Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1901-07-05

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have it. Wen tack the letter on the
cherry tree in the back yard, and wher
he comes around at night to cut it down
with his little Ratchet he'll find it and
read it and"
| How do you know he'll come around
to cut it DOWN." interrupted Will.
"How do l know it? Because every
Fourth of July he's a little boy again
YOU ninny, and, of course, he'll want to
use his little Ratchet. Hurrah for George
Washington" and the enthusiastic
spokesman tumbled off the fence, in his
efforts to wake the country echoes.
-Four pairs of sturdy legs dashed along
the road with lightning speed and moth
ing remained of the mornings conclaVs
but battered rail and cloud of dust.
The blotted paper tackled so conspicuously
to the bark of the cherry tree was pa
thetically comic to the belated traveller
who discovered it while enjoying the soil
tude of the garden
Poor little chaps" he laughed, "their
mothers needn't have feared for their
eyes and their fingers, after all. Con
found Mrs. Reynolds, it's just as they
say. She's never sick on Sunday, when
little boys don't mind not shooting off
cannons.'
Il guess George will have to come to
the rescue after all if he isn't the father
of his country But what the dickens
can we do that won't make noise? |
guess I'd better consult Miss Hattie"
and the belated traveller left the blotted
paper on the table, where he had carried
1t to examine its contents by aid of the
solitary lamp burning in the farm house.
Inc small head peeping out of the
tarm house window at an early hour the
Following morning raised a shout that
awakened instantly the three remaining
occupants of the tiny dormitory.
'Hurrah for George Washington wbot
dld tell you fellows? There's the an
Swer' by Jingo!' and Jack pounded the
Hoor rapturously with his bare feet.
There was rush from three small beds
and scamper to the window. A square
white patch conspicuously sealed with
scarlet wax adorned the cherry tree in
place OF the larger sheet the boys had
left huttering in the moonlight.
Lets hurry up, kids, and see who'll
get dressed the first" and Ned's order
was instantly obeyed. Ten minutes later
four heads bent eagerly over the old.
fashioned writing.
My Dear Boys: l was inst goiro =,
chop away at your cherry tree and in
fact, had given it single whock wbiaI
naun amounted to much, as the blade il
rather rusty when discovered your let
yer lacked TO the bark, and | said to NV
sell; George, you must not touch this
cherry tree with your little hatchet Gov
Dehoid' 1t has turned over a new leaf,
so laid aside my rusty steel and m.
tackled the tack which bound If 70 49,
Dark and, behold, your misery Law nm.
folded. 10y uii-
We mad my own siege with wome,
poys' Ior the father of his country en-.
braces all classes, but I've learned nv.
lesson that the widow must ever go bor
own way. So We'll allow the doctor 70
manage Mrs. Reynolds and Won and viii
have our Fourth of July in the wooai
along the edge of the river. "''''
Leave the cannon behind and +bo G..
crackers and rockets, for Wen celebrate
IN splte OF them as you'll see how if Won
arrive at the minute of II by the SIM
10 Ned Sam, Will and Jack.
FROM the Father of His Country
en- 49, q. Washington"
DO you think he really mean. ity
asked Jack, breathlessly.
Course he does" replied Nod ;,,5;,
nantly, gasping with nervous ostnn;aS
ment. Didn't you know the fotbnr 20
MS country couldn't tell lie?"
-Four frightened lads sitting on fo,on
tree at the edge of the river iumped bnr.
rlediy to their feet and bowed nargonsI,,
TO the stately parsonage DESCENDING ~
bank dressed in the buff and blna nv n
form, with his white hair tied in \ 80 u,
GOOD morning, boys" said stranroI,.
FAMILIAR voice, you're true TO tho p,i,,
ute see I'm afraid I'm n IittIo lat.
myself however. was delayed triao
hoping to induce Martha TO como n,i.L
me, and the father of his countrv ~
ed through the trees as if to SEQ - Ell
had changed her mind. sue
Martina Is my wife, you know" tho
lgure continued smilingly. "Aiartbe
washington, the mother of her countrr
She knows you all very WE'LL"
The four lads looked at each otbor :,
Ned cleared his throat vo, M
hard and gazed at his boots. but ~
nudge from Jack whispered weakly.
Does she know our names. f,tba, -
your country?'' VI
"Oh, yes, and so do |. You're Va,
ma the 'ali boy is Jack, and Sam is the
though he's not very small, and