Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-06-28
Mary D.
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The boys had planned such a particu-
larly jolly Fourth that when Mrs. Key
nolds became so i'll on the very morning
of the Sd and the doctor sternly announc-
ed if 6recracker exploded within
mile of the house the boy who shot it OH
would be guilty of murder there was
wrathful indignation in the breasts of
the Junior patriots.
:.Say, fellows, what do you think of it
anyway" demanded Ned Thursby in a
tone of fierce display.
''Think of itv' exclaimed Sam Prem
tice, shaking his fist at the cloud of dust
which enveloped the doctors antiquated
gig. II think it's mean shame. !"
What are we going to do with our
irecrackers, I'd like to know" Will
Brown asked angrily, "and the skyrock-
cts and Roman candles and the cannon?"
plague take it, anyway, scowled Jack
Loring, hitting the tree against which
he was leaning a blow with his clinched
hand. Eve might just as well have
stayed in the city"
| 81 tell you what, fellows" interrupted
Med ''I wouldn't mind so much spelling
the Fourth if it was only Mrs. Sawyer,
or any of our mothers, or Miss Hattie
or Miss Isabel, but every kid knows what
Mrs. Reynolds is. I don't believe she's s
sick at all.''
'sNor L." added Jack impressively.
| "She's just done it to keep us from haV-
ing a good time. Don't you remember
last summer how she .spoilt the yacht
4 race by tumbiing into the river and
sp1ashing the sails?"
81 wish your Uncle George was here
now. He'd tell us what to do, for don
think that other George, the father OF
his country, cares the least bit that his
little boys can't have rockets and fire.
crackers and Will lay down upon the
4 grass and pounded the soft turf with his
vigorous heels.
.sOf course he doesn't" agreed Sam
| mournfully, s'or he wouldn't have let it
happen. 1 think he's mighty mean
4 father, that's what think.
"Oh, perhaps it's because he's been a
man for such years andsyears that he's
forgotten all about chopping the cherry
tree and being a little boy himself ex-
planned Ned mag unanimously.
st say, fellows" Jack began excitedly
st bet you George Washington will help
ms vet. Isn't he the father of his coun-
try and wouldn't my father or Ned's faith
er or any of our fathers hate to have us
J, lose good time? II tell you, George
q Washington cares as much about it as
they do, and I'm going to write to him
and tell him that we can't shoot off any
Ifrecrackers OF cannons or rockets or tor
pedoes or do anything at all to give him
a rousing send-off, just because an old
woman says she's dying"
81 don't believe George Washington
cares anything about u.s." Sam interpos-
ed grufiy.
II don't believe he does, eitheF,'' sup,
: plemented Will.
aWell" said Jack, ,"I intend to write
!, him regular letter and tell him just
how it is. thought I'd say that we
came all the way from Chicago to shoot
3 loft q cannon for him on the Fourth OF
July, and didn't he feel sorry we couldn't
do it. because Mrs. Reynolds went and
got sick at the last moment and the doc.
: tor said we'd be hanged If We did. And
Z then I'd say 'Good-by, from your sorrow.
!, full little boys, Jack and Ned and Sam
: and Will !"
aEyen if we did write to him, how
could we send it, I'd like to knowY ask.
ed Sam.
I The question was bombshell. 1t stag
gered Jack.
] ST don't know he answered blankly
: 81 never thought about it, but, say!
have it. Well tack the letter on the
cherry tree in the back yard, and wher
he comes around at night to cut 1t down
with his little hatchet he'll find it ami
: read it and"
: "How do you know he'll come around
: to cut it DOWN." interrupted Will.
!. "How do know it? Because every
t Fourth of July he's little boy again
/, Iyou ninny, and, of course, he'll want tt
Il use his little hatchet. Hurrah for Gssrgs
. Washington and the enthusiast,
!, spokesman tumbled off the fence in hii
! efforts to wake the country echoes.
-Four pairs of sturdy legs dashed aiont
the road with lightning speed and moth
ing remained of the mornings conclav'
but battered rail and cloud of dust
5, The blotted paper tackled so,conspicuousl!
to the bark of the cherry tree was pa