write his sermons?
So it was. as said an unfortunate
street to hav2 nerves" on. And the
CrosspatCh Man had so many,
The three days between soon went
away, and it was the night-the very
night-before IT. There were only
few hours more. for. of course. you
didn't have to wait till the sun rose on
Fourth Of July.
Meredith had drilled the Rudd
Street Second for the last time and
dispersed his men. He was on his
way home to supper. Going by the
Crosspatch Mans house, he heard
voices distinctly issuing from an open
window He couldn't help hearing, 1t
was so quiet in the street. Perhaps it
was the "lull before the storm"
The sahib cannot bear It." a gentle
soothing voice was saying. but Mere
dith recognized the indignation mixed
with the pity in it. The sahib will
be again sick"
Then came Meredith's astonishment.
for the Crosspatch Mans voice was
answering, and it was quite calm and
gentle; and it said:
"Of course | shall be sick again.
Hari.Ive made all my plans to perish.
But what can you expect? The little
chaps must have their Fourth O. July.
| was a little chap myself-once. Shut
the window Hari. There's a suspicion
of draught"
Meredith stood still in sheer amaze
ment, and watched the turban-mAn
close the window. He was a little
chap himself once. the Crosspatch
Man was! And how kind his voice
had sounded too. 1t made him sorry
for the crasspatch Man-sorrier than
he had ever been before.
Hes a-dreadin' it like sixty. He's
'spectin' to perish" Meredith said
aloud. TITS goin' to make him sick.
of course-that's what he said to the
turban-man An he was little chap
once, an his voice was kind an tired
out" sE
Then Meredith went home and
perched himself up on the banister
post In the hall, to think That was
where he always thought things-big
things, you know. This was, oh my.
such big thing'
I'm cap'n,' mused Meredith, knit
ting his little fair brows. y can say.
Go, an thou ghost,'i like the man in
the Bible; but they'll be dreadful
dis'pointed the Rudd Street Seconds
will be. Sull-well, he sick an he
had kind spot in his voice. an he
used to be a little chap. too, SO OF
course he used to bang things an
make noises | don't think he sound
ed much like Crosspatch Man."
In little while. after little more
tough thinking, Meredith slipped
down and out OF the door, up the
street. He got together the Rudd
Street Seconds and made a little
speech, as captain may. to his men.
The next day the city and all Amer
lea celebrated Fourth o. July, and
Rudd Street was famous again, but
this time for being the very quietest
street in all the city! There were Just
as many boys in it. too, as ever.
The Crosspatch Mans white. ner-
vous face smoothed and calmed as the
day wore on, and at last 1t actually
smiled in gentle way, as II he was
thinking about something pleasant.
And the captain of the Rudd Street
Seconds and his brave men, drilling
and popping and banging In distant
street, were happy, too.-Annie Ham
| ilton Donnell.
TssS-